Paolo Di Canio's turbulent and divisive Sunderland reign was abruptly ended after less than six months on Sunday as he became the first manager to be fired this Premier League season.

Sunderland announced it had "parted company" with the Italian a day after a 3-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion left the northeast club bottom of the standings and without a win from five games this season.

Henrik Stenson knows better than most players how it feels to go from the depths of a slump to the elite in golf.

He's done it twice now. And the second time was sweeter — and richer — than ever.

Coach Pep Guardiola was delighted as Bayern Munich's 4-0 win at Schalke 04 on Saturday saw the European champions draw level with Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern remain second in the table, but are level with Dortmund on both goal difference and points after their win in Gelsenkirchen.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits the return of Luis Suarez cannot come soon enough after his side surrendered their unbeaten Premier League record with a 1-0 defeat against Southampton.

Dejan Lovren scored the only goal of the game for Southampton in the second half at Anfield on Saturday and, despite long spells of possession, Liverpool were unable to get back on level terms.

Jose Mourinho has confirmed Juan Mata will start in Chelsea's League Cup tie at Swindon in midweek after being left out of the matchday squad for Saturday's victory over Fulham.

Mata, the club's player of the year in successive seasons, was sat behind the dugout for the 2-0 win in the Premier League, with Oscar and John Mikel Obi getting the goals.

Mark Cavendish beat Italy's Elia Viviani to win the penultimate stage of the Tour of Britain on Saturday.

The British national champion just did enough to hold off the fast-finishing Viviani in Guildford, south of London, in a 155km stage that started Saturday at Epsom racecourse.

World number four David Ferrer returns to Kuala Lumpur to headline the Malaysian Open, aiming to get back the winning feeling after an inconsistent year.

Last year's leading ATP winner with seven titles, the Spaniard has only claimed two crowns this year, in Argentina in January and New Zealand a month later.

Manchester United and Manchester City approach Sunday's 166th city derby knowing defeat for either side would leave them in danger of being cut adrift in the Premier League title race.

The new season is only four games old, but both sides have already squandered points -- United drawing at home to Chelsea and losing at Liverpool, City drawing at Stoke City and going down at Cardiff City.

Michael Dawson believes Tottenham can handle the demands of combining European football with a Premier League challenge this season.

Spurs travel to face promoted Cardiff City on Sunday, 72 hours after an impressive 3-0 victory over Tromso in their opening Europa League group game.

Jose Mourinho has slammed talk of a crisis at Stamford Bridge as the Chelsea manager bids to end his side's dismal run of four matches without a win on Saturday.

Mourinho's men desperately need a victory over their west London neighbours to erase the bitter taste of Wednesday's shock defeat against Swiss minnows Basel in the Champions League.