Jose Mourinho was once again forced to defend his strikers after Chelsea squandered a number of chances in their hard-fought 1-0 win over Swansea.

Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard netted the first half goal that kept Chelsea in touch with the Premier League leaders at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers faces FA action, and a possible disrepute charge, after complaining about referee Lee Mason in the wake of his team's 2-1 defeat at Manchester City.

Mason, who did appear to make errors on a number of key decisions against Liverpool, is based in Bolton which is technically in the county of "Greater Manchester."

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson believes the battle for promotion to the Premier League will go right down to the wire.

Pearson's team defeated promotion rivals Reading 1-0 at the King Power Stadium on Thursday thanks to a 21st minute penalty from David Nugent after Anthony Knockaert was brought down by Shaun Cummings.

The late withdrawals of Poland's rising star Jerzy Janowicz and Spanish veteran Tommy Robredo have thrown wide open Perth's Hopman Cup which starts Saturday.

The Polish pairing of Janowicz and Agnieszka Radwanska were the top seeds for the Aus$1 million (US$890,000) mixed teams tournament, but the world number 21 withdrew with a foot injury.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has played down talk of a first Premier League title in almost a quarter of a century, insisting the destination of the championship will be decided over the last 10 games.

The Anfield giants won their most recent English title in 1990 but are top at Christmas ahead of their tricky trips to Manchester City on Thursday and Chelsea on Sunday.

Manchester City midfielder James Milner says that his side will be facing one of the country's outstanding players when they host Luis Suarez and Premier League leaders Liverpool on Thursday.

Uruguayan striker Suarez has already scored 19 league goals this term despite having been suspended until the end of September for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic last season.

The debate may be raging over whether the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar should be switched to the winter, but one party content to stick with the original summer dates are the local organisers themselves.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has launched a consultation process over whether the football showpiece should be moved so as not to endanger players' and fans' health in the unbearable summer heat that can reach 50 degrees celsius.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade put on a show Wednesday to help Miami hold off the depleted but dogged Los Angeles Lakers for a 101-95 Christmas NBA victory.

The two-time defending champion Heat were heavy favorites in the holiday matchup against a Lakers team beset by injuries -- including the broken bone in superstar Kobe Bryant's left knee.

Wimbledon women's singles champion Marion Bartoli and NBA star Tony Parker were named female and male sports person of the year by French sports newspaper L'Equipe on Wednesday.

Bartoli, 29, topped the women's section with 886 points following her stunning success at Wimbledon beating German Sabine Lisicki, her first - and only - Grand Slam crown at the 47th attempt, a record in the women's game for those who have finally captured such a lofty honor.

Jose Mourinho has urged Chelsea to "enjoy the moment" and make sure they overtake at least one of their Premier League title rivals in Thursday's traditional Boxing Day fixtures.

Swansea City are the visitors to Stamford Bridge on a day that also sees leaders Liverpool travel to Manchester City, who are in third place.