New York (AFP) – David Stern, who masterminded the NBA's growth into a global sports powerhouse while serving as commissioner from 1984 to 2014, died Wednesday after suffering a brain hemorrhage last month. He was 77. The NBA, whose championship games were not televised live in the United States when Stern's 30-year tenure began, announced his […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Japan forward Takumi Minamino is in contention to make his debut in Sunday's FA Cup derby against Everton. Minamino has arrived in a £7.25 million transfer from Red Bull Salzburg and had his first training session with his new Liverpool team-mates on Tuesday. He is not eligible […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal rang in the new year by giving boss Mikel Arteta his first victory as lacklustre Manchester United crashed to a 2-0 defeat, while Tottenham and Chelsea also slipped up in the Premier League's top four race on Wednesday. Arteta had watched Arsenal take only one point from his first two matches, […]

London (AFP) – Mikel Arteta claimed his first win as Arsenal manager in impressive fashion as his side outplayed Manchester United to secure just a second victory in 16 games with a 2-0 win at the Emirates. Nicolas Pepe and Sokratis Papastathopoulos struck before half-time to reward arguably Arsenal's finest 45 minutes of the season so […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed that Paul Pogba faces another spell on the sidelines due to an ongoing ankle injury. The French World Cup winner made his comeback after nearly three months out in a 2-0 defeat at Watford 10 days ago and also made an appearance off the bench […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham and Chelsea slipped up in the Premier League's top-four race on Wednesday as David Moyes made an immediate impact on his return to West Ham during a busy programme of New Year's Day football. Chelsea remain in pole position to secure the fourth Champions League qualification place but manager Frank Lampard […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Gabriel Jesus extended his remarkable record against Everton as the Manchester City striker's second-half brace sealed a 2-1 win on Wednesday. Jesus was handed the start as City manager Pep Guardiola rested Sergio Aguero, but the decision to select the Brazilian ahead of the club's record goalscorer could easily have […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho does not believe the solutions to Spurs' problems will be found in the January transfer window despite another disappointing display in a 1-0 defeat at Southampton that also saw Harry Kane hobble off injured. Danny Ings produced the one real moment of quality in the game […]

Newcastle (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Leicester kept alive their faint hopes of catching Premier League leaders Liverpool as Ayoze Perez returned to haunt Newcastle in Wednesday's 3-0 win at St James' Park. Spanish forward Perez put Leicester ahead nine minutes before the break with his fifth goal since swapping Newcastle for the King Power Stadium […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham and Chelsea slipped up in the Premier League's top-four race on Wednesday but Leicester tightened their grip on second spot during a busy programme of New Year's Day football. Chelsea remain in pole position to secure the fourth Champions League qualification place but Frank Lampard will rue conceding a spectacular late […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Tottenham's push for a top four finish in the Premier League suffered another setback on Wednesday as Danny Ings's winner handed Southampton a well-deserved 1-0 win at St Mary's, while England striker Harry Kane limped off with a hamstring injury. Ings produced the one real moment of quality in the […]

London (AFP) – Alireza Jahanbakhsh's spectacular overhead kick earned Brighton a share of the points against Chelsea and dampened Frank Lampard's New Year celebrations on Wednesday as Aston Villa secured a vital win against Burnley. Kicking off a packed day of top-flight action, Chelsea's 1-1 draw on England's south coast meant they missed out on […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Liverpool sharpshooter Sadio Mane is expected to become the first African football headline-maker of 2020 by winning the Player of the Year award in Egypt next week. The January 7 ceremony will set in motion a year sure to be full of drama on and off the field with 2022 World […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Liverpool sharpshooter Sadio Mane is expected to become the first African football headline-maker of 2020 by winning the Player of the Year award in Egypt next week. The January 7 ceremony will set in motion a year sure to be full of drama on and off the field with 2022 World […]

London (AFP) – Frank Lampard is determined to do all he can to protect Callum Hudson-Odoi after the England forward was criticised on social media. The teenager struggled during Chelsea's 2-0 loss at home to Southampton on Boxing Day, his first start since October, and found himself being trolled as a result. But the 19-year-old […]