Author: Associated Press

Liverpool head into Christmas as the Premier League’s clear title favorite, holding a four-point lead and a game in hand after a thrilling 6-3 victory at Tottenham. Meanwhile, Manchester United, under new manager Ruben Amorim, limps into the festive season in 13th place – its lowest position at Christmas since the 1989-90 season – facing a growing sense of crisis. A 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth, marking its second straight loss to the Cherries, is the latest reminder of how far the once-mighty club has fallen, leaving Amorim with a tough task ahead. To make matters worse, it seems Liverpool’s…

Mathias Pogba, the brother of World Cup winner Paul Pogba, was sentenced to three years in prison by a Paris criminal court on Thursday, with two years suspended, in connection with a kidnapping and extortion case. Having already spent time in detention, Mathias will serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest with electronic monitoring. The sentence aligns with the prosecution’s request, although his lawyer confirmed plans to appeal. The trial, which did not include Paul Pogba, stemmed from an investigation into alleged extortion attempts by Mathias and childhood friends in 2022. Mathias Pogba stood trial last month on…

FIFA issued an apology to the Ukrainian Football Federation for displaying a map during its World Cup qualifying draw that excluded Crimea, which is occupied by Russia, from Ukraine’s territory. “We fully understand the delicate sensitivity of this matter, and while the incident was unintentional, we sincerely regret any concern it may have caused,” FIFA’s chief member association officer, Elkhan Mammadov, wrote in a letter published Sunday by the Ukrainian soccer body. Ukraine was one of 54 national teams included in the draw Friday in Zurich for the European qualifying groups for the 2026 World Cup. Russia, which has been…

LeBron James made a strong return to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night, helping them secure a 116-110 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies after missing two games. Battling a left foot injury and dealing with personal matters, James had been absent from the team for most of last week, sitting out Sunday’s game against Portland and Friday’s matchup at Minnesota. The Lakers confirmed just 45 minutes before tipoff against Memphis that James’ status had been upgraded from questionable to available. In 34 minutes of play, James recorded 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and five turnovers. “I felt pretty…

LeBron James was granted an excused absence from the Los Angeles Lakers practice on Wednesday for personal reasons, coach JJ Redick confirmed. James missed the Lakers’ win over Portland on Sunday due to left foot soreness, marking his first absence of the season. He was also absent from the Lakers’ training complex for the first practice during their extended break for the NBA Cup tournament, but Redick clarified it as an “excused absence.” With Los Angeles’ next game set for Friday at Minnesota, Redick remains uncertain whether James or fellow starter Austin Reaves will be available for the matchup against…

Tiger Woods is set to return to the PNC Championship, teaming up with his 15-year-old son, Charlie, marking his first competition since the British Open in July and following a sixth back surgery three months ago. Woods has participated in the 36-hole event alongside Charlie every year since 2020. The tournament invites major champions or Players Championship winners to play with a family member, often their children. “Playing together is something we look forward to, and it’s always more special when you’re surrounded by friends and family,” Woods said. The PNC Championship will be held Dec. 21-22 at the Ritz-Carlton…

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 37 points, and Damian Lillard added nine of his 28 in the final minute, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 114-109 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, securing a spot in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas. The Bucks, the only team returning from last year’s semifinals, will face the winner of Wednesday’s quarterfinal between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. Jalen Suggs led a shorthanded Orlando squad with 32 points but missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 12 seconds left. Lillard was fouled and sank two free throws with 9.1…

Memphis Depay, Brazil’s most popular footballer, didn’t emerge from the sun-soaked streets of Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo’s muddy fields. Instead, he grew up in the cold, quiet Dutch village of Moordrecht. But when the 30-year-old striker shocked fans by leaving Europe for South America in September, it raised plenty of eyebrows. After frustrating stints at Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, where his talents went underused, Depay could have easily joined one of the Champions League-bound clubs eager for his signature. So, why Brazil? Why Corinthians, a debt-ridden Sao Paulo team, struggling with relegation? And why choose a path that…

Formula One’s season finale in Abu Dhabi is bursting with drama: Lewis Hamilton is preparing an emotional farewell to Mercedes, top drivers are trading fierce personal barbs, and the constructors’ title is still up for grabs. Although Max Verstappen clinched his fourth drivers’ championship in Las Vegas two weeks ago, the Red Bull star remains in the spotlight – this time for a heated feud with Mercedes’ George Russell. Russell branded Verstappen “a bully” and accused him of threatening behavior following a dispute during qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix last week. Verstappen was pushed off pole position in Qatar…

Olympic leaders are “very confident and relaxed” about collaborating with the incoming Trump administration ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games, outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach said Thursday. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has highlighted his role in securing the Games for LA in 2017, despite a failed meeting with an Olympic delegation, including Bach, during his campaign. However, the two men could meet again as soon as Saturday in Paris, which will host the 2024 Olympics, originally bid for by LA. Trump is traveling to the French capital for ceremonies this weekend to reopen Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was devastated…