LONDON: The battle for the Premier League title may be compelling, with three heavyweights in contention, but the fight to avoid relegation from English football’s top-flight is nearly as fierce.
At the top, leaders Manchester United travel to Norwich today with a two-point advantage over champions Manchester City, at home to Aston Villa.
European champions Chelsea, a point further back in third, travel to surprise package West Brom, an impressive fifth in the table, in a match that pits Blues boss Roberto di Matteo and the Baggies Steve Clarke, once an assistant manager at Stamford Bridge, against their former clubs.
In an era where Premier League players are routinely criticized for being primarily concerned with their pay packets, United veteran Rio Ferdinand said the lure of silverware remained as strong as ever.
“It doesn’t matter how much money you have, at the end of your career, what you will be most proud of are your achievements,” said Ferdinand.
“If you have won things and continue to win things for this great club, that is something to talk about. I wouldn’t sit down and talk about how much money I have.” It was a point echoed by City winger James Milner, who said: “Our fans turn out in big numbers.
“They were here when we weren’t winning things for so many years so it’s nice that we are now and as I say, that’s not a feeling we could ever get tired of,” the England international added.
There will be plenty of attention at Eastlands on City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart, beaten on four occasions by striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic during Sweden’s 4-0 friendly international win in midweek, with the striker’s stunning scissor-kick fourth set to become a staple of all great goal compilations.
But there will be a different sort of grim fascination in watching bottom of the table QPR welcome second-bottom Southampton to Loftus Road as both clubs battle to remain in the lucrative top flight.
West London club QPR have yet to win in 11 Premier League matches this season while Southampton have just one victory to show for their efforts since ending seven years’ of Premier League exile.
QPR’s Malaysian owner Tony Fernandes, the man behind budget airline Air Asia, has been steadfast in his support of manager Mark Hughes.
Meanwhile Southampton boss Nigel Adkins has been similarly well supported by his board.
But the temptation for one side or other to change manager in a bid to fashion a rally against relegation should they suffer defeat in Saturday’s ‘six-pointer’ could prove irresistible.
However, Adkins was convinced both he and Hughes would still be in their respective posts after the weekend.
“I am pretty sure, I am pretty confident that both managers will be in situ come on Monday.
“I am looking forward to another game. It has been a good week’s training. I feel fit, I feel fresh and I’ve got energy about myself.
“I feel stimulated and I am looking forward to the next game in the Barclays Premier League game, which is away to Queens Park Rangers.” The North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham sees both clubs battling to get back into the four while Everton will look to maintain their place among the leading quartet at home to strugglers Reading.
Liverpool will look to Luis Suarez to continue the form that has already yielded 11 goals this season, eight in 11 Premier League matches.
Reds manager Brendan Rodgers has denied reports the Uruguay striker is on his way out of Anfield in a big-money move to City.
And Suarez, who has four years left on his Liverpool contract, said: “I have a very long contract here and it’s a dream come true to be playing at a club like Liverpool because, as I’ve said, as a boy I dreamt of playing for a team like this.”
Fixtures (1500GMT unless stated)
Saturday: Arsenal v Tottenham (1245GMT), Liverpool v Wigan, Manchester City v Aston Villa, Newcastle v Swansea, Norwich v Manchester United (1730 GMT), QPR v Southampton, Reading v Everton, West Brom v Chelsea
Sunday: Fulham v Sunderland (1600GMT)
Monday: West Ham v Stoke (2000GMT)
Premier League hots up at both ends of the table
Premier League hots up at both ends of the table
San Antonio Spurs extend domination of NBA-best Thunder
- After roaring to a 24-1 start, the Thunder have dropped four of their past six games — three of those losses coming to the Spurs
- Houston’s Amen Thompson scored 26 points to lead the Rockets over the host Los Angeles Lakers 119-96
- At New York, Jalen Brunson scored 34 points to lead the host Knicks over Cleveland 126-124
NEW YORK: Reigning champion Oklahoma City have the NBA’s best record, but they cannot beat San Antonio, with superstar Victor Wembanyama coming off the bench Thursday to help lift the Spurs to an emphatic 117-102 victory.
De’Aaron Fox scored a game-high 29 points while Wembanyama had 19 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes and guard Stephon Castle added 19 points for the Spurs, who stretched their win streak to eight games.
“My first Christmas game,” Fox said. “It feels great getting another victory.”
After roaring to a 24-1 start, the Thunder have dropped four of their past six games — three of those losses coming to the Spurs.
“When you play a team of this caliber, the details are much more magnified,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “We did a phenomenal job as the game progressed adhering to those nuances.”
Wembanyama wouldn’t call it a statement win for the season but he says the Spurs have learned from beating the Thunder.
“I’m not really sure it’s smart to think so far into the future,” said Wembanyama.
“This is like a playoff series. We played them three times in 10 days so we learned a lot on the technical side.”
Oklahoma City lost for the first time in 15 home games this season despite 22 points by reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Thunder sank their first seven shots to take an 18-12 lead but the Spurs closed the first quarter on an 11-0 run for a 41-36 edge and never looked back.
“The guys were working their butts off,” Johnson said.
The Spurs improved to 23-7, second in the Western Conference behind the Thunder at 26-5.
Fox made 12-of-19 shots from the floor, 3-of-4 from three-point range.
“He was carrying us a little bit,” Wembanyama said. “He’s a guy who can make things happen.”
The Spurs have not reached the playoffs since 2019 and have not won a playoff series since 2017.
In other games, Houston’s Amen Thompson scored 26 points to lead the Rockets over the host Los Angeles Lakers 119-96.
Kevin Durant added 25 points and Alperen Sengun had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Houston.
“We wanted to come out here and play with a sense of urgency for 48 minutes,” Durant said. “The basketball world is watching you tonight.”
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 25 points while four-time NBA MVP LeBron James added 18 points.
James, the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, played in his 20th NBA Christmas contest, his holiday record falling to 11-9.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves had 12 points in 15 minutes before leaving with left calf soreness.
Knicks outlast Cavs
At New York, Jalen Brunson scored 34 points to lead the host Knicks over Cleveland 126-124.
The Cavaliers, led by Donovan Mitchell’s 34 points, grabbed a 103-86 lead with 10:25 remaining but New York closed on a 40-21 run to seize the victory.
Benson, who hit 6-of-12 from three-point range, lifted the Knicks ahead for good at 121-119 on a three-pointer with 65 seconds remaining.
It was Benson’s 90th 30-point game as a Knick, a total eclipsed only by Patrick Ewing and Carmelo Anthony.
Jordan Clarkson added 25 points off the New York bench.
At San Francisco, Stephen Curry scored 23 points despite shooting 6-of-18 overall and 2-of-10 from three-point range to lead Golden State over Dallas 126-116.
“Didn’t shoot it well but we got a great win,” Curry said. “Just focused on the details of what this team can do to win.”
Seven Warriors scored in double figures with Jimmy Butler contributing 14 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
The Mavericks’ 19-year-old forward Cooper Flagg, the second-youngest NBA Christmas starter after 18-year-old James in 2003, scored a game-high 27 points.
Dallas star Anthony Davis exited after playing only 11 minutes with what appeared to be a groin injury.
Dallas guard Klay Thompson scored seven points in a return to the Bay Area, where he helped Golden State capture four NBA titles.
