Latest - The Sydney to Hobart yacht race, scheduled to take place from December 26-31, has been cancelled following an outbreak of Covid-19 cases in Sydney, race organisers said.
2016 Sydney to Hobart winner Perpetual Loyal, skippered by Anthony Bell. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Australian states and territories on Friday began imposing border restrictions after 28 cases of the virus were detected from a cluster on Sydney's northern beaches.
Tasmania, where the race finishes, on Saturday announced that anyone from the area, where many of the competitors are based, would be forced to undergo 14 days of quarantine upon arrival in the state.
"We are bitterly disappointed to cancel the race this year especially considering the plans and preparations we had put in place to have a COVID safe race," Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore Noel Cornish said in a statement.
"We were so well prepared to run the race and we're only six days from the start. This is the first time in 76 years that the race will not be conducted."
-Reuters
Clinical Liverpool thrash Palace 7-0 to go six points clear
Liverpool's Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah each netted twice in a scoring masterclass as the visitors thrashed Crystal Palace 7-0 to record their first away win in the Premier League since September and move a provisional six points clear at the top.
It marked the first time the Reds had won away in the top-flight by a margin of seven goals and was their biggest league victory since they hammered Palace 9-0 at Anfield in 1989 when they won the old top-flight First Division title.
The result put the defending champions on 31 points after 14 games ahead of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who host Leicester City on Monday.
Japanese midfielder Takumi Minamino repaid Juergen Klopp's decision to start him instead of Mohamed Salah by scoring after just over two minutes and Sadio Mane then made it two when he twisted and fired home form the edge of the box in the 35th.
Firmino added a third just before the break, flicking home to finish off a glorious Liverpool counter-attack that swept the length of the field, and Jordan Henderson added a fourth seven minutes into the second half as Palace fell apart.
Firmino got his second with a brilliant chipped effort in the 68th and Salah came on to net with a header before superbly curling a shot into the top corner five minutes from time.
-Reuters
Early Sterling strike earns City 1-0 win at Southampton
Raheem Sterling scored his fourth Premier League goal of the season as Manchester City claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Southampton at St Mary's.
After a spell of constant pressure, City broke the deadlock in the 16th minute when playmaker Kevin De Bruyne's cross from the right wing found Sterling, who slotted the ball past Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.
Southampton threatened to equalise through James Ward-Prowse's set-piece deliveries but the hosts lacked a focal point in attack after striker Danny Ings was forced off with an injury just five minutes before halftime.
De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva saw opportunities go begging as City failed to add to the scoreline in the second half but the visitors were composed at the back to seal victory and move up to fifth on the league table.
-Reuters
Messi equals Pele's record of 643 goals for a single club
Lionel Messi equalled Pele's record of 643 goals for a single club after scoring for Barcelona against Valencia in La Liga.
The Argentinian star, 33, hit the milestone goal with a diving header just before halftime immediately after his penalty was saved by Valencia keeper Jaume Domenech.
Pele scored 643 goals in 19 seasons for Brazilian side Santos.
-Reuters