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.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has moved to play down talk of his side going the whole of the Scottish Premiership campaign unbeaten ahead of Thursday's clash with St. Johnstone.

The Parkhead club's 2-0 win over Hearts last Saturday stretched their unbeaten start to the season to 16 games.

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.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is convinced that his players remain on course in their Premier League title challenge despite having picked up just two points from their last three games.

Wenger's side will make the short trip across London to West Ham United on Thursday having drawn at home with Everton and Chelsea either side of a 6-3 thrashing at Manchester City.

French striker Bafetimbi Gomis is on his way out of Ligue 1 club Lyon at the end of the season, French radio station RMC reported.

Gomis, 28, made his intentions clear when he told a private gathering in his hometown Toulon: "I'm in my fifth season with Lyon and I think at the end of the season, it's time for me to go elsewhere, see if the grass is greeener."

Swansea will be without Spanish striker Michu for up to six weeks as he recovers from an ankle operation, manager Michael Laudrup confirmed.

Michu, 27, has scored 28 goals for the Swans since signing from Rayo Vallecano in the close season in 2012 but has been hampered all this season by ankle and knee problems.