Football/Soccer 24-Hour Briefing
×Premier League & European Action
Manchester City bbc.com closed the gap on Arsenal to two points with a 2-1 win over Newcastle, as Nico O'Reilly scored twice before the break. Chelsea bbc.com dropped points again, drawing 1-1 with Burnley after Wesley Fofana's red card and a late equaliser. Brighton bbc.com ended their six-game winless run with a 2-0 victory at Brentford, while West Ham bbc.com were held to a goalless draw by Bournemouth, missing the chance to climb away from the relegation zone.
Relegation Battles
Sheffield Wednesday skysports.com were relegated from the Championship with 13 games still to play after losing the Steel City derby to Sheffield United. Patrick Bamford struck after just 75 seconds to give United an early lead, piling pressure on Wednesday's survival hopes. Burnley showed resilience to snatch a stoppage-time equaliser at Chelsea, with Zian Flemming's header earning a precious point in their fight against the drop.
Scottish Premiership
Hearts bbc.com maintained their lead in the Scottish Premiership with a narrow win over Falkirk, as manager Derek Mc Innes highlighted the importance of grinding out results. Motherwell skysports.com delivered a football masterclass in front of Sir Alex Ferguson, romping to a 5-0 victory over St Mirren. Meanwhile, Aberdeen's bbc.com search for a new head coach has been delayed by "unforeseen circumstances", with chairman Dave Cormack stressing the need not to rush the appointment.
MLS & Saudi Pro League
Inter Miami espn.com began their MLS Cup defence with a 3-0 defeat to LAFC at the LA Coliseum, with Lionel Messi having a decent but unspectacular game in a World Cup year. In the Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo espn.com scored twice as Al Nassr beat Al Hazem 4-0 to move top of the table, insisting he is happy at the club despite previous doubts over his future.
Managerial Reactions
Mikel Arteta espn.com told his title-chasing Arsenal players to accept the "noise and bullets" that come with fighting for the Premier League, warning they should join another club if they can't handle the pressure. Pep Guardiola skysports.com praised his Manchester City side's performance against Newcastle and told his players to "enjoy life" with cocktails after the "massive" win. Liam Rosenior espn.com admitted Chelsea have "set fire to points" after dropping two more at home, while Scott Parker bbc.com praised Burnley's "resilience" in their draw at Stamford Bridge.
Player Milestones & Records
James Milner bbc.com reacted to breaking the Premier League appearance record, saying he still feels he can contribute at the highest level. The Liverpool midfielder's achievement was praised by Jürgen Klopp, who said it's unlikely to ever be broken. Tammy Abraham skysports.com marked his Aston Villa return with a late equaliser against Leeds, cancelling out Anton Stach's stunning free-kick in a 1-1 draw.
Transfer Rumours & Gossip
Tottenham espn.com and Newcastle are among clubs interested in bringing Darwin Núñez back to the Premier League from Al Hilal. Celtic bbc.com are monitoring Mexican striker Gonzalez as Kilmarnock midfielder attracts interest from Italy. Meanwhile, Tottenham's skysports.com interim boss Igor Tudor could be given the role permanently, according to sporting director Johan Lange.
International Football
England continued their T20 dominance of Sri Lanka with a 51-run victory in the Super 8s, with Phil Salt hitting 62 from 40 balls before Will Jacks took three wickets. The tournament began frustratingly for Pakistan, as their game against New Zealand was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain.