More shadow looms over Chelsea draw as result that did not help either team's ambitions.

Jose Mourinho's former club drew with what could well be his next one when Chelsea and Manchester United drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday, a result that did not help either team's ambitions.

Although the Portuguese was nowhere to be seen at Stamford Bridge, his presence still loomed large over the match.

He made headlines earlier on Sunday by being widely quoted as saying he was ready to return to work in England after losing his job at Stamford Bridge seven weeks ago, with Old Trafford strongly tipped as his next destination.

Current United manager Louis van Gaal retorted by saying he did not believe his club's board had opened talks with Mourinho about taking his job, but Sunday's draw at Chelsea would not have increased his chances of keeping it.

Although United played the better football, especially in the first half, Diego Costa's equaliser in the first minute of added time to cancel out Jesse Lingard's superb strike on the hour, left United fifth on 41 points from 25 matches.

Di Maria fires unbeaten PSG past Marseille

Paris Saint-Germain defeated bitter rivals Marseille 2-1 on Sunday to extend their record unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to 34 matches as the hosts remained unable to solve their home woes.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his league-leading 21st goal of the season to give PSG the lead inside two minutes at the Stade Velodrome, but Remy Cabella hauled Marseille level midway through the first half with a wonderful solo effort.

However, Angel Di Maria struck the winning goal on 71 minutes to hand PSG a 15th straight win in all competitions and keep Laurent Blanc's side a huge 24 points clear at the top of the table.

Marseille have now failed to win any of their last 10 home games in the league, while their streak of 11 games without defeat was also snapped after succumbing to a ninth successive 'Classique' loss.

Despite the defeat Michel's side are still just five points off third-place Nice, who they visit next Sunday, in the race for the final Champions League spot.

Van Gaal forced to defend his position again as Man United line up Mourinho to replace under-fire Dutchman

Louis van Gaal launched into another bizarre rant after being questioned about Manchester United's move for Jose Mourinho.
The Dutchman, already frustrated at watching his side concede an injury time equaliser against Chelsea, lost his cool after being asked about the club's interest in Mourinho.

Van Gaal's tirade came on the day the Special One revealed his intention to return to management 'very soon'. 

Sunday was not the first time in recent weeks that Van Gaal has been visibly irked by questions surrounding his future .

And in his latest rant, when asked about the recent links with Mourinho, the Dutchman said: 'You have spoken with Ed Woodward? Why do the club have to deny anything?

Granada 1-2 Real Madrid: Modric's stunner spares Zidane's blushes

Luka Modric's stunning strike spared Real Madrid's blushes as Granada's valiant efforts proved in vain with Zinedine Zidane's side moving four points off leaders Barcelona courtesy of a slender 2-1 victory in Andalucia on Sunday night. 

After Cristiano Ronaldo had struck the outside of a post, Madrid opened the scoring after 30 minutes as Dani Carvajal's cut-back gave Benzema the simplest of finishes for his 19th league goal of the season.

The Frenchman really ought to have doubled the visitors' lead 11 minutes into the second-half but having received Modric's pass, he could only fire his close-range effort into the gloves of Granada keeper Andres Fernandez.

Barca equal unbeaten record, Valencia lose

Barcelona equalled a club record of 28 games unbeaten to move three points clear at the top of La Liga with a hard-fought 2-0 win at Levante on Sunday.

Gary Neville's stay in Spain as Valencia boss may be short-lived as his winless La Liga streak stretched to nine games with a 1-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Real Betis.

Barca were far from their best in coach Luis Enrique's 100th game in charge, but David Navarro's first-half own goal and Luis Suarez's strike in stoppage time was enough to secure a 10th consecutive win in all competitions.

The European champions now lead Atletico Madrid by three points and have a game in hand on Diego Simeone's men.

Third-placed Real Madrid are now seven points adrift of Barca, but can cut the gap when they travel to Granada later on Sunday.

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Higuain hits 24th goal as Napoli, Juve pull away

Gonzalo Higuain hit his 24th goal in as many Serie A games as triumphant Napoli and Juventus moved closer towards a scudetto duel after slip-ups by title rivals Inter Milan and Fiorentina.

Higuain and Napoli have been transformed since Maurizio Sarri took over from Rafael Benitez last summer but it took a second-half penalty for the Argentinian to keep Napoli top of the pile in a cagey 1-0 win over 10-man Carpi.

Napoli's 17th win of the campaign maintained their two-point cushion on champions Juventus, who saw Juan Cuadrado break the deadlock on 73 minutes and Paulo Dybala wrap up a patchy 2-0 win at the death away to league new boys Frosinone.

After Fiorentina saw their title hopes dented in a 1-1 draw at Bologna on Saturday, Inter had the chance to replace La Viola in third place and maintain their title charge with a win away to basement side Verona.

But Roberto Mancini's men maintained their poor form in front of the opposition net before settling for a 3-3 draw.

Nine games, zero wins: Neville's Valencia slump to another defeat as Betis snatch points

Gary Neville admitted: 'The obituaries have already been written' after a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis extended his winless run as Valencia coach to NINE games and left him fighting to save his job.

He described the latest defeat as a 'punch in the face' but vowed to carry on after seeing his side lose to a team that started the day below Valencia in the table after only one home win all season.

Arsenal are back in the title race and have 'nerve' to win it... but Leicester are now favourites, admits Wenger

Arsene Wenger has no doubt that his team have the 'quality' and 'nerve' to go the distance in this title race after stopping their form rot in Bournemouth.

Arsenal won for the first time in five Premier League games to set the scene for a crucial fixture against leaders Leicester, at the Emirates Stadium, on Sunday.

'We have been in the title race and we are still in it,' said Wenger. 'I agree Leicester now is the favourite. In one week they have beaten Liverpool and Manchester City.

Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma suffers horror knee injury during Manchester United clash

Kurt Zouma was left screaming in agony after landing badly on his right leg

Pictures show that his leg bent unnaturally away from his body

Chelsea's indifferent season appears to have taken a turn for the worse with a gruesome-looking injury to defender Kurt Zouma.

The 21-year-old was left screaming in agony during the Blues' 1-1 Premier League draw against Manchester United on Sunday after landing awkwardly on his right leg.

Costa rescues Chelsea, Arsenal bounce back

Diego Costa snaffled a stoppage-time equaliser to preserve interim manager Guus Hiddink's unbeaten record as Chelsea snatched a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United on Sunday.

United looked to be closing to within four points of the Premier League's top four after Jesse Lingard's 61st-minute goal set Louis van Gaal's men on course for a third consecutive win in all competitions.

But in the first of six minutes of injury time, added on for a serious-looking knee injury to Chelsea centre-back Kurt Zouma, Costa rounded David de Gea to score, extending Hiddink's unbeaten run since succeeding the sacked Jose Mourinho to 10 matches.

Fernando Torres Finally finally scored his 100th goal for Atletico Madrid

Fernando Torres finally scored his 100th goal for Atletico Madrid, helping his team come from behind to defeat Eibar 3-1 in La Liga on Saturday.

Torres found the net from close range after a low cross by Luciano Vietto in second-half injury time, scoring his first goal since September. Fans at the Vicente Calderon Stadium gave the striker a standing ovation and loudly chanted his name after the final whistle.

'Finally,' Torres said. 'After many games and many years, this is something that will stay with me forever. I know I'll be among the club's greatest goalscorers. It's a prize for me.'

Defender Jose Gimenez and midfielder Saul Niguez also scored second-half goals for Atletico after Niguez's blunder just after halftime led to Sergio Keko's goal for Eibar.

The victory halted Atletico's four-game winless streak and moved the club closer to leaders Barcelona atop the standings.

Atletico are tied with Barcelona, with 51 points each, but the Catalan club have two games in hand.

Eden Hazard has revealed he sent a text message to Mourinho, Read what he said

Eden Hazard has revealed he was left feeling so guilty over Jose Mourinho's sacking that he sent a text message to the former Chelsea manager to apologise.

Mourinho was axed by the Premier League champions in December after a disastrous first half of the season leaving the Blues just one point above the relegation zone after 16 games.

Hazard, who was Chelsea's standout performer in their title winning campaign last season, was one of a number of players performing well below their usual high standards.

And the Belgium international has admitted that a portion of blame for Chelsea's most successful manager ever losing his job lays at his door.

Reveled: the real reason Liverpool throw away two-goal leads in less than 10minus to go

Liverpool 2-2 Sunderland: Adam Johnson and Jermain Defoe salvage a point for the Black Cats after thousands of fans walk out of Anfield in the 77th minute to protest rise in ticket prices

The anger began to rise and then the ground began to empty. As planned, in the symbolic 77th minute, Liverpool fans showed their disgust at the pricing plan for next season's tickets and departed en masse and made their point with force.

Aiming chants of 'You greedy b******s, enough is enough!' at the Directors Box and waving black flags, the anger was justified and the solidarity was worthy. Having felt like they have been taken for granted for too long, charging £77 for some seats next year was the last straw.

Read the latest ruling on Neymar's tax fraud charges

A Brazilian judge has thrown out tax fraud charges against Brazil and Barcelona star striker Neymar, his father and two senior FC Barcelona figures.

The magistrate, Mateus Castelo Branco Firmino da Silva, said the charges brought on Tuesday "should be rejected."

The ruling late on Thursday in Santos gave some respite to the Brazilian superstar.

Prosecutors accused him of tax evasion and falsifying documents between 2006, when he was just a promising youngster at Brazilian football club Santos, and 2013, when he signed for Barcelona.

FC Barcelona faces a separate case in Spain, where Brazilian investment fund DIS has made allegations of fraud and corruption relating to Neymar's signing in 2013. The striker testified this week in Madrid in that case.

LVG circled by Chelsea managers

Manchester United's tentative resurgence will be tested this Sunday when Louis van Gaal pits his side against a Chelsea team slowly finding their feet under his countryman Guus Hiddink.

It is only two weeks since United were booed off at Old Trafford after a 1-0 home defeat by Southampton, but consecutive wins – 3-1 at Derby County in the FA Cup and 3-0 at home to Stoke City in the league – have convinced Van Gaal that his side can still win the title.

United go into the weekend 10 points below leaders Leicester City in fifth place and five points below the Champions League berths.

"We don't have to exaggerate, but I have the feeling if we shall beat Chelsea – although that is very difficult, because under Guus Hiddink they don't lose – then I think our league is starting again," Van Gaal said.

Latest update, 'Man United hold talks with Mourinho'

Jose Mourinho's representatives have held talks with Manchester United about replacing Louis van Gaal as manager of the Premier League club, according to reports on Friday.

Mourinho has been strongly linked with the Old Trafford post since being sacked by Chelsea in December and the BBC and Manchester Evening News claim discussions have started with a view to the Portuguese coach taking over at the end of this season.

Van Gaal has endured stinging criticism from former United players and the club's fans for his conservative tactics, with reports suggesting he was twice talked out of quitting by executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward earlier this term.

Rosicky injury may end Arsenal career

Tomas Rosicky's latest injury setback, a torn thigh tendon, leaves him in a race against time if he is to play for Arsenal again with his Gunners contract due to expire in June.

The 35-year-old missed the first half of the current campaign with a knee injury and coach Arsene Wenger confirmed Friday the Czech midfielder would now be out a further three months.

Asked if Rosicky had played his last game for Arsenal, Wenger said: "I hope not, but the injury is quite a serious one. He will not need surgery."

Rosicky signed for Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund after a fine showing at the 2006 World Cup and has been a regular feature on Arsenal's left-midfield ever since.

Sevilla on the verge of Cup final

French striker Kevin Gameiro struck twice and missed a penalty to put Sevilla on the brink of reaching a Copa del Rey final against Barcelona with a 4-0 semifinal, first-leg win over Celta Vigo on Thursday.

Barca's place in a fifth final in six years is assured after they thrashed Valencia 7-0 in the first-leg of their semifinal on Wednesday.

Sevilla have now won 12 consecutive games at home in all competitions and were worthy winners, even if the scoreline flattered Unai Emery's men.

Gameiro had a great chance to open the scoring after half an hour but saw his spot-kick brilliantly saved by Ruben Blanco.

Celta then came desperately close to a precious away goal as Sergi Gomez headed against the bar before Pablo Hernandez flashed a shot inches wide on the counter-attack.

Read what Leicester City manager said to his players about Manchester City's "magicians"

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has warned his players that Manchester City's "magicians" can pick up three points even if the Foxes play a perfect game, when both sides meet in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Leicester continue to defy the odds this season, maintaining a three-point lead at the top of the table with a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Liverpool on Tuesday.

However, hot on their heels are Manuel Pellegrini's men, who will look to win back-to-back league games for the first time since October and have striker Sergio Aguero in top form, with five goals in his last three league games.

Aguero scoops Barclays Premier League Award

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has been named Barclays Premier League Player of the Month for January.

The Argentine hitman played a pivotal role as the Blues went on an unbeaten run and climbed to second in the table.

Aguero scored five goals and provided one assist to help the Blues secure eight points from four league games.

Leicester face start of crunch time

Surprise leaders Leicester City face a severe test of their Premier League title credentials over the next 10 days, starting with Saturday's trip to Manchester City.

Claudio Ranieri's intrepid side have become a "second club" for football fans bored with the dominance of Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal in the last two decades.
With 14 games left they will travel to the Etihad Stadium three points clear of a chasing pack, led by Manchester City but missing some usual suspects.

West Ham must focus on Saints - Bilic

West Ham United's sole focus should be on their upcoming Premier League clash against an in-form Southampton side on Saturday and not on their promising league position of sixth, manager Slaven Bilic said on Thursday.

The Hammers are on course to challenge their best ever Premier League finish of fifth, a feat they achieved in 1998-99 season.
Bilic's men are only six points off fourth-placed Arsenal after 24 games and their impressive form this campaign has raised hopes that the club could qualify for next season's Champions League or Europa League competition.