The bleak reality - how Covid is battering Manchester city centre

direct to your inboxThugs shouted 'Manchester Manchester' at horrified onlookers after battering a man in a shop doorway in Liverpool city centre. Mobile phone footage shows two men kicking and punching the man on Basnett Street in front of Christmas shoppers on Sunday, the Liverpool Echo reports.

straight to your inbox every day for freeOle Gunnar Solskjaer has been praised for outsmarting opposite number Marcelo Bielsa in Manchester United's demolition of Leeds United.The Reds were 2-0 up in three minutes before eventually running out 6-2 winners of a highly-anticipated clash at Old Trafford.Whilst Leeds did create chances, they were also porous in defence against a fast-paced Man United attack.

direct to your inboxA man was taken to hospital after he was rescued from a canal in Manchester city centre.Emergency services were called to the Rochdale Canal, off Castle Street, shortly before midnight on Friday.The man had already been rescued before firefighters arrived.He was taken to hospital by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS).It's not clear who pulled the man from the water.A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: "At 23.44PM on the 18th December GMFRS were

straight to your inboxManchester City have given a Christmas present to every primary school kid in East Manchester and every child in in care across the whole city.Staff, players and coaches have paid for, wrapped and delivered more than 5,500 gifts.And with the coronavirus pandemic meaning the traditional Christmas visits to hospitals are off the cards, stars including Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne have been video calling patients on children's wards at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital,

direct to your inboxPolice were scrambled to Manchester city centre after a car crashed into railings.Pictures from the scene showed a badly damaged saloon car after it had crashed through railings on Great Ancoats Street.The road was closed briefly while the wreckage was cleared from the carriageway.A flatbed truck later removed the damaged car.Unconfirmed reports from the scene suggested the crash followed a police pursuit.The incident happened on Great Ancoats Street at its junction with

direct to your inboxManchester City's Lauren Hemp fired her side through to the last 16 of the Champions League - and says that they're hoping to complete a famous quadruple this season. The 20-year-old scored the opening goal in a 3-0 victory over Goteborg at the Academy Stadium with Georgia Stanway adding a second-half brace to complete a comprehensive 5-1 aggregate victory.

the Trotters over the summer as one of more than 20 new signings brought in to the University of Bolton Stadium. Doyle was League Two's top scorer last season with Swindon Town but took some time to open his goalscoring account with Bolton.

direct to your inboxCaroline Weir believes Manchester City's late victory over Arsenal could be huge in the race for the Women's Super League title, as a 2-1 triumph clinched their third win in the space of a week.Vivianne Miedema put the Gunners ahead within three minutes but Sam Mewis equalised with her head, before Weir curled an unstoppable winner into the bottom corner in stoppage time.Victory renewed City’s title ambitions, as they now sit fourth in the table just one point behind Arsenal

direct to your inboxThree people are in hospital including a young child after a van crashed into a bus in Manchester city centre last night.Police, fire and ambulance crews attended the incident on Angel Street near the Co-op headquarters in the NOMA district at around 9.24pm.A transit van appears to have collided head-on with a bus while travelling the wrong way down the one-way road.

direct to your inboxCity centre residents are being warned about the dangers of parcel theft after a surge in incidents this year.Covid restrictions and the subsequent spike in online shopping has meant postal deliveries are at an all time high.But for shared buildings in Manchester city centre that often means parcels being left in insecure postal rooms or communal areas, especially as busy drivers are being told to have 'zero contact' with customers.Thieves are then taking advantage by

straight to your inboxManchester City fans will be eagerly awaiting the UEFA Champions League draw after sealing their place in the last 16.Pep Guardiola's side were held to a 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Saturday night, their sixth consecutive clean sheet, with three of those coming in the Champions League. Having topped their group with relative ease, City will be hopeful of avoiding any of Europe's biggest clubs, having faced and beaten Real Madrid at this stage last season.

direct to your inboxJeremy Corbyn's brother led an anti-lockdown march in the city centre today.Piers Corbyn was one of around 500 people who marched through Manchester in another protest against lockdown regulations.The protesters marched through the city centre, starting in Piccadilly Gardens at around midday.

direct to your inboxThe fire service was called to the city centre on Friday morning to a fire in a lighting unit at a commercial property.Crews from Moss Side and Salford were called to Lloyd Street and spent just under an hour at the scene.A spokesperson for GMFRS said: “On Friday, 11 December, at 8.37am, firefighters were called to a fire on Lloyd Street in Manchester.Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletterYou can sign up very

straight to your inboxManchester City face Marseille this Wednesday, December 9, in matchday six of the Champions League group stage.Guardiola's side have the luxury of having already qualified for the knockouts in 2021, with their opponents this week still fighting to qualify for the Europa League with a third place finish.

straight to your inboxManchester City fans want to see Aymeric Laporte partner Ruben Dias at the back in the upcoming Manchester derby, rather than John Stones.City have finally started to gather some momentum, after an inconsistent start to the campaign, as Saturday's 2-0 victory over Fulham saw them win successive Premier League games for the first time this season following last weekend's 5-0 mauling of Burnley.Both victories saw Stones star in the heart of defence as the 'Barnsley

direct to your inboxAs Manchester city centre's population continues to grow, so does the clamour for green space.But while campaigners urge the council to create oases in the city centre, woodland on the outskirts, abundant in wildlife, is underused.Here, Manchester Evening News city centre reporter Steve Robson explores the potential of the Lower Medlock Valley, immediately east of the city centre.At first blush, it is not the most inviting of entrances.Where Great Ancoats Street becomes Pin

direct to your inbox A pub in Manchester city centre has been hit with a fine after it allowed customers in to drink during the coronavirus lockdown.

straight to your inboxHere are the Manchester City morning headlines for Sunday, November 29.Mahrez delight at first City hat-trickRiyad Mahrez netted his first Manchester City hat-trick against Burnley – having only scored once this term before his maiden treble on Saturday afternoon.Against the Clarets, the Algeria international opened the scoring in the sixth minute and doubled the hosts' lead midway through the first-half.

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