LONDON: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes the race for the Premier League top four will go down to the wire as Manchester United prepare to face Thomas Tuchel’s revitalized Chelsea on Sunday.
United were knocked off top spot by Manchester City on Jan. 26 and a run of just two wins in six top-flight matches means they are now 10 points behind their rivals.
Second-placed United head to the Etihad Stadium for a Manchester derby clash on March 7 but before then they have back-to-back fixtures away to London clubs, with Sunday’s match against Chelsea followed by Wednesday’s game with Crystal Palace.
“We’ve got Chelsea just behind us, we’ve got City away in front of us,” said Solskjaer.
“Of course we can’t let them run further away if we have ambitions of catching them and we can’t give Chelsea too much hope to catch us either.”
Solskjaer believes United are over their recent wobble ahead of the match at Stamford Bridge, where Tuchel has made an impressive impact since succeeding Frank Lampard last month.
The Blues have yet to lose under the German and can halve the six-point gap to United on Sunday as the race for Champions League qualification spots heats up.
“You can see the results, you can see the stats, the possession they’ve had, they keep teams away from their own goal, keep the possession,” Solskjaer said.
“He’s (Tuchel) done really well ... It’s never easy coming into a season halfway through so he must be pleased as well. Hopefully we can stop that run. That’s my job now.”
The Norwegian predicted a tense battle for Champions League places with a third of the season still to go.
City, United, Leicester and West Ham are currently in the top four but a clutch of teams, including Chelsea and champions Liverpool, harbor ambitions of dislodging them.
“I don’t think the positions will be decided early,” said former United striker Solskjaer.
“With this season as well, it’s unpredictable. We’ve seen teams going through bad phases then a run and then who knows what’s going to happen with injuries, with how players react to the circumstances.”
Solskjaer’s remarks came as Manchester United and AC Milan prepare to meet in the round of 16 of the Europa League, putting 39-year-old forward Zlatan Ibrahimović up against his former English club.
Ibrahimovic played for United for two years, including in the 2016-17 season when United won its only Europa League title.
Milan, a seven-time European Cup champion, has never won the Europa League or its predecessor the UEFA Cup — the only continental title it is missing.
“It’s one of the those draws again that you feel could be a Champions League game,” Solskjaer said on Friday.
United dropped into the Europa League after finishing third in its Champions League group. Milan last played in the top-tier competition in 2014.
Both teams are on track to qualify for the next Champions League, in second place in their domestic leagues trailing crosstown rivals Manchester City and Inter Milan, respectively.
“They’re on the up and have done really well this season,” Solskjaer said of Milan, who are scheduled to visit Old Trafford for the first leg on March 11.
The return leg at San Siro is one week later.
Arsenal will face Olympiakos and go back to Piraeus for its second straight game in the competition.
The London team used Olympiakos’ stadium as a neutral venue on Thursday and beat Benfica 3-2 in the “home” leg in the round of 32.
Arsenal and Olympiakos will be meeting in a European competition for the sixth time in the past 12 seasons. Olympiakos won in the last 32 a year ago.
Two-time UEFA Cup champion Tottenham will face Dinamo Zagreb and play the first leg in Croatia, while 1992 champion Ajax is at home first against Swiss club Young Boys.
Solskjaer wary of Chelsea challenge in battle for top four
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Solskjaer wary of Chelsea challenge in battle for top four
Final eight singles lineup confirmed for WTA Finals in Riyadh
- Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova secure last two singles spots
- The WTA Finals will take place at King Saud University from Nov. 2-9, featuring the world’s top eight singles players and doubles pairings
RIYADH: The singles lineup for the Women’s Tennis Association Finals, set to take place at King Saud University from Nov. 2-9, has been announced.
Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova secured the last two singles spots to join an elite group of stars.
This year’s WTA Finals will see the world’s top eight singles players and doubles teams compete in a round-robin format. The singles champion will lift the Billie Jean King Trophy, while the doubles champions will earn the Martina Navratilova Trophy.
Here is a first look at the eight qualifying singles players for this year’s WTA Finals Riyadh:
Aryna Sabalenka
2024 record (Win-Loss): 54-12
2024 titles: 4 (Australian Open, Cincinnati, US Open, Wuhan)
Previous WTA Finals appearances: 3
Best WTA Finals result: 2022 runner-up
Sabalenka has been a dominant force this season, starting with a victory at the Australian Open. She comes to Riyadh in strong form having taken three titles from her last four tournaments, including a Grand Slam — the US Open — and two WTA 1000s. Leading the PIF singles race, she is poised to finish as the year-end World No.1, a position she narrowly missed out on last year.
Iga Swiatek (Poland)
2024 record (Win-Loss): 54-7
2024 titles: 5 (Doha, Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros)
Previous WTA Finals appearances: 3
Best WTA Finals result: 2023 winner
Swiatek began the year in explosive form, clinching five titles that included her fourth French Open. Despite a dip in performance and a coaching change she remains a formidable contender, having previously reclaimed the No.1 ranking.
Coco Gauff (USA)
2024 record (Win-Loss): 48-15
2024 titles: 2 (Auckland, Beijing)
Previous WTA Finals appearances: 2
Best WTA Finals result: 2023 semifinals
Making her third appearance at the year-end championships, Gauff is the youngest competitor in this year’s finals. She reached the semifinals at Roland Garros and finished strong, winning 12 of her last 14 matches, including a perfect run at the China Open.
Jasmine Paolini (Italy)
2024 record (Win-Loss): 37-17
2024 titles: 1 (Dubai)
Previous WTA Finals appearances: 0 (Debut appearance)
Paolini made remarkable progress this season, climbing from a year-end ranking of No.30 to No.6. Her breakthrough came with a WTA 1000 title in Dubai, and she achieved the rare feat of reaching finals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)
2024 record (Win-Loss): 41-9
2024 titles: 3 (Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, Stuttgart)
Previous WTA Finals appearances: 1
Best WTA Finals result: Went 1-2 in group play
Rybakina’s season was marked by highs and lows due to illness and injury. Despite early successes with victories in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi and Stuttgart, her post-Wimbledon performance was limited. However, she remains a key player with notable achievements earlier in the year.
Jessica Pegula (USA)
2024 record (Win-Loss): 38-13
2024 titles: 2 (Berlin, Toronto)
Previous WTA Finals appearances: 2
Best WTA Finals result: 2023 final
Pegula’s late-summer surge included a win at the National Bank Open and finals appearances in Cincinnati and the US Open. Her impressive run secured her third consecutive WTA Finals berth.
Zheng Qinwen (China)
2024 record (Win-Loss): 37-16
2024 titles: 2 (Palermo, Olympics)
Previous WTA Finals appearances: 0 (Debut appearance)
Zheng’s Olympic gold in Paris was a career-defining moment. Her recent performances, including a strong showing at the US Open, have solidified her status as a rising star, matching her career-high ranking of No.7 as she makes her debut appearance at the WTA Finals.
Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic)
2024 record (Win-Loss): 15-12
2024 titles: 1 (Wimbledon)
WTA Finals appearances: 1
Best WTA Finals result: Went 0-3 in group play
Despite challenges with injury and illness in 2024, Krejcikova triumphed at Wimbledon, defeating four Top 15 players to claim the second major title of her career. Qualifying under a new rule for major winners finishing in the Top 20, she returns to the WTA Finals with renewed vigor.
Bucks cruise past depleted Sixers, Suns rally past Clippers
- No. 1 overall draft pick Zaccharie Risacher of France got his rookie season off to a promising start in the Atlanta Hawks’ 120-116 win Brooklyn Nets
- The Golden State Warriors launched the post-Klay Thompson era with a blowout victory over the Trail Blazers, romping to a 139-104 win
LOS ANGELES: Damian Lillard scored 30 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 25 as the Milwaukee Bucks rolled to a 124-109 victory over the injury-depleted Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday in the NBA season-opener for both teams.
The Sixers, without Joel Embiid and off-season acquisition Paul George, couldn’t keep pace with the Bucks, who had 16 points from Taurean Prince and 16 off the bench from Bobby Portis.
Embiid, the Cameroon-born big man who helped the US to Olympic gold in Paris, missed all of the pre-season as part of the management plan for his surgically repaired left knee.
The Sixers said Tuesday he will miss the first week of the regular season while George, a nine-time All-Star, had his Philadelphia debut delayed by a pre-season bone bruise in his left knee.
A strong start from Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey and an energetic attack of the offensive glass saw the Sixers take a one-point lead after the opening quarter.
But Lillard and the Bucks found their groove, Lillard’s three-pointer midway through the second quarter giving Milwaukee a 36-33 lead and his driving finger-roll layup pushing the advantage to 58-45 with 33.4 seconds left in the first half.
Milwaukee led 58-47 at halftime and pushed the advantage to as many as 22 after the break.
Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo showed no sign of the knee tendinitis that’s been troubling him, adding 14 rebounds and seven assists.
In other games on Wednesday, Kevin Durant scored 25 points to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 116-113 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clippers were playing their first regular season fixture in their new state-of-the-art Intuit Dome arena.
But the buoyant mood among the home fans was spoiled after a late rally by Phoenix sent the game to overtime.
Clippers star James Harden missed a free throw with four seconds of overtime remaining that would have tied the scores, allowing Phoenix to snatch a slender win.
“This is just one game — we want to keep building,” Durant told ESPN after the victory. “We just have a system that we can rely on for four quarters.”
Elsewhere, No. 1 overall draft pick Zaccharie Risacher of France got his rookie season off to a promising start in the Atlanta Hawks’ 120-116 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
The French 19-year-old came off the bench late in the first quarter and drained a three-pointer on his first attempt from the floor. He finished with seven points for Atlanta, who were led by 30 from Trae Young.
Young also handed out 12 assists and Onyeka Okongwu scored a career-high 28 points off the bench for the Hawks.
Cam Thomas scored 36 points to lead the Nets, but it was a defeat for Spain’s Jordi Fernandez in his first game as an NBA head coach.
A new season brought a familiar sinking feeling for the Detroit Pistons, who took an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter against Indiana only for the Pacers to fight back for a 115-109 victory.
Myles Turner scored 20 points and Bennedict Mathurin scored 14 of his 19 points in the final period, when the Pacers out-scored the Pistons 33-19 to take control.
It was a dream return for Mathurin, whose 2023-24 season was cut short by a shoulder injury that required surgery in March.
“Stepping away from the game for seven months makes you realize how blessed I am,” Mathurin said. “I’m just really excited we got the win tonight.”
The Pistons are hoping to turn the page on a league-worst 14-68 campaign last season. But new coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s tenure started with another defeat.
“I thought our guys did a really good job, they competed their tails off,” Bickerstaff said.
In Portland meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors launched the post-Klay Thompson era with a blowout victory over the Trail Blazers, romping to a 139-104 win.
Buddy Hield led the scoring with 22 points off the bench for Golden State, while Steph Curry added 17.
Curry leads Golden State Warriors in 139-104 season-opening rout of the Portland Trail Blazers
- Stephen Curry had 17 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds before sitting for the fourth quarter
Stephen Curry had 17 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds before sitting for the fourth quarter, and the Golden State Warriors opened the season Wednesday night with a 139-104 rout of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Buddy Hield had 22 points off the bench for the Warriors, who missed out on the playoffs last year.
Portland led by as many as nine points in the opening quarter, but the Warriors pulled ahead and led 62-50 at the break. Curry had a 3-pointer to open the second half and Golden State led by as many as 37 points the rest of the way.
Portland was led by Scoot Henderson with 22 points off the bench. Shaedon Sharpe didn’t play because of a shoulder injury.
Takeaways
Terry Stotts, head coach of the Blazers from 2012 to 2021, is now an assistant under Steve Kerr with the Warriors. Stotts saluted the crowd in the opening quarter when the Blazers played a tribute to him on the video scoreboard.
‘We’re definitely more organized this year, I think, than we’ve been in the past. Terry has been a huge part of that,” Kerr said. “He’s added so much to our staff and given us some different stuff that we’re excited about.”
Key moment
Late in the first half Draymond Green, jawed at the refs after being called for a foul and earned his first technical of the season. Kerr put an arm around Green’s shoulder and led him off the court.
Key stat
Curry, fresh off winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics this summer, had seven assists in the first quarter alone to move him ahead of Clyde Drexler (6,125) into 38th on the NBA’s all-time career list.
Up next
The Trail Blazers continue their three-game homestand on Friday against the Pelicans, while the Warriors visit Jazz also on Friday.
England win toss, bat against Pakistan in third Test
- The series is tied 1-1 after England won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs before Pakistan clinched the second by 152 runs, both played in Multan
RAWALPINDI: England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bat in the third and final Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
The series is tied 1-1 after England won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs before Pakistan clinched the second by 152 runs, both played in Multan.
Pakistan, seeking a first series win at home since beating South Africa in February 2021, entered the Test with three spinners in Noman Ali, Sajid Khan and Zahid Mahmood. Aamer Jamal is their only fast bowler.
England brought in leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed to supplement the spin attack alongside Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.
Gus Atkinson returns after being rested for the second Test, with Stokes the other fast bowling option.
Teams:
Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, Zahid Mehmood
England: Ben Stokes (captain), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir
Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZL) and Sharfuddoula Saikat (BAN)
Tv umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI)
Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)
Goliath vs. Goliath: Yankees, Dodgers clash in World Series classic
- The most eagerly anticipated World Series showdown in decades gets under way on Friday when the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the New York Yankees
- The historic rivals will face off once more at Dodger Stadium for Game 1 of the best-of-seven championship series
LOS ANGELES: The two biggest teams from America’s two biggest cities, led by baseball’s two biggest superstars. East Coast vs. West Coast. Broadway vs. Hollywood. Goliath vs. Goliath.
The most eagerly anticipated World Series showdown in decades gets under way on Friday when the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the New York Yankees in what promises to be a baseball blockbuster for the ages.
Forty-three years after their 11th and most recent meeting in a World Series, the historic rivals will face off once more at Dodger Stadium for Game 1 of the best-of-seven championship series.
“This is what the baseball world wanted,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s going to be a great World Series.”
Any World Series meeting between the two teams who were New York City rivals before the Dodgers left Brooklyn for California in 1957 would be a must-see event in its own right.
But hype surrounding this year’s collision between the two baseball juggernauts — the first time they have met in a World Series since 1981 — has soared into a different stratosphere, thanks largely to the star-studded nature of the two teams’ rosters.
The Dodgers boast the talismanic Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani, the record-breaking generational talent widely seen as the greatest all-round player since Babe Ruth.
The Yankees are led by the big-hitting Aaron Judge, the former American League Most Valuable Player who blasted an astonishing 62 home runs in the 2022 season.
Yet while Ohtani and Judge are the headline acts, the supporting cast is equally gaudy.
The Dodgers have former MVPs in Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman; the Yankees have Giancarlo Stanton, the 2017 National League MVP and five-time All-Star, along with the likes of the gifted outfielder Juan Soto and Cy Young award-winning pitcher Gerrit Cole.
“As a fan of baseball, how can you not be excited about this?” Dodgers infielder Max Muncy asked this week. “You’re talking about two of the biggest franchises. The biggest stars in the sport. We got Shohei, Freddie and Mookie. On the other side, they’ve got Aaron Judge, Giancarlo, Juan Soto, Gerrit Cole.”
It’s the kind of dazzling star power capable of eclipsing the bright lights of Broadway or Hollywood Boulevard.
And it’s the kind of box office appeal that has Major League Baseball’s bean-counters rubbing their hands in delight after years of steadily declining audience numbers.
So far this postseason, average television viewing figures have leapt 18 percent from last year’s average of 2.82 million per game to 3.33 million.
While this year’s World Series is unlikely to match the record average of viewers for a Fall Classic — 44.3 million tuned in for each game of the 1978 series — it is likely to obliterate the record-low 9.08 million who watched last year’s series between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
The presence of Dodgers ace Ohtani has also opened up a new international frontier, with Major League Baseball revealing that a record 12.9 million Japanese viewers tuned in for the Dodgers’ recent National League Division Series decider against the San Diego Padres — roughly 10 percent of Japan’s entire population.
“That’s an unbelievable number, a huge audience,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. “Ohtani has really, really driven interest in the game internationally.”
Manfred believes this year’s World Series evokes baseball’s golden age, when the sport was truly America’s pastime and had yet to be usurped by the NFL and NBA.
“The history of Yankee-Dodgers is great for our fanbase,” Manfred said.
“You look back and think of Sandy Koufax playing against Mickey Mantle, of Joe DiMaggio playing against Jackie Robinson. And now you’ve got Aaron Judge against Shohei Ohtani.”
Unsurprisingly, World Series tickets have become the hottest commodity in sport since the Dodgers confirmed their place in the championship finale with victory over the New York Mets on Sunday.
According to ticket aggregator TicketIQ, games in Los Angeles are averaging around $3,100 on secondary markets; games in New York come in at an eye-watering average of $4,875.
“Everybody wants to see these two teams play on the biggest stages” Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman said this week. “It’s a World Series full of superstars.”
The top-seeded Dodgers will have home advantage through the series, and will look to starting pitcher Jack Flaherty to get them off the mark in Friday’s opener.
The Yankees will start Cole on the mound as they aim to spoil the Dodgers’ party before the series heads back to New York for game three next Monday.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “This is Dodgers-Yankees. Lakers-Celtics, however you want to say it. It certainly has that feel to it.
“The stars will be out, the eyeballs will be watching, and hopefully we can deliver a great series.”
