SPORTS

Buenos Aires, Argentina | AFP | Diego Maradona has given his backing to Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly after the Senegalese international was subjected to racist abuse by Inter Milan supporters last week. Argentina great Maradona, who won the Serie A title with Napoli in 1987 and 1990, posted a picture …

Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Floyd Mayweather beat Japanese kickboxing phenomenon Tenshin Nasukawa by a technical knockout on Monday in the first round of a New Year’s Eve “exhibition” bout that brought the US boxing superstar out of retirement. Mayweather floored Nasukawa, a kickboxer less than half his age, three …

Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Liverpool took another significant step towards a first top-flight title in 29 years by thrashing Arsenal 5-1 to open up a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League, thanks also to Tottenham’s collapse at home to Wolves. Manchester City are once again …

Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Ole Gunnar Solskjaer encouraged Paul Pogba to cut showboating from his game to recreate the “efficient” display that saw the Frenchman score twice for the second straight game in a 4-1 thrashing of Bournemouth at Old Trafford. A third consecutive victory since Solskjaer took …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Susanna Dinnage has shocked English football by deciding she no longer wants to be the chief executive of the Premier League despite previously accepting the post. Dinnage, a television executive, was announced as the successor to the long-serving Richard Scudamore in November, with her …

Southampton, United Kingdom | AFP | Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City side a failure to beat Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday will effectively mean their title challenge is “over”. Reigning champions City revived their bid to retain the Premier League trophy with a 3-1 win away …

Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester City cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points with a 3-1 win at Southampton as Paul Pogba shone again for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United by scoring twice in a 4-1 victory over Bournemouth on Sunday. City’s …

Southampton, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester City showed they are willing to accept the challenge of Liverpool in the race for the Premier League title with a 3-1 win away to Southampton on Sunday. Following shock defeats by Crystal Palace and Leicester, reigning champions City cut the gap between …

  London, United Kingdom | AFP | N’Golo Kante showed signs he is growing into his more advanced midfield role with a composed finish that gave Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday. Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri has been criticised for moving Kante out …

Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Pep Guardiola says he will never change his football principles even if Manchester City’s poor run of form continues into the new year. A run of three defeats in four Premier League matches has seen Guardiola’s side slip from first to third in the …