The rescheduled Tokyo Olympics will be the centerpiece of a crammed sporting year in 2021 as sports administrators who had their calendars wiped away by the coronavirus pandemic try to fill the gaps even as a second wave hits.

The Dallas Mavericks powered to an NBA-record 50-point halftime lead on the way to a 124-73 demolition of the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp moved to dismiss speculation over Egypt forward Mohamed Salah's future saying on Thursday he is happy at the Premier League champions.

Arsenal eased fears of being dragged into a relegation battle with a stunning 3-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday, as Manchester United's Premier League title challenge stumbled after they conceded a late equalizer to draw at Leicester.

Pep Guardiola is optimistic that Manchester City are on course to challenge Liverpool again for the Premier League title after climbing up to fifth and within five points of the leaders with a routine 2-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday.

Portland's CJ McCollum drained the game-winning three-pointer with 6.9 seconds left in overtime as the Trail Blazers edged James Harden and short-handed Houston 128-126 in the Rockets' belated NBA season opener on Saturday.

The Premier League has become the world's richest league based on its staggering global appeal, with millions tuning in to watch the best talent from around the globe week by week.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Leonardo Bonucci on Wednesday apologized to Juventus fans for the "worst" performance of the season as the Italian champions' fell to their first Serie A defeat this term against lowly Fiorentina.

The last 12 months saw Euro 2020 and the Copa America postponed, the Champions League final played behind closed doors, supporters -- the lifeblood of the game -- shut out of stadiums, no Ballon d'Or winner crowned and clubs plunged into economic crisis. All as a result of a virus most people had not heard of when the year began.

Lionel Messi's all-time goalscoring record for one club will never be broken, former England and Barcelona forward Gary Lineker has predicted.