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Barcelona star Lionel Messi has promised he won't talk to other clubs about a possible move until the current season is over. 

After failing to secure a Camp Nou exit over the summer and now into the final season of his current contract with the club, Messi continues to be linked with a possible transfer away from Spain. 

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain loom as the most likely destinations with the Argentine seemingly still interested in exploring his options. 

Any talks about a possible move will have to wait until the summer however with Messi vowing he'll hold off having those discussions to ensure he continues to give his all for Barca. 

"I have nothing clear until the end of the year, I will wait for the end of the season," Messi told La Sexta.

"The important thing is to think about the team, finish the year, think about trying to get titles and not be distracted by other things. 

"I don't know what's going to happen, I'm focused on what we have, on what can be done in these six months. I don't think about how the year will end because today it wouldn't be good for me to tell you what am I going to do because I don't know. 

"I don't know if I'm going to leave or not and if I leave, I would like to leave in the best way.

"Always speaking hypothetically, I would like to return some day. I would like to return to the city, to work at the club, to contribute. Barcelona is much bigger than any player, even me obviously, and I hope that the president who comes in will do things well to help us lift important titles again." 

Messi added that a potential move to Major League Soccer would appeal to him, but he is unsure if it will come to fruition.

"I always said that I have the illusion that I would like to enjoy the experience of living in the United States, of living that league and that life, but if it happens or not I don't know," the Argentine said.

Messi also rejected the idea of him joining either Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid, and replied when asked if he could join the later: "No, impossible." 

A move to Manchester does however appear to be possible with Messi confirming he still chats regularly with former mentor and current City boss Pep Guardiola. 

Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has likened Cristiano Ronaldo to the biggest names in world sport, insisting the Portuguese icon is someone who stands out in the world of football.

The question on who is best between Messi and Ronaldo has raged in recent times but the Argentine superstar himself admitted his respect for the Juventus attacker.

Messi revealed he sees Ronaldo alongside other sport superstars in their chosen craft - likening him to Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and LeBron James.

"There are many admirable athletes. Rafa Nadal, Federer, LeBron - in all sports there is always someone who stands out and is admirable for his work," Messi told La Sexta.

"Cristiano stands out in football. There are many who stand out and always do their best."

Despite Messi revealing his admiration for several sporting figures in world sport, the 33-year-old said that his children invoke more passion in him than anyone else.

He explained he managed to suppress "the fan inside" when he became a senior player at Camp Nou.

"When I started to be a professional, I managed to put aside my passion as a football supporter," Messi said. "Those who make me get up from the couch are my children. They are what move me the most today."

Messi has been linked with a transfer to the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season after handing in a transfer request to Barcelona's hierarchy during the recent summer.

The attacker decided to stay at Camp Nou after much deliberation and hinted that he could still remain at the club next campaign.

"I'm sorry about everything. I always said it. Barcelona is my life. I've been here since I was 13 years old," Messi said.

"Well, the truth is that today I'm fine, it's true that I had a very bad time over the summer because of how the season ended."

Barcelona have struggled for consistency under Ronald Koeman, as they sit in fifth place in the La Liga standings, eight points behind Atletico but having played one extra game.

Their next league fixture comes against Eibar at home on December 29.

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho was left frustrated by his side's failure to beat Wolves on Sunday as they were held to a 1-1 draw.

Despite taking the lead in the first minute through a Tanguy Ndombele goal, Spurs ended up sharing the spoils with the home side when Romain Saiss headed beyond Hugo Lloris in the late stages of the game.

The north London side have collected just two points from their last four Premier League matches and the coach feels they should have put an end to their winless streak after going ahead so early.

"One point against Wolves normally wouldn't be a bad result because they are a strong opponent. But scoring in the first minute and having the control of the game for the rest of it and having 89 minutes to score more, there's a sense of feeling frustrated," he told Sky Sports.

"I know the way I prepare the team, I know what I asked of the players, I know all that and don't want to say much more than that. I give some credit to Wolves of course because they put pressure on us, pressure that we coped quite well with, controlling the game very well.

"But we didn't have that ambition, that desire to go for more."

He added to BBC Sport: "I don't know if we deserved more than a point. We had the best thing that can happen to a team which is to score in the first minute. We had control of the game and conceded from a corner. We had 89 minutes to score more goals and we didn't.

"It is very disappointing, it is like against Liverpool where you control dangerous players for 90 minutes and concede from a set-piece.

"Tanguy Ndombele had a good game when he had energy. I didn't want us to sit deep, I put [Steven] Bergwijn on for [Sergio] Reguilon, a fresh [Erik] Lamela for a tired Son [Heung-min].

"Defending deep, that's not the intention. They know what I asked them at half-time, if they couldn't do better it's because they couldn't do better."

Mourinho's men will host Fulham on Wednesday in their final match of 2020 and will welcome Leeds to north London next Saturday for the first encounter of 2021.

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has admitted that he is considering dropping players ahead of Aston Villa's visit to Stamford Bridge on Monday.

Mikel Arteta's struggling Arsenal were the latest team to defeat Chelsea after earning a deserved 3-1 win at the Emirates on Boxing Day, the third defeat in four games for the Blues.

Lampard was left frustrated and was critical of his players who performed particularly poorly in the first half. Now, having hammered his players for "not following the basics," Lampard has admitted there will be consequences after a bad run.

"The first half certainly was our worst performance of the season as far as I saw it," Lampard told reporters ahead of his side's clash with Villa. "We lacked energy. We are in a position in the last four games of losing three and only winning one. So that needs a reaction.

"They did [lack character] and the players know that. The first half we lacked it. Second half we didn't, to be fair, and there will be some players that come out of it with credit for the performances in the second half. But today we did.

"I’m not going to generalise that that’s the case because it’s not. But today we did and football will punish you if you turn up and have that sort of lack of the basics in your game.

"There will be some changes and I knew that anyway. I am certainly not going to bang the drum about the quick turnaround after our performance today. That's not to point. We are playing two games in two days and [changes] would have happened anyway.

"Some of those will happen because of how the game went and people will have to come in and inject energy and personality."

Chelsea must count the cost of their efforts in the London derby ahead of the match against Dean Smith's side, who are one of seven teams above them in the Premier League after 15 games.

Ahead of the match, Lampard confirmed that Hakim Ziyech remains out injured but hinted that Callum Hudson-Odoi would start. The 20-year-old was one of the few bright performers off the bench against the Gunners after coming on at half-time for an out-of-form Timo Werner.

"Some people wanted to talk us up as title contenders but I never accepted that because we are not there," he added. "That takes time to build and days like today are ones where we have to learn big lessons from.

"You learn about the players and the players have to learn about themselves. Some of them are young and some of them are new to the Premier League and these tough times are things that we will have to go through.

"I don’t think this season was ever going to be plain sailing, winning every week. We got confident and we got into a position where we were not losing games and winning a lot of games.

"When you lose a couple of games, things become a lot tougher and the only way out of it is the fight and work hard. That’s what I will be instilling in the players – that idea – because it’s the only way that you get out of what is a difficult little period for us."

Chelsea next face an in-form Villa before Manchester City visit after the New Year.

Lampard spoke about his respect for the Midlands side and the impact that fellow legendary Blues player John Terry has had as Villa's assistant manager.

"I’m sure John has an influence because he’s one of the greatest centre-backs that played in the Premier League for England and in the world for a long time and an absolute wealth of knowledge," he added.

"His input will be invaluable to Dean Smith and all the staff and the team are working hard. You’ve seen a big uplift and I’m sure there’s a lot of hard work behind the scenes from John and all the staff.

"I think they are a good team with very good individual players. They added to their squad in a very good way in the off-season. Good manager, good coaches and good players that are playing well and they are in a really good time at the moment.

"I’m not completely surprised. It will be a tough match."

John Stones is determined to make the most of his remarkable turnaround after reestablishing himself at the heart of Manchester City's defence.

The England international's future at the Etihad Stadium looked uncertain in the summer when Pep Guardiola drafted in Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake to eliminate the defensive problems that blighted City last season.

But Stones has returned in brilliant form to dislodge first-choice centre-back Aymeric Laporte and help City to 13 clean sheets in all competitions - the most of any club in Europe's top five leagues.

City have not conceded a goal with Stones on the pitch for 718 minutes going back to the opening game of the season, and he is revelling in being back in the side.

“It makes you realise how hard you have worked and that the hard work is paying off," the former Everton defender said ahead of Monday's night return to Goodison Park.

"It makes you realise how special it is to be out there and also to realise that when other players aren’t playing, how they feel and what you should do for them when you are on the pitch.

"There are a lot of aspects you can look at but it is something you cannot take for granted. There is always twists and turns and you have got to grab it with both hands and enjoy it and that is what I am doing.

"I am really enjoying my football. It always makes it easier when you are winning and keeping clean sheets but I am just trying to move in the right direction and to keep trying to become better as a player and as a team.”

Individual errors have been costly to City, particularly with Guardiola putting his defence under pressure by asking them to defend high up the pitch.

But since the 5-2 defeat to Leicester in September when they conceded three penalties, the City boss has been happy to see his side largely eliminate their mistakes.

"What we’ve improved in is that individually we don’t make stupid mistakes," Guardiola said. "The opponent can make a good action and we applaud, but we are not making mistakes. Everyone is focused.

"That has helped us, we’ve conceded three goals in the last 10 games.

"We conceded five against Leicester because we gave them three penalties but otherwise we have been incredibly solid. Maintain it, don’t make mistakes, it will help us."

It has not been an easy two years for Stones as he struggled with injuries, being out of the side, off-field issues and losing his place as a regular in the England squad.

But he has been grateful for the support of his team-mates and believes he has learnt a lot about his own game.

“I think I have learnt who I am as a player," he added. "I have learnt a lot of things football-wise as a person as well.

"I think the biggest compliment is to my team-mates as I wouldn’t be where I am without them and my coaching staff.

"You get to learn how to become a winner from winners that are still here and have left.

"I have learnt a lot from players in different positions as well. I think we have such a variety of players here with different qualities and attributes that has made me better.

"It is a difficult question to answer but I think a winning mentality is the one I have learnt.”

Stones says he is enjoying the pressure that comes with being in a City side pushing for Premier League and Champions League success.

“Win or lose, the pressure is there and pressure is something we definitely thrive off and take a lot of motivation to do better and keep the pressure on the other teams," he said.

"There are all types of scenarios that run through your head at this club and it is exciting to be a part of it.

"We have got to just keep striving to be better and better and keep that consistency we have had in previous seasons.”

Granit Xhaka was happy to silence his critics with his goalscoring performance during Arsenal's 3-1 victory against Chelsea on Boxing Day.

The Switzerland international was playing his first game since his sending off against Burnley on December 13 and marked the occasion with an impressive performance as Arsenal claimed their first win in seven Premier League games.

Xhaka curled home a wonderful free-kick just before half-time to add to Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty and drew praise from manager Mikel Arteta for his all-round display in the heart of midfield.

It was the perfect response from the 28-year-old, who has come in for lots of criticism in recent weeks following his red card against Burnley and his failure to publicly apologise for the incident which led to a 1-0 home defeat.

“There was a lot of speaking after the red card,” Xhaka said. “A lot of people started speaking again ... and again and again.

“I will always show my character. I was very disappointed about my red card and I knew what I did was wrong for my side. But I am more than happy. I helped the team and I am back.”

Xhaka added: “We knew it would be a very difficult game, but we worked very well together like a team and at the moment we can only get points if we do this.

“We carried out the plan that the coach gave us. To press, to be focused 95 minutes. We scored at the right time and going 3-0 up helped a lot.”

Arsenal’s win against Chelsea saw them move up to 14th in the Premier League and edge six points clear of the relegation zone.

The victory was their first in the league since the 1-0 success at Manchester United on November 1 and it helped ease the pressure on Arteta, who had come under fire for his side’s awful run of form.

Arteta’s side now head into two crucial away games at Brighton and West Brom and Xhaka says the win against Chelsea will count for little if they don’t follow it up.

“It was very important that we got three points [against Chelsea] but we have to continue like this,” he said.

“The next two games away are very difficult but if we work together like a team we have the chance to take away all six points.”

Chelsea star Mason Mount says he and his team-mates have to be ruthless as they seek to bounce back from a derby thumping by Arsenal.

The Blues started the Boxing Day clash at the Emirates as strong favourites to take three points but were instead the victims of a 3-1 defeat.

England midfielder Mount wants to see Chelsea put the defeat behind them as quickly as possible and offered no excuse for the display.

“We have to be harsh on ourselves. We can’t start a game like that and expect not to be 2-0 down at half-time. It is a tough lesson and we need to learn that and we need to do better the next time,” he said to the club’s official website.

“It is something where we need to look at ourselves as players. We didn’t start the game anywhere near what we should be. We are representing Chelsea, we’re a big club and we really need to look at ourselves as players and say that was not good enough. We know that it is a big London derby and we need to start the game way better than we did.”

He is backing his side to bounce back when they play Aston Villa on Monday.

“We are big players so we can get together and really bounce back after that performance,” he added.

“It is probably better we have that quick turnaround because now we look at another game. The Arsenal one is gone, there are still big things we need to work on but now we have that one day before our next game and we can put it in the back of our heads and really go into Villa with a strong mindset, starting the game very well and hopefully doing well in the game.”

Frank Lampard’s side presently reside seventh in the Premier League standings, having played the full complement of 15 games.

They are, however, in the midst of a disappointing spell of form, with three defeats in their last four.

After they close out their 2020 calendar against Villa, they can look forward to their first game of the New Year against Manchester City.

Hyderabad suffered their second defeat on the trot as they went down 0-2 against Kerala Blasters in an Indian Super League (ISL) clash on Sunday.

Coach Manuel Marquez Roca stated after the match that his players lacked the attitude to win the tie against Kerala Blasters.

"We lost because they played with more attitude. It is one of those days when a coach is very angry because if the attitude fails it becomes impossible to win a game. In the first minute, they showed a better attitude. We also had our chances to score but only for their attitude, they deserved to win.

"Both teams had one week to recover but the same players are playing too many games and we were tired especially in the second half and we did not have clarity in front of the goal. Just before conceding the second goal, Fran (Sandaza) could have equalised but Albino (Gomes) made a good save," said the Spanish coach.

The Hyderabad manager also suggested that he is disappointed with the result as his side had enough opportunities to score but he was unhappy to see the attitude of his players in the first half of the match.

"We had clear chances. I don't know what happened in the first half when Aridane (Santana) didn't score the equaliser, his shooting was not good. Or just before the second goal of Kerala, Fran Sandaza got a clear chance. But these kinds of things happen in football. I am not disappointed that Kerala had the same number of chances as we had. I am disappointed with the attitude of the players in the first 25 to 30 minutes," said Roca.

The former Las Palmas manager also urged everyone to stop hyping up Hyderabad's young star Liston Colaco.

"I think people are speaking too much about Liston (Colaco). This is the first season wherein he is playing regularly and I think he needs to be calm and he doesn't need people speaking about him that he deserves to be in the national team. Liston will be a very good player but he has to improve a lot of things and he knows that. But maybe if people don't speak too much about him, it will be better for Liston." said the Hyderabad boss.

Roca also hinted that the club is looking to sign a seventh foreigner in the January transfer window also gave an update on striker Joel Chianese's fitness.

"If we sign another foreigner it will be because we have only six foreigners. Joel (Chianese) is close to playing, not yet but very soon. Let us see if we can sign another player."

Asante Kotoko and Medeama played out a 1-1 draw in a postponed Ghana Premier League (GPL) fixture on Sunday.

William Opoku Mensah netted first for the Porcupine Warriors but a late Abass Mohammed penalty levelled things for the hosts at Akoon Park.

After the result, Kotoko occupy the sixth position on the league table while Medeama hold the 13th spot.

Visiting coach Johnson Smith handed young midfielder Emmanuel Sarkodie a starting opportunity to debut for the club while also bringing Samuel Frimpong, Abdul Ganiyu and Habib Mohammed into the starting line-up

Medeama coach Samuel Boadu handed attacking responsibilities to Kwasi Donsu, Kwadwo Asamoah, Rashid Nortey and Eric Kwakwa in his set-up.

Before the match could witness any clear scoring chance, the home side were forced into an early substitution as Ali Ouattara went down injured and had to be replaced by Baba Musah in the 12th minute.

In the 16th minute, Kwakwa's shot from outside the box went off target, moments before Kotoko goalkeeper Razak Abalora denied Patrick Yeboah the opener.

Four minutes prior to half-time, Ibrahim Osman went close for Kotoko after being picked out by Latif Anabila but Medeama goalkeeper Eric Ofori Antwi was alert to produce a save.

Shortly after the break, Kwame Opoku put the ball in the back of the net for the Porcupine Warriors with an overhead kick but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Kwame Opoku went close with another attempt, smashing a volley from the edge of the box wide. Then teammate William Opoku headed over the bar following a cross from Ibrahim Osman.

After Abalora blocked Asamoah's goal-bound shot with his legs, Kotoko scored at the other end as William Opoku shot into the left bottom corner after pouncing on Emmanuel Gyamfi's lofted ball into the box in the 74th minute.

Seven minutes later, Kotoko brought on new Brazilian signing Fabio Gama Dos Santos for his debut.

Medeama found a way back into the game on 85 minutes as Abass scored from the penalty spot after Habib was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.

The strike proved the last goal of the game as the referee brought the game to an end after three minutes of injury time.

In the second postponed game on Sunday, Bechem United recorded a 1-0 win over Ashanti Gold, courtesy of a Stephen Owusu 54th minute strike. 

The two matches were scheduled for earlier dates but had to be played on a later date due to Kotoko and Ashanti's involvement in Caf competitions.

Kerala Blasters finally got their first win of the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) season as they registered a comfortable 2-0 win over Hyderabad on Sunday.

A goal in each half scored by Abdul Hakku and Jordan Murray sealed the much-needed three points for the South Indian outfit. 

Coach Kibu Vicuna was pleased to finally register a win and credited his players for a satisfactory performance against strong opposition.

"I am satisfied because we played well against a very good team, a team who are playing well this season, " Kibu said after the match. "We played a good match, we deserved to win tonight and I am very happy because in the last three weeks we have been training well and we are seeing the results now."

Three important players in Kerala Blasters' starting lineup, Bakary Kone, Costa Nhameinesu and Gary Hooper were missing in the first eleven against Hyderabad and the coach confirmed injuries to the trio. 

"They had injuries and they were not ready to play. But the players who played were fantastic. The performances of Sandip (Singh), (Abdul) Hakku and Jordan (Murray) were good and they played well."

The Spanish coach explained why he utilised Sahal Abdul Samad on the left flank against Hyderabad and suggested that the India international's versatility gives the team an added advantage.

"Sahal is a very important player for us. He can play on both sides, he can play inside or outside and he is giving us the numerical superiority. He is a good player and this was his second game and I am very happy with his performance and I know he is going to get better in every game," said the Spaniard.

The former I-League winning coach revealed the instructions he gave his players after at the break.

"At half time, I spoke about some tactical issues, whatever they needed to do. But most important thing was to score a second goal because Hyderabad are a team who have good strikers like Aridane and Sandaza. At the beginning of the second half, we had the best chances, two good chances for Jordan Murray and Sahal. We didn't score then but Jordan scored in the end and we had a deserving win," the Spanish manager signed off.

Liverpool's defensive injury crisis grew on Sunday when Joel Matip was forced off against West Brom with a groin injury. 

With 15 minutes gone in the second half, Matip pulled up after attempting a clearance against the Baggies and signalled to the bench that he needed medical attention.

After the Cameroon centre-back received treatment on the pitch, he was forced off and replaced by Rhys Williams in the 60th minute of the 1-1 draw.

With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez already long-term injury absentees, Liverpool can ill afford another injury to a central defender. 

Matip helped the Reds take the lead against Sam Allardyce's side just 12 minutes into the clash at Anfield. The 29-year-old played a forward pass to Sadio Mane, who chested down before lashing past Sam Johnstone.

The home match against the Baggies was just Matip's eighth in the Premier League this season. The central defender had faced spells on the sidelines earlier in the season due to injury and returned to training just over a week ago following his most recent fitness troubles.

The former Schalke player had missed his side's home win against Tottenham on December 16 but returned to play a role in the 7-0 trouncing of Crystal Palace  last week. 

Matip registered an assist in that match, too, as he set up Mohamed Salah for Liverpool's sixth goal at Selhurst Park.

Williams, 19, made his 10th senior appearance in all competitions and second in the Premier League this season when he came on to partner Fabinho in the heart of the Reds' back line for the final 30 minutes.

The England Under-21 international had previously started in the 2-1 victory against Jose Mourinho's side.

Liverpool's fitness issues in defence have been an ongoing problem throughout the first half of the season. 

But star centre-back Van Dijk gave supporters hope this week when he shared a video showing him working on his recovery.

Midfielder and defender Fabinho is looking forward to welcoming the Netherlands international back into the team, as he said this week: "Well we hope he returns soon and has a perfect recovery.

"He makes a real difference to the day to day in the dressing room and of course he will get his position straight back from me.

"I don’t know what the coach will do but I am sure Virgil will go straight in to the defence and I will go in to midfield. I hope that’s as soon as possible."

Simba SC head coach Sven Vandenbroeck is optimistic his charges can still eliminate FC Platinum from the Caf Champions League and qualify for the group stage.

In the first leg, Perfect Chikwende scored the only goal to give the Zimbabweans a slight advantage ahead of the second leg to be played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Wednesday, January 6.

The Belgian states all that is needed is proper training and from there the team will be in a good position to advance.

"There is a chance for us to make it to the group stage of the [Caf Champions League]," Vandenbroeck told Championi.

"We did not lose the first leg because our opponents were better, we were punished because of the mistakes we made. But if we do proper training and ensure we rectify the mistakes we made, I am sure we will get the result we need to advance."

The 41-year-old believes playing the second leg at home will also be a plus for his team.

"Our focus is on the second leg that we will play at home," Vandebroeck continued.

"We will be much stronger with energy to fight for the win. Currently, we are also trying to improve the team tactically because we are going for nothing less than a big win at home.

"I am hopeful we will get it and give the fans something to celebrate about."

The Belgian tactician, who missed his key striker and captain John Bocco through illness, had initially said his team did not deserve to lose the fixture because they dominated the game, especially in the first half, but could not use their chances.

"I am not happy with the results because we did not deserve to lose, we dominated the game especially in the first half but we did not have focus whilst attacking," Vandenbroeck said after the game.

"They managed to score and now we have to be careful when we meet in the return leg.”

The 21-time champions came into the match hoping to get at least a draw and stand a better chance of winning the tie having qualified for the second preliminary round after a 1-0 aggregate win over Plateau United of Nigeria in the previous round.

On the other hand, Platinum made it to the next round after a 4-1 aggregate win when they eliminated Costa De Sol of Mozambique, winning the first leg played in Maputo 2-1 before claiming a 2-0 win in the return leg played in Harare.

Reigning champions Simba SC picked up a 5-0 win over Maji Maji FC in a Sunday Sports Federation Cup encounter at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Gadiel Michael, Chris Mugalu, Ibrahim Ame, Meddie Kagere and Luis Miquissone scored the five goals that gave Wekundu wa Msimbazi the victory.

Sven Vandenbroeck deployed most players who have been missing out on first-team slots for the Premier League and the Champions League against the lower league side. In goal, Beno Kakolanya replaced an ever-present Aishi Manula, who sat on the bench.

David Kameta, Ame, Kennedy Juma, Miraji Athumani, Larry Bwalya, and Francis Kahata enjoyed starting positions while regulars like Joash Onyango, Shomari Kapombe, Mohamed Hussein, Clatous Chama, Kagere and Miquissone were benched.

Michael gave Simba the opening goal in the third minute as they started on a high against Maji Maji, who preferred to sit back and invited attacks from the champions.

Mugalu added the second in the 16th minute as Simba looked a more solid side despite the changes made to the first team. Kahata, Ndemla, Bwalya and the second goal scorer, at this point, were reigning supreme in the final third and the visitors were lucky not to have conceded more.

Ame, who enjoyed a rare chance ahead of Onyango and Pascal Wawa, added the third goal for marauding Simba on the hour mark.

Kagere, after coming on when his teammates had already scored goals that had certainly assured them of a home win, stretched Simba’s lead further away from Maji Maji’s reach when he added the fourth in the 78th minute.

Miquissone, just like Kagere, came on and did not take long before he added the fifth goal in the 88th minute.

In another match, Premier League side Mtibwa Sugar fought to register a 1-0 win over First Division League (FDL) side Geita Gold. Ismail Mhesa scored the only goal of the encounter in the 47th minute to ensure the Sugar Millers advanced.

Simba and Mtibwa have now joined Azam in the next round of the domestic competition. The Wekundu wa Msimbazi all sailed through to the final stage and defeated Namungo FC to crown a stellar season with a treble last season.

Semi Ajayi claimed another valuable point for West Brom in their survival fight as his 82nd-minute header snatched a 1-1 draw against Liverpool. 

The centre-back's deflected shot - later credited as a Ruben Dias own goal - helped Albion to earn a share of the spoils at Manchester City earlier this month and his looping effort came off the post before spinning beyond a helpless Alisson at Anfield on Sunday. 

Liverpool were dominant during the first half and should have had more than Sadio Mane's sublime finish to show for their efforts. 

However, nerves set in and, after Joel Matip added to Jurgen Klopp's injury headache at centre-back, an increasingly emboldened West Brom drew level. 

Sam Johnstone saved magnificently to keep out a Roberto Firimino header as Liverpool had to settle for extending their lead at the summit over Everton to three points.

Santos are disputing that Barcelona’s Lionel Messi now holds the world record for goals scored with a single club.

When Messi found the net against Valladolid for the Catalans in a 3-1 victory on Tuesday, it was widely accepted that his 644th strike for Barca eclipsed a mark set by Pele while turning out for the Brazilian side.

Santos, though, are claiming that goals scored in friendlies and exhibition matches should not be discounted and that the correct record remains Pele’s, which they state stands at 1091 goals.

In a lengthy statement published on the club’s official website, the Brazilians state: “The 448 goals which they are trying to omit today were scored against the top clubs from those seasons. Pele scored nine goals against each of Club America (Mexico) and Colo Colo (Chile). He also put eight past Inter Milan, one of the best European clubs in 1960.

“The list is immense and with big clubs: River Plate, Boca Juniors, Racing, Universidad de Chile, Real Madrid, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Benfica and Anderlecht. Barcelona themselves, where Messi plays, were also one of Pele's victims: four goals, scored in four games.

“The argument of some analysts is that many of these 448 goals scored in friendly matches were against weak opponents, like small teams or regional teams. Even so, the matches were played in official uniform with the official laws of the game and officially logged.

“We must remember that clubs could only play friendlies with the approval of the regional and national federations. That is one of the rules imposed by FIFA, the organiser of world football.

“Taking into account subjective attributes, like the strength of opponents, is not ideal for compiling statistical data. The numbers are absolute. A goal against Eibar is statistically the same as one scored versus Valencia. A goal against Transvaal (of Surinam) is worth the same as one scored against Real Madrid, in the middle of the Santiago Bernabeu.”

Pele, meanwhile, has already congratulated Messi on breaking his mark.

Messi will miss Barca’s last match of 2020 due to an ankle injury but is expected to return imminently as the Catalans look to make up an eight-point difference between themselves and table-topping pair Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

Naoufel Khacef was sent off in Tondela’s 2-0 loss to Nacional in Sunday’s Portuguese Primeira Liga showdown.

The former Algeria U23 defender was brought on as a replacement for Portuguese forward Salvador Agra in the 72nd minute, but he was given his marching orders 18 minutes later by referee Joao Bento.

The Gold and Greens’ ambition of claiming an away victory at Estadio da Madeira had suffered a massive setback after Brazil’s Bebeto was shown the way out in the first-half.

Ruben Micael put the hosts ahead in the first minute after beating Senegalese goalkeeper Babacar Niasse from close range thanks to an assist from Joao Vigario.

In the 68th minute, Brayan Riascos completed the triumph to help Luis Freire’s men to their third triumph of the 2020-21 campaign.

Struggling Tondela remain winless in their last four games across all competitions with their last victory a 1-0 away result versus Felgueiras 1932 in Taca de Portugal.

While Niasse was in action from start to finish, Guinea Bissau's Joao Mendes was brought on for Mario Gonzalez with 12 minutes left to play, while Algeria international who is on loan from Bordeaux, Abdel Medioub, was thrown into the fray for Yohan Tavares early in the second half.

Mauritania's Souleymane Anne saw every minute of action whereas Cape Verde's Telmo Arcanjo was not listed for the encounter by manager Francisco Ayestaran.

For Nacional, Tunisia's Larry Azouni was in action from start to finish with Cape Verde's Nuno Borges coming off for Nigeria's Abdullahi Alhassan in the 46th minute. Elsewhere, Mozambique’s Witi was not dressed for action.

Thanks to this result, the Nationalists, who now boasts of 13 points from 11 games, have now moved up to seventh on the log, while Tondela moved southward with just nine points from the same number of games to stay 17th.

Khacef will be missing in action when his team welcomes Famalicao to Estadio Joao Cardoso on January 3 as they aim to end their miserable run.

For Nacional, they travel to Estadio D. Afonso Henriques for a date with Vitoria de Guimaraes.

The Conquerors boast of Nigeria's Mikel Agu, South Africa's Lyle Foster, Ghana's quartet of Abdul Mumin, Gideon Mensah, Joseph Amoah, and Alhassan Wakaso, Mali's Gideon Mensah and Burkina Faso's Abou Ouattara.

Patrick Bamford has moved behind former Ghana striker Anthony Yeboah on Leeds United's list of players to have recorded 10 Premier League goals in the fewest appearances after scoring to ensure a 1-0 win over Burnley on Sunday.

The Englishman's fifth-minute strike at Elland Road has sent the Whites to 11th on the league table, six places above their matchday opponents.

The winning goal came in the fifth minute when the forward converted from the penalty spot, in Bamford's 15th league appearance of the season.

“I think that we defended brilliantly. We haven’t had to come up against too many teams like that, where they’ve tested our physical resolve with a different style of play,” Bamford said after the game, as reported by his club’s official website,

“I’ve been practising penalties all the time in training, it’s always been me and Klichy [Mateusz Andrzej Klich]. I took them last year until I missed, then it was Klichy until he missed, even though he scored.

“So I thought it was still his job, but he said ‘No, Pat it is yours today’, so I said thanks!  I think it is a good achievement [to get to 10 goals], I am really happy. I won’t stop now, there’s a lot of hard work to be done but it keeps me in touch with the top scorers.”

Former Australia striker Mark Viduka holds Leeds' record as the player who have scored 10 league goals in the fewest number of matches (nine), ahead of Yeboah, who achieved the feat in 14 outings.

Yeboah played for the Whites between 1995 and 1997, scoring 32 goals in 66 total appearances. 

The striker is famously remembered for his knack for great goals during his time at Elland Road, his strikes against Liverpool and Wimbledon during the 1995–96 season regularly featuring among the finest Premier League goals of all-time.

He joined the English side after a prolific five-year stint with German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt where he netted 68 times in 123 outings.

Yeboah, who played for Asante Kotoko, Kumasi Cornerstones and Okwahu United before travelling abroad, was also once on the books of FC Saarbrucken and Hamburg in Germany as well as Al-Ittihad in Qatar.

The 54-year-old scored 29 goals in about 59 outings for Ghana at international level.