BOXING
Unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua mixed power and patience as he knocked out Kubrat Pulev to bolster hopes that a historic fight against Tyson Fury could soon be a reality.
The British heavyweight smashed home a hard right hand in round three that forced his mandatory challenger to face a count and then sent him to the canvas with an uppercut seconds later.
Joshua, perhaps fatigued by the chaos, stepped off the gas and allowed Pulev to at least offer some mild threat, but a barrage of uppercuts in the ninth dropped the Bulgarian and a straight right hand wiped him out.
Moments after this fine blend of poise and heavy punching the 1,000 fans granted access to Wembley Arena roared at the prospect of the IBF, WBA and WBO champion facing WBC title holder Fury next.
"Whoever has the belts I want to compete with. If that is Tyson Fury, let it be Tyson Fury," said Joshua, 31.
Fury quickly took to social media and said: "I want the fight. I want the fight next. I will knock him out inside three rounds. I can't wait to knock him out."
GISTs
Dele Alli will be granted a move from Tottenham during the January transfer window out of respect for his five years' service to the club.
Football's world players' union has demanded the scrapping of rules under which those who walk off the pitch in protest at racist abuse face punishment for doing so.
Juventus hope Manchester United will allow Paul Pogba to return to Turin next month - on loan.
William Saliba has made light of his Arsenal omission after claiming he is "locked up" like former team-mate Matteo Guendouzi.
Carlo Ancelotti is ready to make a move next month for either of unsettled Spurs stars Dele Alli and Harry Winks.
Liverpool fear Diogo Jota may be injured for two months.
Istanbul Basaksehir assistant manager Pierre Webo said that the player's decision to walk off the pitch after he was racially abused by a match official was a watershed moment in football.
PFA chief Gordon Taylor is personally wading in to the Premier League's mounting injury crisis and has urged league bosses to overrule the clubs who have decided in favour of not using five substitutes.
A Championship club has threatened to issue a lifetime ban to a supporter for booing while players took a knee this week.
Mikel Arteta has refused to rule out a dramatic recall for Arsenal outcast Mesut Ozil.
Scottish clubs will soon be barred from hoovering up some of Europe's top young talents under rules set to come into force after Brexit.
Celtic have joined a host of clubs keeping tabs on Airdrie winger Thomas Robert.
James Forrest is out of next month's Old Firm clash after suffering a devastating injury setback.
Football
EPL
Gylfi Sigurdsson's first Premier League goal of the season ensured Everton secured a 1-0 win over Chelsea to end the Blues' 17-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
With 2,000 supporters back in the stands at Goodison Park, Sigurdsson's calmly-slotted 22nd-minute penalty after Edouard Mendy had fouled Dominic Calvert-Lewin proved to be enough to secure all three points for Carlo Ancelotti's side.
Mason Mount struck the woodwork twice in the second period, while Everton were denied a second penalty after a VAR review showed Calvert-Lewin to have been in an offside position in the build-up.
The result moves Everton up to seventh in the table after only a second win in eight Premier League games while Chelsea remain third, two points behind leaders Tottenham.
***Manchester United and Manchester City missed the chance to demonstrate their title credentials with a cagey stalemate in their derby at Old Trafford on Saturday.
United had beaten their neighbours home and away in the league last season and thought they had won a penalty at the start of the second half when Kyle Walker clipped Marcus Rashford, but VAR rightly stepped in to correct a missed offside.
City were unusually lacklustre but did force under pressure David de Gea to deny Riyad Mahrez in a one-on-one and United captain Harry Maguire came up with key blocks from Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne shots.
In total, there were just four shots on target in the match, and on an evening when caution appeared to be the focus for both sides, neither deserved the win.
Instead, the draw leaves United and City four and five points, respectively, off leading sides Tottenham and Liverpool ahead of their games on Sunday.
Laliga
Defending champions Real Madrid inflicted a first defeat of the season on La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid to move within three points of the summit.
Casemiro's 15th-minute header from Toni Kroos' corner gave the hosts a deserved lead at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.
Dani Carvajal's excellent second-half strike from outside the box rebounded off the post and in off the back of Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Real climb to third, while Atletico remain one point above Real Sociedad.
GOOD MORNING!!!!
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