World Sports News in Brief

Liverpool go 16 points clear as Firmino nets winner at Spurs

Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to 16 points and set a record in the process as Roberto Firmino's first-half goal secured a battling 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - January 11, 2020 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino scores their first goal. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - January 11, 2020 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino scores their first goal. (Reuters)

* Manchester United kept alive their hopes of finishing in the Premier League's top four, with two goals from Marcus Rashford and one each from Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood giving them a 4-0 home win over Norwich City on Saturday.

* Chelsea made amends for some recent poor home form on Saturday, thumping Burnley 3-0 with goals from Jorginho, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi's first in the Premier League.

* Europe-chasing Wolverhampton Wanderers were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday as visiting goalkeeper Martin Dubravka made a string of fine saves to deny the hosts three points.

* Everton striker Richarlison curled a superb first-half shot past Brighton & Hove Albion keeper Mat Ryan to earn a 1-0 win in their Premier League clash at Goodison Park on Saturday.

* Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring at Crystal Palace on Saturday (Jan 11) but was later sent off as the hosts fought back to draw 1-1 at Selhurst Park.

* Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored on his first start since returning to AC Milan as his side earned a 2-0 win away to Cagliari on Saturday (Jan 11) to end a three-match winless run in Serie A.

* Lazio recorded a club record 10th consecutive Serie A victory by beating Napoli 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday thanks to a late howler by visiting goalkeeper David Ospina.

* A late penalty save by Inter Milan's Samir Handanovic secured a point for the Serie A leaders against Atalanta in a 1-1 draw at San Siro on Saturday as they moved one point clear of Juventus.

* Olympique Lyonnais made a provisional leap up the Ligue 1 standings when Maxwel Cornet scored and set up their second goal in a 2-1 win at Girondins de Bordeaux on Saturday.

* Second-tier Spanish soccer team Malaga say they have sacked coach Victor Sanchez del Amo four days after suspending him following the release of an explicit video of him on social media.

* World number one Kento Momota is through to the Malaysia Masters final after defeating homegrown hopeful Lee Zii Jia 21-10, 21-19 on Saturday (Jan 11). Momota will face Denmark's Viktor Axelsen, who was equally impressive in his 21-14, 21-18 win over Angus Ng Kah Long.

* Rafael Nadal secured a come-back 4-6 7-5 6-1 victory against Australia's Alex De Minaur at the ATP Cup in Sydney on Saturday (Jan 11), propelling Spain into the final of the inaugural event to play the Novak Djokovic-led Serbian team.

* Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova captured her maiden WTA singles title at the Shenzhen Open on Saturday (Jan 11), powering past Elena Rybakina 6-2 6-4 in the final.

* World number two Karolina Pliskova will defend her Brisbane International title after edging Naomi Osaka in an epic three-set semi-final at Pat Rafter Arena on Saturday (Jan 11). Pliskova triumphed 6-7 (10/12), 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 win in a two hour, 48-minute marathon and will play eighth seed American Madison Keys in the decider.

* US Open champion Bianca Andreescu will miss the Australian Open later this month as she continues to recover from a knee injury, the Canadian teenager said on Saturday.

* Serena Williams showed no signs of sentiment as she clinically dispatched teenager Amanda Anismiova 6-1 6-1 in just 45 minutes on Saturday to advance to the Auckland Classic final against Jessica Pegula.

Reuters, CNA