From the Back Pages, January 13: David Moyes hoping close in on loan deal for Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao

Newcastle United 0 Manchester City 2: Winning has become a habit for Manchester City in recent weeks, but there was nothing routine about the victory that took them back to the top of the Barclays Premier League. It was a match full of incident, controversy and so much acrimony that even Manuel Pellegrini briefly looked ruffled as he was dragged into a spat with Alan Pardew on the touchline. (The Times)

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has apologised for a foul-mouthed rant at Manchester City counterpart Manuel Pellegrini. (The Independent)

Liverpool won a topsy-turvy encounter with Stoke at the Britannia Stadium to keep pace with Premier League leaders Manchester City. The Reds raced into a 2-0 lead on Sunday, only to be pegged back before half-time. But spurred on by two-goal Luis Suarez, Brendan Rodgers’ men scored three fine goals after the interval to seal a thrilling victory. (The Mirror)

Zinedine Zidane believes Sir Alex Ferguson made one of the biggest mistakes of his Manchester United tenure when the Scot let Paul Pogba leave the club. (Daily Mail)

THIS EVENING’S transfer news sees Bayern Munich ready to join the chase for unsettled Chelsea star Juan Mata, while Paul Pogba is set for a sensational return to Manchester United. Meanwhile, Chelsea are in the frame to sign Kurt Zouma as Fiorentina line up a loan deal for United flop Anderson. (The Express)

Aaron Finch ton helps Australia to thumping win over England in first ODI: If this really was the opening step in the minting of a new era for English cricket – new players, new chief exec, new sense of chastened post-meltdown perspective – then it must be said it looked quite a lot like one or two other new eras that have come and gone in recent times in one-day international cricket. (The Guardian)