Royals begin reworking roster to expand window to compete

Kansas City Royals’ Eric Hosmer celebrates his two-run home run against the Colorado Rockies during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 2, 2017, in Surprise, Ariz. less Kansas City Royals’ Eric Hosmer celebrates his two-run home run against the Colorado Rockies during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 2, 2017, in Surprise, Ariz.

Top-ranked Murray to face Verdasco in Dubai final

Top-ranked Andy Murray reached his second final of the season with a dominant 7-5, 6-1 win over seventh-seeded Lucas Pouille at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Friday. Murray, who lost the Qatar Open final to Novak Djokovic in January, should feel confident of a 45th career title when he faces the unseeded Fernando Verdasco in Saturday’s final.

‘The mood has changed since August – but I’m 100 per cent optimistic’

JA1 4rgen Klopp feels the change in the landscape since Liverpool last faced Arsenal is completely natural – but his optimism remains at 100 per cent ahead of their latest meeting. The Reds kicked off the Premier League campaign with a stunning 4-3 victory at Emirates Stadium back in August, on an afternoon when the away side recovered from an early concession to lead by three goals at one point.

Kerala High Court sends notice to BCCI to lift lifetime ban on S Sreesanth10 min ago

The Kerala Hight Court has sent a notice to the Board of Cricket Control for India to lift the lifetime ban imposed on cricketer S. Sreesanth after the lanky pacer approached the court few days back with a petition seeking removal of the ban. The notice was sent after Sreesanth filed a petition in the Kerala HC seeking its direction to the BCCI to allow him to play for a Scottish club in April and against BCCI’s decision to slap him with a life ban.

Boss: We can’t afford bad individual performances

JA1 4rgen Klopp has admitted Liverpool will struggle to win Premier League games if individual performances such as those seen at Leicester City on Monday are reproduced regularly. But the Reds boss is confident his players can build on the success of their last Anfield outing – a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur – when they return to familiar surroundings on Saturday to take on Arsenal.

Indonesia eyes one gold medal in All England badminton meet1 hour ago

Jakarta, March 3: Indonesia’s badminton association has targeted one gold medal in the mixed doubles category in the All England Badminton Championships this year, and expected a women’s singles player to be in the world’s top 20, a senior official of the association disclosed here on Friday. Indonesia will send 35 shuttlers to the tournament scheduled to be held from March 7 to 12 in Birmingham in England, said Susy Susanti, head of sport development of the association, reports Xinhua news agency.

Mourinho expecting Ibrahimovic to stay at Man Utd

The 35-year-old Swede has enjoyed a brilliant maiden season in England under Jose Mourinho and is now set to continue to play at Old Trafford In 38 appearances in all competitions Ibrahimovic has scored 26 goals, the 35-year-old dominating in England as he has in so many other countries, including Italy and Spain. Reports had suggested that Ibrahimovic could leave at the end of the season, but Mourinho has now appeared to confirm that the veteran striker is to stay at the club.

Pant’s 99 sets up Delhi win over Tripura2 min ago

Cuttack, Mar 3 Rishabh Pant struck a brilliant 72-ball 99 to help Delhi thrash Tripura by 70 runs in a Vijay Hazare Trophy Group B one-day match here today. Put into bat, Delhi plundered 356 for 5 from their allotted 50 overs with Pant hitting nine fours and five sixes in his aggressive innings.

Zidane: The word ‘crisis’ does not exist to me

Real Madrid have lost top spot in La Liga to Barcelona but their coach is not feeling pressure despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s likely absence at Eibar Zinedine Zidane has dismissed talk of a crisis at Real Madrid, saying he is calm over the club’s title run-in despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s likely absence alongside Gareth Bale against Eibar on Saturday. Madrid still have a game in hand on their title rivals but ceded top spot in La Liga to Barcelona when they were forced to battle back to a 3-3 draw at home to Las Palmas in midweek after Bale was sent off.

The stats that show just how much Arsenal and Wenger have underperformed over the last 10 years

Opta stats show that Arsenal have underachieved under Arsene Wenger for many of the seasons since their big-money move to Emirates Stadium in 2006 Speak to most Arsenal fans about their views on the past decade under Arsene Wenger and you’ll likely gauge a mixed response. The Frenchman divides opinion due to his lack of a major trophy since 2003-04, but Opta’s Expected Goals model reveals just how much the Gunners have underperformed over the last 10 years.

Wacha to work against Nationals

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. a Michael Wacha, working on three days’ rest after going just two innings at Fort Myers, Fla., on Monday, will pitch for the Cardinals against a split squad of Washington Nationals Friday at the new facility housing the Nats and Houston Astros.

Tipsheet: Did Cards win by failing to pay Price?

… around Pujols as an Angel: The contract was an albatross, and Pujols was a shell of himself.” Anthony Castrovince , Sports on Earth: “( Bryce ) Harper hit a massive homer on the second pitch he saw this spring. That’s the best way to advance the …

Hazard a doubt to face West Ham – Conte

The Blues forward picked up a knock as he trained ahead of the game at the London Stadium, as his manager confirmed in Friday’s press conference Antonio Conte has confirmed that Eden Hazard is a doubt to face West Ham in the Premier League on Monday after receiving a kick in training from a mystery team-mate. Hazard has started all but one of his side’s league games this season, and Chelsea otherwise have a clean bill of health ahead of the match.

‘Tottenham one of the biggest clubs’ – Pochettino not flattered by Barcelona links

The Argentine has been linked with the Catalans as Luis Enrique’s successor, but he has shot down rumours and insisted he is happy at White Hart Lane Mauricio Pochettino has swatted aside rumours linking him with a switch from Tottenham to Barcelona, saying he is not even proud of being on the longlist of coaches to succeed Luis Enrique. Pochettino started his coaching career at Espanyol – Barca’s city rivals – before forging an impressive reputation at Southampton and Spurs.

Chelsea team news: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs West Ham

Everything you need to know ahead of Monday’s Premier League match at the London Stadium as the Blues travel to face the Hammers. Antonio Conte will face off against his friend Slaven Bilic for the third time this season in Monday night’s match at the London Stadium – with both managers having each notched a 2-1 win against each other this season.

Guardiola blasts Ballon d’Or chasers: It’s ridiculous

The Manchester City boss and two of his players are up for the Premier League’s monthly individual awards, but he says it makes no difference Guardiola has been nominated for the Premier League’s manager of the month award for February, although he puts that down to having good players at his disposal at Manchester City. Gabriel Jesus and David Silva have also been nominated for the player of the month award, but the Catalan is not concerned with such recognition and believes players and coaches should focus on winning titles.

Man City news: Pep shoots down Sergio Aguero questions

Pep Guardiola declined to comment further on Sergio Aguero’s future at Manchester City but insisted the striker is happy at the club. Aguero revealed that he was yet to speak to the manager about remaining at the Etihad Stadium after his starring role in City’s 5-1 FA Cup thumping of Huddersfield on Wednesday.

Why Reggie needs to grab a rookie RB

With Latavius Murray likely hitting the open market it will be necessary for Reggie to evaluate a goal-line/1st down back who will shoulder most of the rushing burden on 1st and 2nd downs. Some people think free agency would be a great place to start and when names like Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Charles are switching teams why not a FA RB? I’ll tell you why not–because only 6 of the top 20 rushers in the NFL this past season were drafted more than 3 seasons ago.

Season kicks off in big-spending Chinese Super League

In this Feb. 28, 2017 photo, Brazilian player Oscar of Shanghai SIPG makes a gesture during an Asian Champions League group-stage match against Western Sydney Wanderers in Shanghai, China. For a second successive winter transfer window, the Chinese Super League has upset the established world soccer order with the spending power and ambition of its biggest clubs.

Black Opal Stakes field could be the strongest ever assembled in Canberra

Golden Slipper favourite Houtzen has been scratched from the Black Opal Stakes in favour of Brisbane, but Canberra’s marquee race could still be its best in history.Trainer Matt Dale has Mossman Gorge jumping from barrier 11 and said if the field remains intact it will be the strongest he’s ever seen in the capital’s $300,000 Group 3 feature. SHARE Share on Facebook SHARE Share on Twitter TWEET Link Menari, trained by Gerald Ryan, has firmed into a $3 favourite at the Black Opal Stakes on Sunday.

The General’s Budget Picks for Gameweek 27

Stoke were mauled by a rampant Tottenham Hotspur last weekend who had the game won by half time. The Potters face very different opposition this weekend in the form of Middlesbrough – the league’s lowest goal scorers with just nineteen.

Lewisham stabbing victim Dean Pascale-Modeste, 21, may have been…

Detectives investigating the fatal stabbing of former Canning Town student Dean Pascal-Modeste, 21, have suggested the young music producer may have been killed in a case of mistaken identity. Dean, who went to Rokeby School in Barking Road, was found stabbed to death in Charlesfield, Lewisham on Friday, February 24. He was pronounced dead at the scene by attending officers who were called at 3.45pm following reports of a man believed to be in possession of a firearm in nearby Mottingham.

Preview: Sunderland v Manchester City

Article written by VMC member Skoorb. After two consecutive five goal feasts at the Etihad Pep and his merry men once again head over the Pennines but this time they are headed for the North East, the Stadium of Light and the team managed by the man formerly known as ‘The Chosen One’ by the ‘faithful’ at the Swamp.

Alan Hutton At Aston Villa For Another Year/Contra

Looks like Alan Hutton has another year, it doesn`t stipulate in Gregg Evans post whether this is an automatic extension or a clause that Hutton has to agree to take up. Alan Hutton has triggered an appearance-related clause in his contract which entitles him to another year at #avfc Bruce: ‘He deserves it’ Must admit, he might lack at times in skill but he never lacks in effort and desire.

The Stoke City Walking Wounded – Injury List

Our weekly update looking at the injury table for Stoke City FC and also comparing with all our competitors in the Premier League. So 26 games into the Premier League season how do our injuries look? A bit of a mixed bag, I guess it`s to be expected at this time of the season? And a look at all the Premiership teams to see how we compare injury wise.

Amrabat Looking For Palace Return

Moroccan Nordin Amrabat has been speaking about his injury situation and the player is confident he can return to contention for the Crystal Palace clash. The 29 year old has been sidelined since the turn of the year with an ankle ligament strain that he picked up in the game against Tottenham Hotspur, but with two months out, he knows he’s nearly ready for a full return.