Fans of Michael Schumacher gathered Friday for a silent vigil for the Formula One legend's 45th birthday as he lay in a coma in a French hospital after a weekend skiing accident.

Ferrari, which is busing in scores of fans from Italy and France to the hospital in the Alpine city of Grenoble, put a special message on its website, saying "Forza Michael," or "Go Michael" in Italian.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that his side have now provided evidence of the strength and spirit required to end their long wait for a Premier League title.

It is nine years since Arsenal last won a trophy and 10 years since they won the league, but the last-gasp 2-0 New Year's Day win over Cardiff City confirmed their credentials as championship contenders.

Brendan Rodgers claimed he had no qualms about winning ugly as Liverpool returned to the Premier League's top four with a scrappy 2-0 victory over Hull City.

Rodgers' side took the points despite an underwhelming performance thanks to Daniel Agger's first-half header and Luis Suarez's superb free-kick after the break.

David Moyes labelled a controversial decision by World Cup final referee Howard Webb as "scandalous" in the wake of his team's 2-1 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

The Manchester United manager was incensed by a late decision not to award United a penalty kick when Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris challenged home winger Ashley Young and questioned whether England's most respected official should be operating in the Premier League.

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson claims his side's 3-1 win at Millwall proves they have the character and spirit to win the battle for promotion to the Premier League.

Pearson's Championship leaders are four points clear of second-placed Burnley after weathering a determined Millwall fightback and some horrendous weather conditions at The Den on Wednesday.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon says his squad needs freshened up in the January transfer market after his side put in a "flat" performance in a 1-0 home win over Partick Thistle on Wednesday.

The Hoops secured their eighth consecutive win in the Scottish Premiership to maintain their 11-point lead at the top of the table.

Chelsea made a £49.4million ($81.8m, 59.9m euro) loss in the last financial year, the English Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

Turnover for the year ending June 30, 2013 was a record £255.8m ($424m, 308m euro), but the club's early Champions League exit contributed to the loss in income.

Formula One legend Michael Schumacher remained "stable" Wednesday after spending a third night in hospital with severe brain injuries sustained while skiing in the French Alps.

The German racing great entered the new year in an induced coma and a critical condition, with his family at his bedside in the French Alpine city of Grenoble and doctors unsure of his future.

Venus Williams survived an error-strewn performance to reach the quarter-finals of the ASB Classic with a tense three-set win over Austrian Yvonne Meusburger Wednesday.

In the rain-disrupted match, the 33-year-old Williams was broken twice early as she dropped the first set 4-6 before rallying to win the next two 6-3, 6-2.

Two-time major golf champion Rory McIlroy and former women's tennis world number one Caroline Wozniacki announced their engagement Wednesday in postings on Twitter.

McIlroy, the 24-year-old former world number one from Northern Ireland, posted pictures of himself and Wozniacki and a diamond ring on a woman's left ring finger.