Everton spoil Carlisle's big day in the FA Cup

(Reuters) - Carlisle United had dreamed of an FA Cup fairytale back at their Brunton Park home that had been so heavily damaged in December's floods, but Everton ruined the fourth tier side's big day with a comprehensive 3-0 win in the fourth round on Sunday.

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Perak may lose import player Kilichev due to technical snag

IPOH: It looks like Super League side Perak may not have the services of their import player from Uzbekistan, Oybek Kilichev.

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Goh-Tan powers to Indian Open victory

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian doubles pair Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong bagged their second international crown after winning the Indian Open GP Gold title on Sunday.

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Young Liverpool thwarted by West Ham in second Wembley quest

(Reuters) - Liverpool's pursuit of a second Wembley Cup final appearance stalled at Anfield on Saturday as Juergen Klopp's second-string side had to settle for an undistinguished goalless draw with West Ham United in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

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Suarez hits winner as Barca sink nine-man Atletico

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez scored the goals as Barcelona came from behind to beat nine-man Atletico Madrid 2-1 at the Nou Camp on Saturday in a top-of-the-table clash that sent them three points clear in La Liga.

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Inheanacho shows City have firepower in reserve

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini was not surprised striker Kelechi Inheanacho marked a rare starting berth with a hat-trick in a 4-0 FA Cup rout of Aston Villa on Saturday.

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Chadli double helps Spurs ease past spirited Colchester

LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur negotiated a potentially tricky FA Cup trip to lowly Colchester United on Saturday with relative ease, winning their fourth-round tie 4-1 thanks largely to a double from Nacer Chadli.

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Chelsea sign U.S. defender Miazga on four-year deal

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea made their second signing in 24 hours when defender Matt Miazga joined from MLS club New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

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Iraq edge hosts Qatar for final Olympic berth in Asia

DOHA (Reuters) - Iraq booked a spot at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics after edging hosts Qatar for third place at the Asian Football Confederation's under-23 championships with a 2-1 extra time win.

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Malaysian doubles pair on track for first title in India

PETALING JAYA: Top national pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong stayed on track for their first title of the year after storming into the Indian Open GP Gold final on Saturday.

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Man Utd beat Derby in FA Cup to ease pressure on Van Gaal

(Reuters) - Under-pressure Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal enjoyed a rare highlight after weeks of gloom when his side comfortably beat Derby County 3-1 on Friday to reach the FA Cup fifth round.

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Brazilian Pato signs for Chelsea on loan

LONDON (Reuters) - Premier League champions Chelsea have signed Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato on loan from Corinthians until the end of the season, the London club announced on Friday.

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Father cries foul after son fails to make BAM grade

KUALA LUMPUR: The father of shuttler Muhd Iqram Maula Azman has alleged that his son had been treated unfairly during his three years with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

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Syahrul Azwari must play for Kelantan, not Sarawak

PETALING JAYA: Home is where Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim belongs.

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Life gets tough for doubles shuttlers as they reach semis in India

KUALA LUMPUR: Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong will be hoping to be third time lucky when they face defending champions and world No. 4 Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen in the semi-finals of the Indian Open Grand Prix Gold in Lucknow.

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Coquelin, Rosicky fit for Burnley clash, says Wenger

(Reuters) - Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin has recovered from a knee injury a month ahead of schedule and is fit to take part in Saturday's fourth round FA Cup clash against Burnley, manager Arsene Wenger said.

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Insight - Thai owners chase gold and glory after Leicester's remarkable run

BANGKOK (Reuters) - It took just 30 minutes for Leicester City's Thai billionaire owner to decide to buy the English football club in 2010. It now looks like an inspired investment.

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League Cup win can spur Premier League success - Fernandinho

(Reuters) - Winning the League Cup can spark, just like it did two years ago, a Premier League surge for Manchester City, midfielder Fernandinho has said.

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A matter of time before Spurs compete for trophies - Lloris

(Reuters) - It is just a matter of time before a steadily improving Tottenham Hotspur start challenging for the biggest honours in club football, captain Hugo Lloris said.

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Goh-Tan cruise into Indian Open quarter-finals, Iskandar bows out

PETALING JAYA: Top national men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong sure like playing against South Korea’s world No. 9 Ko Sung-hyun-Shin Baek-cheol.

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Dollah gets his foreign legion, now ready for Premier League season

GEORGE TOWN: Perlis coach Dollah Salleh is ready to concentrate on preparations for the new season after finally securing his fourth import player this week.

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In Italian mafia stronghold, women football players take a stand

LOCRI, Italy (Reuters) - This seaside town in Italy's deep south has long been a hotbed for the Calabrian mafia, which uses threats and violence to extort virtually every businessman, from the pizzerias to the fishmongers.

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Atletico anxious to rediscover scoring touch at Barca

BARCELONA (Reuters) - After suffering two setbacks in the space of a week, Atletico Madrid will be looking to avoid a third when they travel to La Liga leaders Barcelona for Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at the Nou Camp.

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Kane says Spurs feeling benefits of Barcelona training camp

(Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur can already feel the benefit of their training camp in Barcelona after a gruelling period of matches in recent weeks, striker Harry Kane said.

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Armed Forces might be outgunned against T-Team in Super League playoff

PETALING JAYA: The Armed Forces football team are down to the bare bones and facing an uphill battle to stay alive in the top flight.

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Chong Wei: I want to be the No. 1 again

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian badminton ace Lee Chong Wei has vowed to reclaim the world No. 1 spot before the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

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Zulfadli packs off Wan-ho to reach India Open third round

PETALING JAYA: Independent shuttler Zulfadli Zulkiffli displayed a never-say-die attitude to book his spot in the third round of the India Open GP Gold.

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Exclusive - Chelsea's Cahill wants move to save England career

LONDON (Reuters) - England centre back Gary Cahill is so frustrated by a lack of first-team football at Chelsea that he wants to leave the club in an attempt to safeguard his international place at the European Championship in the summer.

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Iskandar continues his march in Indian Open

PETALING JAYA: All eyes are on national men’s singles champion Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin after his run to the Malaysian Masters final last week.

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BAM name William Toh and Chin Chai as team managers

PETALING JAYA: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have named Datuk William Toh Ah Wah as team manager for the Asian Team Championships.

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Pellegrini expects a fully-fit Silva by end of season

(Reuters) - Manchester City playmaker David Silva is not fully fit but the 30-year-old is improving fast and should be at his best by the end of the season, manager Manuel Pellegrini has said.

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Chelsea and West Brom fined after fracas

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion have been fined for failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during their Premier League game on Jan. 13, the Football Association said on Tuesday.

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Liverpool reach League Cup final after penalty drama

LONDON (Reuters) - Keeper Simon Mignolet proved the shootout hero as Liverpool reached the League Cup final on penalties after a gripping last-four second leg tie at Anfield ended 1-1 on aggregate on Tuesday.

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Crystal Palace bring Adebayor back to Premier League

(Reuters) - Emmanuel Adebayor has joined his fourth Premier League team after signing for Crystal Palace, the club said on Tuesday.

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El Shaarawy joins Roma in bid to revive career

MILAN (Reuters) - Stephan El Shaarawy, once considered one of Italy's most promising forwards, has joined AS Roma on loan from AC Milan in a bid to revive a career which has been plagued by injuries.

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Man City captain Kompany to return in two weeks

(Reuters) - Manchester City's injured captain Vincent Kompany will return to the team ahead of schedule, but will miss Wednesday's League Cup semi-final against Everton, manager Manuel Pellegrini said on Tuesday.

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Italy police probing top football clubs over alleged tax evasion - sources

NAPLES, Italy (Reuters) - Italian police seized assets on Tuesday from football players, their agents and club executives as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion in the country's top two divisions.

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New Pahang coach is a hard man to please

PETALING JAYA: New Pahang coach Ahmad Shaharuddin Rosdi is not an easy man to please.

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Newcastle agree 12 million pound fee for Spurs' Townsend - reports

(Reuters) - Newcastle United have agreed to sign out-of-favour Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend for 12 million pounds, British media reported on Tuesday.

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FIFA confirms candidates for Feb 26 presidency vote

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA's ad-hoc Electoral Committee has formally admitted five candidates to stand for the presidency of football's global governing body at an election on Feb. 26, it said on Tuesday.

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Malaysian football legend James Wong hopes to revive Sabah's fortunes

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian football legend James Wong hopes to bring back the golden years for Sabah.

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Jin Wei and Co make main draw of Indian Open

PETALING JAYA: World junior champion Goh Jin Wei has given herself an early birthday gift after storming into the main draw of the India Open GP Gold.

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Liverpool's Lovren set for return against Stoke

(Reuters) - Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren is back in contention ahead of Tuesday's League Cup semi-final against Stoke City at Anfield, but fullback Nathaniel Clyne could miss the game due to a knee injury, manager Juergen Klopp said on Monday.

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Stoke's Shawcross ruled out of League Cup semi-final

(Reuters) - Stoke City manager Mark Hughes will be without captain Ryan Shawcross for the League Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool on Tuesday.

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Ronaldinho got his eyes on the Golden Boot

PETALING JAYA: Hitman Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh has set his eyes on winning the Golden Boot with Selangor this season.

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Bookmaker slashes odds on Van Gaal leaving United

LONDON (Reuters) - Bookmaker Williams Hill has cut its odds to 2/5 that Manchester United's Louis Van Gaal will be the next Premier League manager to leave his post after Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Southampton.

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Hughes asks Stoke to exploit Liverpool's defensive woes

(Reuters) - Manager Mark Hughes has no doubts Stoke City will recover from Saturday's 3-0 Premier League humbling by Leicester City in time to capitalise on Liverpool's defensive frailties in the second leg of the League Cup semi-finals on Tuesday.

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Iskandar to push on after good show in Malaysian Masters

GEORGE TOWN: Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin is all pumped up to make headway in world badminton after finishing second behind Lee Chong Wei at the Malaysian Masters on Sunday.

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Barca's Suarez flying before Bilbao Cup clash

MADRID (Reuters) - Barcelona forward Luis Suarez turned 29 on Sunday confident he is in the best form of his career before Athletic Bilbao visit in the second leg of their King's Cup quarter-final tie on Wednesday.

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Who needs Messi when you have Alli?

LONDON (Reuters) - Any doubts Dele Alli is the kind of player to take Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur to another level were dispelled this weekend.

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Zidane shrugs off first setback as Real coach

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane shrugged off his first setback since taking over from the sacked Rafa Benitez after his new team could only manage a 1-1 draw at Real Betis in La Liga on Sunday.

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Atletico cede top spot to Barca after Sevilla draw

MADRID (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid surrendered top spot in La Liga to Barcelona when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to 10-man Sevilla in a fiercely contested La Liga clash on Sunday.

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Terengganu's Joseph downplays good form ahead of new season

PETALING JAYA: Terengganu midfielder Joseph Kallang Tie is not going to let his recent scoring form get to his head.

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Agent denies Mourinho 'love letter' to Manchester United

(Reuters) - Jose Mourinho's agent has dismissed as "absolutely ridiculous and totally absurd" a report that the Portuguese wrote a 'love letter' to Manchester United to trumpet his case to be their next manager.

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Koo-Tan give full credit to Indonesian pair after loss

GEORGE TOWN: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong paid tribute to Indonesians Markus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo after losing the men’s doubles final at the Malaysian Masters.

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Allegri shrugs off Chelsea talk, focussed on title race

(Reuters) - Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has dismissed speculation linking him with Chelsea and said he was focussed on the Serie A title race ahead of Sunday's match against Roma.

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City need Aguero firing on all cylinders - Pellegrini

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City need a fully-fit Sergio Aguero firing on all cylinders to maintain their Premier League title push, said manager Manuel Pellegrini after the striker scored twice in Saturday's 2-2 draw at West Ham United.

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United defender Darmian taken to hospital

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United full back Matteo Darmian was taken to hospital after injuring his rib and chest during the 1-0 home defeat by Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.

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Chong Wei beats Iskandar to lift Malaysian Masters

GEROGE TOWN: Lee Chong Wei easily collected his first title title of the year after beating Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainunddin in the Malaysian Masters at the SPICE Arena in Penang.

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No happy ending for Kian Meng-Pei Jing in Malaysian Masters

GEORGE TOWN: Youngsters Zheng Siwei and Li Yinhui of China were just too good. They poured cold water on Malaysian Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing’s hot run at the Malaysian Masters.

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Barca back on top after Messi stunner

MADRID (Reuters) - Barcelona leapfrogged Atletico Madrid to go top of La Liga after Lionel Messi's acrobatic volley secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against tenacious Malaga on Saturday.

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Nobody can believe my Leicester dreamers, says Ranieri

LONDON (Reuters) - Claudio Ranieri looked a mite incredulous as he smiled that "nobody can believe" the exploits of his Leicester City team following the latest chapter of their preposterous Premier League fairytale on Saturday.

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Gilmour wants to be 'another' Marin

GEORGE TOWN: Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland hopes to bloom into another European badminton star, just like Carolina Marin of Spain.

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Sime Darby FC in rebuilding process with Premier League action

PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby FC are on a rebuilding mission in this season’s M-League.

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Felda United banking on youth exuberance for Super League

PETALING JAYA: Youthful Felda United are ready to pack a punch in their second year in the Super League.

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Koo-Tan will be taking it easy in Malaysian Masters final

GEORGE TOWN: Veteran shuttlers Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong showed that they still have fire in their bellies.

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Qualifiers Kian Meng-Pei Jing pulled the rug from under Malaysian No. 1 pair

GEORGE TOWN: Shuttlers Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing aims to end their dream run at the Malaysian Masters with a maiden title.

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Iskandar storms into Malaysian Masters final

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's Iskandar Zulkarnian Zainuddin beat second seed K. Srikanth to make the final of the Malaysian Masters Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament on Saturday.

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Lewandowski double lifts Bayern on Bundesliga restart

HAMBURG (Reuters) - Robert Lewandowski struck twice to steer champions Bayern Munich to a 2-1 win at Hamburg SV on Friday that stretched their lead at the top to 11 points as the Bundesliga resumed following a one-month winter break.

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Rainy Manchester ideal for Messi, jokes Aguero

LONDON (Reuters) - It rains hard and often and is a far cry from the beaches of Barcelona, yet Argentina striker Sergio Aguero believes world player of the year Lionel Messi would find Manchester to his liking.

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Bolton coaches dip into own pockets to pay staff

LONDON (Reuters) - Bolton Wanderers coaches have used their own money to help pay staff still waiting for their wages at the debt-laden second-tier English club, manager Neil Lennon said on Friday.

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Through thick or thin, Pei Jing is with Kian Meng

GEORGE TOWN: Lai Pei Jing has decided to stick with new mixed doubles partner Tan Kian Meng through thick or thin.

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Goh-Tan out with a whimper

GEORGE TOWN: Disappointments were written all over the faces of Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong.

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Chong Wei wishes for an all-Malaysian final in Malaysian Masters

GEORGE TOWN: Let’s make it an all-Malaysian affair.

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Terengganu still looking for the man with the scoring boots

PETALING JAYA: With less than a month before the new season, Super League outfit Terengganu are still without a main striker.

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Devan wants Kelantan wingers to lift them up to glory

PETALING JAYA: Kelantan’s fleet-footed wingers are set to provide the sparks this season.

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Robson wants van Gaal's United to entertain fans again

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Manchester United great Bryan Robson believes Louis van Gaal's players can do more to prevent boring displays and wants them to exhibit the same attacking football that has made the Premier League side arguably the world's most popular soccer club.

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Stuttering Valencia held by Las Palmas in King's Cup

MADRID (Reuters) - Valencia's struggles under new coach Gary Neville continued when they had to come from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw in their King's Cup quarter-final first leg at home to Las Palmas on Thursday.

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Arsenal must prepare for 'battle' with Costa, says Wenger

(Reuters) - Arsenal must be prepared to battle Chelsea striker Diego Costa when the two London rivals meet in the Premier League on Sunday, manager Arsene Wenger has said.

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Zaiza puts honeymoon on hold to prepare for Premier League season

PETALING JAYA: Newly-wed Zaiza Zainal Abidin has put his honeymoon plans on hold.

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Mascherano accepts one-year jail term in plea bargain - reports

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano accepted a one-year prison sentence for tax evasion on Thursday as part of a plea bargain, Spanish media reported, although he is unlikely to serve time in jail.

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Joy for Iskandar, tears of regret for Zulfadli in Malaysian Masters

GEORGE TOWN: Shuttler Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin was jumping in joy but Zulfadli Zulkiffli was left in tears at the Malaysian Masters.

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Srikanth not shying away from meeting – and beating Chong Wei

GEORGE TOWN: It has been a good run for Indian shuttler K. Srikanth so far.

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Kian Meng growing from strength to strength

GEORGE TOWN: Lanky Tan Kian Meng is walking tall. In just six months, he has grown from an average singles player to a creditable doubles shuttler.

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Klopp urges patience as Liverpool youngsters dazzle Exeter

(Reuters) - Manager Juergen Klopp has tried to temper the weight of expectation on Liverpool's youngsters, insisting that the talents on display during Wednesday night's FA Cup win over Exeter City have steep learning curve ahead.

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Barca take control of Cup tie against Bilbao

MADRID (Reuters) - Barcelona made smooth progress in their bid for a fourth King’s Cup triumph in eight years when Munir el Haddadi and Neymar struck in a 2-1 success at Athletic Bilbao in their quarter-final, first leg on Wednesday.

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Leicester's Ranieri upbeate despite FA Cup exit

(Reuters) - Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri sought comfort in his team's record against Tottenham Hotspur this season after the Foxes were knocked out of the FA Cup by their north London opponents on Wednesday night.

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Leaders Bayern ready for Guardiola farewell tour

BERLIN (Reuters) - League leaders Bayern Munich are looking for a winning start to the year at Hamburg SV on Friday as the Bundesliga resumes after the winter break and coach Pep Guardiola starts his farewell tour that he hopes will end with more silverware.

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Zulfadli off to a flyer at Malaysian Masters

GEORGE TOWN: Independent shuttler Zulfadli Zulkiffli has gotten off to a cracking start in the Malaysian Masters badminton tournament at the SPICE Arena in Penang.

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Malaysia’s Uber Cup players lost but coach remains cool

GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia’s Uber Cup shuttlers did not have a glorious day at the Malaysian Masters, but coach Lim Pek Siah still found a reason to smile.

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Big teams have not switched on yet, says Leicester's Ranieri

(Reuters) - The "big" teams in the Premier League have not turned on the turbochargers yet, Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri said, as his side sit level on points with leaders Arsenal after a surprise transformation from regulation strugglers.

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Selangor sound early warning to rivals with pre-season win

PETALING JAYA: Selangor have sounded an early warning to their rivals. The Red Giants, under new coach Zainal Abidin Hassan, downed Sarawak 2-0 in their first warm-up match of the season on Tuesday.

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Klopp says Benteke has a long-term future at Liverpool

(Reuters) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has dispelled doubts about Christian Benteke's suitability to the team's high-pressing style of play and said the striker has a long-term future at Anfield.

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Indonesia sending old and new faces to Asian Team meet

GEORGE TOWN: Unlike Malaysia, Indonesia have decided to send a mixed group to the Asia Team Championships in Hyderabad from Feb 15-21.

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National champ Iskandar scores upset in Malaysian Masters

GEORGE TOWN: National singles champion Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin told himself no more first round defeats this year. And he kept his word on Wednesday at the Malaysian Masters.

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Mertesacker tells Arsenal youngsters to tap into Cech's experience

(Reuters) - Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has asked the club's academy players to make the most of goalkeeper Petr Cech's vast experience and get better.

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No truth in Man City exit talks, says Bony

(Reuters) - Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony has dismissed British media reports linking him with a return to former club Swansea City during the January transfer window, by saying that he is happy at the Etihad Stadium.

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Villa and West Brom advance in FA Cup after replays

LONDON (Reuters) - Aston Villa forgot their Premier League woes and moved into the fourth round of the FA Cup with an unconvincing 2-0 win over fourth tier Wycombe Wanderers in their third round replay at Villa Park on Tuesday.

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Norwich sign Scotland striker Naismith from Everton

LONDON (Reuters) - Norwich City have signed Scotland striker Steven Naismith from Everton on a three-and-a-half-year deal, the Premier League clubs said on Tuesday.

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Ronaldo says could 'one day' play in MLS

(Reuters) - Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is open to the idea of one day playing in Major League Soccer, he said in an interview with GQ magazine.

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FIFA presidential candidate suggests 40-team World Cup

BERNE (Reuters) - FIFA presidential candidate Gianni Infantino suggested expanding the World Cup to 40 teams and following the example of the European championship by spreading it across several countries to share out the "honour and benefits" of the tournament.

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Mixed pair Kian Meng-Pei Jing finally get a win

PENANG: Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing got the monkey of their back in grand fashion on the opening day of the Malaysian Masters at the SPICE Arena here.

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Be fair to Kien Keat-Boon Heong too, BAM

GEORGE TOWN: Coach Lee Wan Wah hopes his charges – Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong – will get a fair chance in their race to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

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Frost: Prove yourself worthy of Olympic place, Wei Feng

GEORGE TOWN: Stop whining and start winning. That’s what Chong Wei Feng should be doing as the Badminton Association of Malaysia have given him more than enough chances to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

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De Gea's brilliance not lost on United team mates

(Reuters) - Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has often been the rock holding his side's defence together during a difficult season, and the Spaniard's string of saves in the 1-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday once again proved his value to the club.

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FCAM to check on coaches ‘leasing’ their certificates

PETALING JAYA: Don’t abuse the system. Football Coaches Association of Malaysia president B. Sathianathan wants action to be taken against those who misuse the ‘A’ Licence coaching certificates.

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IAAF scandal worse than football's crisis, says Johnson

LONDON (Reuters) - The corruption scandal that has rocked athletics is worse than the one that has plunged football body FIFA into crisis because it punished clean athletes, four-times Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson said on Tuesday.

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Arsenal mentally stronger than ever, says Walcott

(Reuters) - Pundits have been lining up to question Arsenal's mental toughness and their willingness to dig deep in big games, but Theo Walcott says leadership figures in the dressing room have given the Premier League leaders a sense of self-belief.

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Kim Swee finally gets the top job (updated)

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Ong Kim Swee has been appointed as the national team head coach by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

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Swansea beat Watford to move out of relegation zone

LONDON (Reuters) - SWANSEA CITY 1 WATFORD 0

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Liverpool goalkeeper Mignolet signs contract extension

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has been handed a contract extension in a strong vote of confidence by the Premier League club that media reports said would keep the Belgian international at Anfield until 2021.

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Law changes will simplify football, says Elleray

LONDON (Reuters) - Football always has been a relatively simple sport, governed by 17 laws largely unchanged since the 19th century, yet that template is now surrounded by 22,000 words of interpretations, creating anomalies the rulemakers want to streamline.

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Leicester to relieve Mahrez of spot-kick duties, says Ranieri

LONDON (Reuters) - Leicester City playmaker Riyad Mahrez, who has missed his last two penalties, is unlikely to take his side's next spot-kick, manager Claudio Ranieri said.

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Yew Sin surprised to be picked for Asian Team meet

GENTING HIGHLANDS: Being named for the Asia Team Championships came as a complete surprise for Ong Yew Sin.

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Wei Feng says BAM are 'killing' his Olympic dream

KUALA LUMPUR: Chong Wei Feng is disappointed with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) for scuppering his dream of playing in the Olympics.

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Penang defend their ‘dismal’ pre-season form

GEORGE TOWN: The M-League season has not started yet, but Penang manager Mohd Azizudin Shariff has already been forced to issue a written statement to the fans defending the team’s dismal showing in pre-season.

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Purple League may have two divisions next season

PETALING JAYA: The Purple League is likely to become a two-tier league next year.

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Van Gaal wins favour with another double over Liverpool

(Reuters) - Manchester United can still win the Premier League title, despite their stuttering campaign so far, after a 1-0 victory at arch-rivals Liverpool on Sunday moved them within seven points of top spot, manager Louis van Gaal said.

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Ronaldo backs Zidane after second straight Real win

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo gave a ringing endorsement of new coach Zinedine Zidane and handed a rebuke to his sacked predecessor Rafa Benitez after Sunday's 5-1 La Liga victory at home to Sporting Gijon.

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Messi to have tests on possible muscle injury

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona forward Lionel Messi will have tests on Monday on a possible muscle injury sustained in Sunday's 6-0 La Liga victory at home to Athletic Bilbao, coach Luis Enrique said.

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Ranieri sets Leicester 79-point target

LONDON (Reuters) - Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has set his surprise Premier League leaders the target of reaching 79 points this season, having spent most of the campaign saying their goal was merely to avoid relegation.

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Coach Rajagopal to make Sarawak feared again

PETALING JAYA: New coach Datuk K. Rajagopal wants the Crocs to get their bite back.

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Chong Wei: Take it away boys

KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Chong Wei wants the youngsters to take the bull by the horns at the Asia Team Championships in India next month.

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Chun Seang the hero as Muar City do the double

GENTING HIGHLANDS: Tan Chun Seang was the hero as Muar City Badminton Club bagged a double by clinching the Resorts World Genting Purple League Champions Challenge crown.

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Malaysian Open badminton to go ahead as scheduled

GENTING HIGHLANDS: The Malaysian Open from April 5-10 is scheduled to proceed as planned.

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Ibrahimovic sends PSG 23 points clear with Toulouse win

PARIS (Reuters) - Paris St Germain left it late to notch their eighth victory in a row when Zlatan Ibrahimovic's second-half goal earned the runaway Ligue 1 leaders a 1-0 win at Toulouse on Saturday.

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Inter miss the chance to grab Serie A lead

(Reuters) - Gonzalo Higuain scored twice as Napoli extended their lead at the top of Serie A by coming from behind to defeat Sassuolo 3-1 at home on Saturday, while Inter Milan's title challenge faltered with a 1-1 draw at Atalanta.

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Gameiro double lifts Sevilla to fifth in La Liga

MADRID (Reuters) - Villarreal missed a chance to climb above Real Madrid into third spot in La Liga and draw level on points with second-placed Barcelona when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to promoted Real Betis on Saturday.

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Next target for JDT is Champions League qualification

JOHOR BARU: It’s all about raising the bar! AFC Cup champions Johor Darul Ta’zim are already planning to make a strong bid to qualify for the AFC Champions League next.

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Purple League clubs to defer to BAM for national players

GENTING HIGHLANDS: Resorts World Genting Purple League clubs must now get the approval from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) before recruiting national players.

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Relegation battle a reality for Chelsea, says Hiddink

(Reuters) - Champions Chelsea are involved in the relegation battle this season, manager Guus Hiddink said on Friday ahead of his side's Premier League clash with Everton.

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Southampton sign striker Austin

LONDON (Reuters) - Southampton have completed the signing of striker Charlie Austin from Queens Park Rangers, the Premier League club said on their website on Saturday.

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Former Liverpool ace Garcia signs for A-League strugglers

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Central Coast Mariners have signed Luis Garcia until the end of the 2015-16 season, hoping the former Liverpool midfielder can rescue the club languishing at the bottom of the A-League standings.

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BAM may omit Chong Wei from Thomas Cup Finals

GENTING HIGHLANDS: World No. 5 Lee Chong Wei may not even feature in the Thomas Cup Finals in May, after all.

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Perak sign Uzbek midfielder to boost Super League chance

IPOH: Perak have signed their fourth and final foreign player for the new M-League season.

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Zulfadli relieved to be selected for Thomas Cup qualifiers

GENTING HIGHLANDS: About time! That was 2011 world junior champion Zulfadli Zulkiffli’s first thoughts after being named by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to spearhead the team for next month’s Thomas Cup qualifiers.

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Elneny needs to adapt to physical nature of Premier League - Wenger

(Reuters) - Egypt midfielder Mohamed Elneny will need to adapt to the challenges of playing in the Premier League if he is to succeed at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

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Pele recovering well from hip surgery in New York

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Pele is recovering well from a small operation to repair his replacement hip, an official who works with the former Brazil, Santos and New York Cosmos great said on Thursday.

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Copenhagen confirm Leicester bid for Daniel Amartey

(Reuters) - High-flying Premier League club Leicester City are in negotiations to sign Daniel Amartey from FC Copenhagen after making a bid for the Ghana international, the Danish club said on Thursday.

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Atletico, Valencia through to Spanish Cup quarters

MADRID (Reuters) - Antoine Griezmann scored twice off the bench as Atletico Madrid sealed a place in the King's Cup quarter-finals with a 3-0 win at home to Rayo Vallecano on Thursday while Valencia also advanced with victory by the same scoreline at Granada.

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Wooi Yik keeping badminton alive in the family

GENTING HIGHLANDS: Budding shuttler Soh Wooi Yik has big expectations to live up to.

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Young squad for Thomas Cup qualifier in India, no Chong Wei

KUALA LUMPUR: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have taken a bold move by naming a young squad for the Thomas Cup qualifier.

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No way for Chong Wei in Asia Team Championships

KUALA LUMPUR: The days of depending on Lee Chong Wei in the Thomas Cup are finally over.

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Cheras narrowly edge Serdang in Champions Challenge

GENTING HIGHLANDS: Cheras Badminton Club snatched a win against Serdang BC by the skin of their teeth in the fifth-eighth classification match of the Resorts World Genting Purple League Champions Challenge.

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Meng Yean rekindling old partnership with Mei Kuan

KUALA LUMPUR: Doubles shuttler Lee Meng Yean is ready to stir things up with former partner Chow Mei Kuan.

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Izzaq happy to find the net again after four years

PETALING JAYA: It has been four long years since striker Izzaq Fariz Ramlan found the net.

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Arsenal must convert frustration into motivation - Wenger

(Reuters) - Arsenal must transform their frustration from Wednesday's 3-3 Premier League draw with Liverpool into motivation for their next game against Stoke City on Sunday, manager Arsene Wenger has said.

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Shaqiri ruled out of Arsenal clash with hamstring injury

(Reuters) - Stoke City winger Xherdan Shaqiri is likely to sit out Sunday's Premier League encounter against table-toppers Arsenal with a hamstring injury, manager Mark Hughes said.

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German FA eager to test video technology in Bundesliga

MUNICH (Reuters) - The German Football Association (DFB), the world's biggest football federation, want to be at the forefront of testing video replay technology if football's rule makers give the go ahead in March.

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I'm not giving up yet, says Wei Feng

GENTING: National No. 2 men’s singles shuttler Chong Wei Feng is not ready to follow Liew Daren in leaving the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) ... yet.

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Barca ease past Espanyol into Spanish Cup quarters

MADRID (Reuters) - Holders Barcelona cruised into the King's Cup quarter-finals when a side missing several regulars beat city rivals Espanyol 2-0, with Munir El Haddadi netting both goals in a thumping 6-1 aggregate success on Wednesday.

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Hiddink rues dropped points as Chelsea falter again

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea interim coach Guus Hiddink lamented two dropped points as the champions' hopes of clawing their way back up the Premier League table were dented by a 2-2 home draw with West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday.

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Klopp, Wenger nurse disappointment after thrilling draw

LONDON (Reuters) - After a thrilling end-to-end tussle that showcased the ferocious pace of the Premier League, the only two people who seemingly left Anfield disappointed after Liverpool's 3-3 draw with Arsenal were both teams' managers.

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Leicester stun Spurs, Arsenal held as Liverpool strike late

LONDON (Reuters) - 'Keep Calm And Carry On' could be Claudio Ranieri's motto for the second half of the season after Leicester City earned a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday to put the heat back on Premier League leaders Arsenal.

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AC Milan call up striker Balotelli

(Reuters) - AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli got a much needed call up for the upcoming Coppa Italia quarter-final against Carpi after being on the sidelines for more than three months with injuries.

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Kuwait fined, forfeit match due to FIFA ban

LONDON (Reuters) - Kuwait have been fined 10,000 Swiss francs (6,872 pound) and forfeited November's World Cup 2018 qualifier against Myanmar after failing to play the match due to a FIFA ban, football's governing body said in a statement on Wednesday.

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Sheikh may revisit World Cup bid processes if he wins vote

LONDON (Reuters) - Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa could revisit the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups if he wins next month's FIFA presidential election and previous "wrongful conduct" has been proven.

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FIFA fires Secretary General Valcke

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA said on Wednesday it had fired Secretary General Jerome Valcke amid alleged corruption involving World Cup ticket sales, one of many scandals surrounding football's governing body.

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Rooney laments dropped points despite return to form

LONDON (Reuters) - Wayne Rooney was in no mood to celebrate moving closer to a goal-scoring milestone with a double blast in the 3-3 draw at Newcastle United on Tuesday, the striker instead admitting he was frustrated his side had failed to secure the win.

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AS Roma sack coach Rudi Garcia - statement

ROME (Reuters) - AS Roma have sacked manager Rudi Garcia after a run of poor results, the Serie A club said on Wednesday.

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Barcelona's Neymar to appear in court as defendant in fraud case

MADRID (Reuters) - Barcelona forward Neymar has been ordered to appear in a Spanish court next month as one of the defendants in a fraud case brought by Brazilian investment fund DIS.

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Yen Mei’s done her bit for Ampang in Purple League

GENTING: National woman singles shuttler Ho Yen Mei leaves the Resorts World Genting Purple League Champions Challenge with mixed feelings.

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Man City's Kompany ruled out until last part of season

(Reuters) - Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is facing an extended spell on the sidelines and may only be fit for the final part of the season, manager Manuel Pellegrini has said.

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Liew Daren to leave BAM after Malaysian Masters

GENTING: Former world No. 10 Liew Daren has resigned from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

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Liew Daren to leave BAM after Malaysian Masters

GENTING: Former world No. 10 Liew Daren has resigned from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

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Short-handed Chelsea set for January striker search

(Reuters) - Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has hinted that the Premier League champions could be in the market for a striker during the January transfer window as cover for Diego Costa and Loic Remy.

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Leicester's January transfer business is done, says Ranieri

(Reuters) - Leicester City will not be signing any more players in the January transfer window as they bid to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League, manager Claudio Ranieri said on Tuesday.

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Caulker signs for Liverpool on loan

(Reuters) - Liverpool have completed the loan signing of defender Steven Caulker from Championship side Queens Park Rangers, the Premier League club said on their website (www.liverpoolfc.com).

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Muar City on their way to a Purple League double

GENTING: Muar City Badminton Club are a step closer to a grand double. Having already won the Resorts World Genting Purple League title, the Johor-based club look good for the Champions Challenge as well.

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Clock’s ticking for top pair Vivian-Khe Wei in Olympic chase

GENTING: Time is running out for women’s pair Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

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Newcastle agree 12 million-pound fee for Swansea's Shelvey - BBC

(Reuters) - Newcastle United have reached an agreement for the transfer of Swansea City midfielder Jonjo Shelvey for a fee of 12 million pounds ($17.4 million), the BBC reported on Tuesday.

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Guardiola apologises for speculation-fuelling admission

(Reuters) - Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola has apologised for putting some of his Premier League counterparts under pressure by publicly announcing an intention to trade Germany for England at the end of the season.

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Liverpool can't outpass Arsenal, Klopp mulls other ploys

(Reuters) - Liverpool cannot match Arsenal's brand of possession football and they will not try that either in Wednesday's Premier League clash, manager Juergen Klopp has said.

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Holders Arsenal draw Burnley in FA Cup fourth round

LONDON (Reuters) - Holders and Premier League leaders Arsenal will be at home to Championship (second tier) Burnley in the fourth round of the FA Cup after most of the big guns avoided top flight opponents in Monday's draw.

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Klopp to pair Toure and Sakho in defence against Arsenal

(Reuters) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp is celebrating having at least one senior centre-back available from his injury-ravaged squad to face Premier League leaders Arsenal on Wednesday, with Kolo Toure set to play against his former club at Anfield.

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SEA Games football coach still without players

PETALING JAYA: Project 2017 SEA Games coach Frank Bernhardt is at his wit’s end.

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Arsenal hoping to wrap up Elneny deal this week - Wenger

(Reuters) - Arsenal are hoping to complete the signing of midfielder Mohamed Elneny from Swiss champions FC Basel by the end of the week, with only work permit issues standing in the way of the switch, manager Arsene Wenger said on Monday.

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United fans may have left early to beat traffic - Van Gaal

(Reuters) - Manchester United fans may have left Old Trafford early during the FA Cup game against Sheffield United because of concerns about the traffic, manager Louis van Gaal said on Monday.

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Millionaires Muar City will have it tough in Champions Challenge

PETALING JAYA: There will be no walk in the park for Muar City in the Champions Challenge.

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Wenger extols heavy schedule for helping Arsenal rhythm

(Reuters) - Manager Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal's heavy schedule has helped the side maintain a rich vein of form that continued with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland in an FA Cup third round tie on Saturday.

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Darmian brushes off Manchester United exit talk

(Reuters) - Manchester United right back Matteo Darmian has dismissed reports he is unsettled at Old Trafford and considering a loan move to Italian champions Juventus in January.

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Loftus-Cheek can lead the way for Chelsea youngsters

LONDON (Reuters) - It was only Ruben Loftus-Cheek's first goal for the club, but the composed manner in which he took it raised hopes that Chelsea may have found the first home-grown player since John Terry to become a fixture in the team.

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Serie A leaders Inter stunned by Sassuolo at San Siro

MILAN (Reuters) - Domenico Berardi converted a penalty in the fifth minute of injury time on Sunday to give Sassuolo a shock 1-0 win away to Inter Milan who were knocked off the top of the Serie A table by Napoli following their 5-1 win at Frosinone.

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Muar claim RM1mil after first-ever defeat in Purple League

KUALA LUMPUR: Doubles shuttler Tan Wee Kiong had mixed fortunes on the final day of the Resorts World Genting Purple League.

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Kelantan coach Devan in no rush to pick his foreign legion

PETALING JAYA: The clock is ticking but Kelantan coach K. Devan is in no hurry to complete the signing of his foreign players.

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Players bored, says Scholes as Man Utd scrape FA Cup win

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United scraped into the FA Cup fourth round after a late penalty knocked out Sheffield United on Saturday but the Old Trafford gloom remained and former midfielder Paul Scholes says even the players are bored.

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From coach, Bernhardt now reduced to just a 'scout' for Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have shot themselves in the foot, again.

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Messi treble lifts Barca to the top of La Liga

MADRID (Reuters) - Lionel Messi netted his first hat-trick in 10 months as Barcelona swept aside struggling Granada 4-0 to climb above Atletico Madrid to the top of La Liga on Saturday.

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Villa's woes continue with FA Cup draw at lowly Wycombe

LONDON (Reuters) - Aston Villa could find no respite from their Premier League woes as they suffered the embarrassment of being held to a 1-1 draw at fourth-tier Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

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Zulfadli on the verge of Thomas Cup debut

KUALA LUMPUR: Seasoned campaigner Liew Daren’s slide in form could be a blessing in disguise for professional shuttler Zulfadli Zulkiffli.

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Cheras hoping for favour from Muar in Purple League

KUALA LUMPUR: The Cheras Badminton Club will be rooting for Muar City BC to do them a huge favour in the Resorts World Genting Purple League.

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A lot on offer for fans in M-League this season

SHAH ALAM: There will be sweeping changes to the 2016 M-League.

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BAM to get physical with their players

KUALA LUMPUR: The Badminton Association of Malaysia are ready to push their shuttlers to the limit physically in a bid to have a “lean and mean” outfit for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

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Chelsea must avoid another FA Cup stumble, says Hiddink

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea must not fall victim to another FA Cup giant-killing as they did last year because their chances of success in the Premier League are limited after a poor start to the season, manager Guus Hiddink said on Friday.

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Over-stretched United players in 'red zone', says Van Gaal

LONDON (Reuters) - Several Manchester United players are in the 'red zone' according to manager Louis van Gaal as he weighs up his options for Saturday's FA Cup third round tie at home to Sheffield United.

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Maxwell stunner for PSG brings back Van Basten memories

PARIS (Reuters) - Brazil defender Maxwell evoked memories of Marco van Basten's stunning strike at Euro 1988 with a brilliant first-half goal that capped runaway leaders Paris St Germain's 2-0 victory over Bastia in Ligue 1 on Friday.

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Toure blasts 'indecent' African Player of the Year snub

LONDON (Reuters) - Angry Yaya Toure has described missing out on a fifth consecutive African Player of the Year award as "indecent", saying the decision brought "shame" on the continent.

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Azamuddin looking for more success with JDT

PETALING JAYA: It is the allure of trophies that has lured national winger Azamuddin Akil to join Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).

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Barca's Suarez handed Cup ban for provocative comments

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has been given a two-match cup ban for using provocative language after their King’s Cup last-16 first-leg clash against Espanyol, the Spanish federation said on Friday.

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Nusajaya fail to grab Champions Challenge spot

KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Ying Ying played her part to deliver a win for Nusajaya Badminton Club in the Resorts World Genting Purple League.

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Koo-Tan in for a busy season to qualify for Rio Olympics

KUALA LUMPUR: Professional shuttlers Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong will hit the ground running over the next four months. Coach Lee Wan Wah has prepared a busy schedule and Kien Keat-Boon Heong will even miss the Chinese New Year on Feb 8 as they bid to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

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Chong Wei falls to second defeat in Indian badminton league

KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Chong Wei took another beating at the Premier Badminton League (PBL) in Mumbai, India, but he is cool about it.

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Arsenal's Sanchez ruled out of FA Cup tie with Sunderland

(Reuters) - Striker Alexis Sanchez will miss Arsenal's FA Cup third round tie with Sunderland on Saturday as a precautionary measure, manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed.

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Chelsea's Oscar denies training ground bust-up with Costa

(Reuters) - Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Oscar has taken to Twitter to deny reports of a training ground row with team mate and Spain international Diego Costa.

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Man United cut short Januzaj's Dortmund loan spell

(Reuters) - Belgian winger Adnan Januzaj will return to Manchester United for the rest of the season after the Premier League club cut short his loan spell at Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.

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Jin Wei to play in both junior and senior tournaments

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Goh Jin Wei will continue to play in the senior and junior tournaments.

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Cheah Soon Kit will work his magic on 10 young apprentice

KUALA LUMPUR: National men’s badminton doubles coach Cheah Soon Kit has been tasked with turning 10 young eager-beavers into world beaters.

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Wei Feng hopes to stay clear from injury this year

KUALA LUMPUR: Chong Wei Feng intends to stay injury-free as he seeks to restore his badminton fortunes, beginning with the Malaysian Masters in Penang from Jan 19-24.

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Klopp criticism egged us on, says Liverpool's Allen

(Reuters) - Liverpool's victory over Stoke City in the Capital One Cup semi-final on Wednesday was a result of manager Juergen Klopp's frank criticism of his players, midfielder Joe Allen has said.

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Januzaj poised for Man United return - reports

LONDON (Reuters) - Belgian winger Adnan Januzaj is poised to return to Manchester United after a disappointing loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, British media reported on Wednesday.

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Arsenal begin quest for rare Cup treble

LONDON (Reuters) - FA Cup holders Arsenal, who have lifted the trophy a record 12 times, begin their bid on Saturday to become only the third club in history and the first in 130 years to win it three years running.

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Injuries mar Everton's win over City

(Reuters) - Everton's 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of their Capital One Cup (League Cup) semi-final came at a cost with the trio of Romelu Lukaku, Tom Cleverley and Seamus Coleman sustaining injuries during the contest on Wednesday.

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Liverpool sign Serbian teen Grujic from Red Star Belgrade

(Reuters) - Liverpool completed a deal for Red Star Belgrade's 19-year-old Serbian midfielder Marko Grujic on Wednesday in Juergen Klopp's first signing since he took over as manager in October.

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Guardiola says he wants to coach in England - reports

(Reuters) - Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola is looking for a new challenge and wants to work in the Premier League, he said on Tuesday.

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FAM Cup champs Malacca is all about hard graft

PETALING JAYA: Malacca coach Mat Zan Mat Aris likes to do things the hard way.

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Kian Meng shows doubles prowess in Purple League

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Tan Kian Meng is slowly, but surely, enhancing his reputation as a potential doubles star.

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League title, not new contract, is priority - Pellegrini

(Reuters) - Manuel Pellegrini has said he would choose winning the Premier League with Manchester City and being shown the door over continuing as the team's manager for an extended period without any major success.

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World Cup anniversary boost for England's 1966 winners

LONDON (Reuters) - England's victorious footballers received 1,000 pounds and a raincoat for winning the World Cup in 1966 but compared to the riches on offer for today's Premier League generation, none were set for life after their playing days ended.

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FIFA ethics committee extends Valcke suspension

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA's ethics watchdog has extended Secretary General Jerome Valcke's suspension from world soccer as it prepares a ruling over accusations of corruption involving the sale of World Cup tickets.

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Advantage Liverpool as Ibe downs Stoke in League Cup

LONDON (Reuters) - Jordon Ibe came off the bench to drive home the winner as Liverpool took a big step towards reaching the League Cup final with a 1-0 victory at Stoke City in the first leg of their last-four tie on Tuesday.

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Don't compare me with Guardiola, says Zidane

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane does not want to be compared with former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola despite the similarities in their routes to the hot seats at Spain's two biggest clubs.

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Only two days in and coach Bernhardt’s not a happy camper

PETALING JAYA: What a shame! National Under-22 coach Frank Bernhardt has questioned his players’ professionalism.

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Real take leaf out of Barca's book with Zidane appointment

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid president Florentino Perez appears to have unwittingly taken a leaf out of the book of his club's arch-rivals Barcelona by appointing Zinedine Zidane as coach.

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Ampang Jaya shake off Momota defeat to beat Klang in Purple League

PETALING JAYA: Not even the shock loss of world No. 3 Kento Momota could stop Ampang Jaya BC from easing their way to an 11-7 win over Klang United BC in the Resorts World Genting Purple League.

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Transfer talk helps keep players on their toes - Smalling

(Reuters) - The threat of being replaced during the transfer window helps keep players on their toes and has spurred Manchester United defender Chris Smalling to new heights.

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Frost close to finalising team for Thomas Cup qualifier

KUALAL LUMPUR: Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost has almost made up his mind on the 10-player squad for next month’s Asia Team Championships.

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Stoke's Hughes rues lack of top jobs for British managers

(Reuters) - Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has no doubt that British managers are not winning major competitions only because the top jobs in England do not come their way.

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'Diabolical' Premier League fixture devaluing FA Cup - Allardyce

(Reuters) - Premier League's "diabolical" fixtures are devaluing the FA Cup by forcing managers to field weakened teams in the knockout competition, Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has said.

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Beckham hails Zidane as the right choice for Real

LONDON (Reuters) - Zinedine Zidane is the right man for the job of Real Madrid coach, former team mate David Beckham said on Monday after the Spanish club sacked Rafa Benitez and replaced him with the French World Cup winner.

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Leicester sign winger Gray from Birmingham

LONDON (Reuters) - Leicester City have signed England Under-20 international Demarai Gray from championship side Birmingham City, the Premier League club said on their website on Monday.

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Stoke's Arnautovic a big threat to Liverpool, says Klopp

LONDON (Reuters) - Juergen Klopp picked out Stoke City top scorer Marko Arnautovic as a player to be wary of when Liverpool take on their Premier League rivals in the first leg of the League Cup semi-finals at the Britannia Stadium on Tuesday.

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Serie A takes back seat as transfer window opens

MILAN (Reuters) - The Serie A title race, one of the most exciting and open for years, re-starts on Tuesday following the Christmas break, yet its return has been overshadowed by the opening of the transfer window.

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'Angry' United players breathing easy after Swansea win - van Gaal

(Reuters) - Manchester United's 2-1 Premier League win over relegation-threatened Swansea City on Saturday has eased the pressure on their "angry" players, manager Louis van Gaal has said.

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Liverpool's Mignolet wants response at Stoke after league loss

(Reuters) - Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has called on his team mates to respond immediately to Saturday's disappointing 2-0 Premier League defeat by West Ham United when they travel to take on Stoke City in the League Cup semi-final on Tuesday.

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Manchester City must stop falling behind in games, says Sagna

(Reuters) - Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna has warned his team mates they must start seizing the initiative in matches instead of relying on Yaya Toure to get them out of trouble if they are to win the Premier League.

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Chong Wei fails to deliver for Hyderabad Hunters

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Lee Chong Wei has suffered a drawback in his run-up to the Malaysian Masters in Penang from Jan 19-24.

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Momota chasing Olympic glory after successful season

KUALA LUMPUR: Japanese No. 1 shuttler Kento Momota has set his sights on Olympic glory.

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Ranieri sure misfiring Leicester will start scoring soon

(Reuters) - Manager Claudio Ranieri is unperturbed by Leicester City's recent goal drought and says it is only a matter of time before the Foxes start finding the back of the net again.

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Former Arsenal winger Pennant set for Singaporean Stags

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant is set for an unlikely transfer to Singaporean side Tampines Rovers, local media reported on Monday.

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Chelsea can still finish in top four, says Hiddink

(Reuters) - Chelsea still have a chance of finishing in the Premier League top four and securing Champions League football at the end of the season, interim manager Guus Hiddink has said.

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Spurs draw is not music to ambitious Pochettino's ears

(Reuters) - A measure of Tottenham Hotspur's progress under coach Mauricio Pochettino was their sense of disappointment with a 1-1 draw against Everton in the Premier League at a rainswept Goodison Park on Sunday.

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Battling Real players deserve praise, says Benitez

(Reuters) - Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez said he cannot stop people speculating about his position but felt his team deserved praise for the way they battled with 10 men in Sunday's 2-2 La Liga draw at Valencia.

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Foxes can finish top four but give me some credit - Pearson

LONDON (Reuters) - Former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson is backing the Foxes to finish in the top four of the Premier League but insists he can take some credit for their remarkable reverse in fortunes.

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Muar City retain Purple League title with room to spare

PETALING JAYA: Muar City Badminton Club have retained the Resorts World Genting Purple League crown with two matches to spare.

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Carroll header seals West Ham win over Liverpool

LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Carroll scored with a trademark towering header to sink his former employers as West Ham United got 2016 off to a flying start with a 2-0 Premier League win over a typically inconsistent Liverpool on Saturday.

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Arsenal go clear, Leicester held, relief for Van Gaal

LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal and Manchester City showed they have the stomach for a title fight on Saturday with the Premier League leaders sinking Newcastle United 1-0 and Manuel Pellegrini's men launching a late comeback to beat Watford 2-1.

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Toure, Aguero strike as Man City comeback stuns Watford

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City showed they are in no mood to give up on the Premier League title race, scoring twice in the final eight minutes to complete a superb 2-1 comeback victory over Watford on Saturday.

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Premier League milestone as Rooney ends goal drought

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney rose to second place on the all-time Premier League scoring list with a clever winner against Swansea City on Saturday.

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Sporting top after handing Porto first league defeat

LISBON, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Islam Slimani struck twice as Sporting Lisbon defeated Porto 2-0 on Saturday to end their 30-game unbeaten streak in the Primeira Liga and take over at the top of the table.

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Leaders Barca held in derby stalemate by Espanyol

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Substitute Thomas Partey scored his first La Liga goal as Atletico Madrid beat bottom club Levante 1-0 to go top of the table on Saturday while Barcelona were held to a 0-0 draw at Espanyol.

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Yen Mei gets breakthrough win in Purple League

KUALA LUMPUR: Youngster Ho Yen Mei got off to a splendid start to the year with a breakthrough performance at the Resorts World Genting Purple League.

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Will this be ‘the year’ for BAM’s Frost?

KUALA LUMPUR: The structure's in place. The coaches and players know what to expect. For BAM technical director Morten Frost, 2016 will be the year of reckoning.

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Daren’s back in action after two-month layoff

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Liew Daren has started the New Year on a positive note. For one, he's back in training last week and will feature at the Malaysian Masters after two months out injured.

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Real's Rodriguez caught doing 200 kph - reports

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid playmaker James Rodriguez was caught by police driving at 200 kilometres per hour on his way to a training session, media reports said on Friday.

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Lawrence Chew is the new BAM general manager

KUALA LUMPUR: Lawrence Chew has come a long way in badminton.

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Arsenal's Cech calls the shots in any language

LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has given an insight to the multinational shape of the modern Premier League by revealing he speaks to his defenders during matches in three languages.

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Benitez looks to in-form Ronaldo for better 2016

(Reuters) - Underfire Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez will look to an in form Cristiano Ronaldo to drive the team forward against Valencia on Sunday as they aim to put behind them a disappointing 2015.

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Club player Seng Zoe makes the BAM cut

KUALA LUMPUR: A new year, a new start for Yeoh Seng Zoe as one of 19 badminton players selected to join the Badminton Association of Malaysia back-up squad.

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