Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea

The result means Liverpool will top the table at Christmas - ahead of the Gunners on goal difference - as two teams with title pretensions of their own produced a spectacle almost devoid of entertainment and quality.

Frank Lampard came closest to breaking the deadlock when he hit the woodwork in the first half, while Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud wasted two good opportunities late on to claim the win that would have seen the Gunners leapfrog Liverpool.

John Mikel Obi could easily have seen a red card for a shocking first-half challenge on Mikel Arteta that went unpunished by referee Dean and Arsenal were convinced they should have had a penalty when Theo Walcott tumbled after Willian stepped on his foot just before the interval.

An undistinguished first half finally burst into life when Lampard found space on the end of Eden Hazard's clever flicked pass but saw his powerful effort bounce off the underside of the bar to safety.

The second half, if it was actually possible, opened in even more scrappy fashion and Arteta was the victim of another poor challenge from Ramires, which finally persuaded Dean to show Chelsea's midfielder a yellow card.

Mourinho made his first change with 17 minutes left, somewhat surprisingly choosing to replace Hazard with Andre Schurrle, who was soon followed into the action by Oscar, on for fellow Brazilian Willian.

Mourinho made his first change with 17 minutes left, somewhat surprisingly choosing to replace Hazard with Andre Schurrle, who was soon followed into the action by Oscar, on for fellow Brazilian Willian.

As a tortuous evening entered its final 10 minutes, Arsenal finally created a chance when Aaron Ramsey found Giroud with time and space but he sent a hopeless angled finish into the side-netting.

The France striker was then played in again at the near post by Kieran Gibbs but he was blocked by a combination of Chelsea keeper Petr Cech and his defenders.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger declined to make any changes when the game appeared to be crying out for the invention of Spanish playmaker Santi Cazorla - resulting in a draw that was unfulfilling for both teams.

South Africa fall short of world-record run chase in first Test

South Africa fell eight runs short of a world-record run chase but secured a draw in the first Test against India in Johannesburg by finishing on 450-7.

The hosts began the final day on 138-2 in pursuit of 458 to win the first match of a two-Test series.

A 205-run fifth-wicket partnership between Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers gave them hope of victory.

But De Villiers was bowled by Ishant Sharma for 103, before Du Plessis was run out for 134 with 19 balls left.

In between those dismissals, JP Duminy was out for five after he chopped on to his stumps from Mohammed Shami.

That left Dale Steyn to bat out the final three overs with Vernon Philander, with the world number one Test team still retaining hopes of a remarkable win against the side ranked second.

A maiden over each from Zaheer Khan and Shami effectively ended those hopes, although Steyn left the hosts wondering what might have been by smashing a six off the final ball of the match.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith defended the decision of his batsmen to play for the draw.He said: "The knocks that AB and Faf played, everybody would have been saying what an incredible effort.

"We mustn't lose sight of that in the emotion. You understand the emotional side. I think the context was that it was an unbelievable Test match. I don't think too many people gave us a chance [of drawing].''

India batsman Virat Kohli was surprised to see South Africa limit their ambitions to a draw.

He said: "Everyone was pretty shocked, honestly. We didn't think they'd stop going for that score."

The highest successful fourth-innings run chase in Test history remains the 418 scored by West Indies to beat Australia in 2003.

South Africa's total was the third-highest ever scored in a Test match fourth innings. New Zealand scored 451 at Christchurch in 2002 in losing to England, who hit 654-5 in a draw with South Africa at Durban in 1939

Messi making Good Recovery

The Argentina forward is in Buenos Aires as he continues his rehabilitation from the injury which has kept him out for more than a month.

Club doctor Richard Pruna and director of sport Andoni Zubizarreta have travelled to Argentina to check on his recovery.

Pruna performed a physical examination and an ultrasound on Wednesday which showed Messi was "making good progress".

The injury is set to keep Messi out for between six and eight weeks in total, meaning he is in line for a January return.

Messi has been in his home country since November 29, working on what his club called "the second phase of his recovery programme" at the Argentinian Football Association facility.

The 26-year-old will undergo further tests on Friday to determine whether he can begin "the third phase" of his programme.

Messi has been working under the supervision of members of the Argentina national side's medical team and has been joined, as planned, by Barca physio Elvio Paolorosso.

The forward injured his hamstring away to Real Betis on November 10.

The Catalan giants have been below par, by their own high standards, without the four-time world player of the year.

They have lost to Ajax in the Champions League and Atletico Madrid in the Primera Division in their seven matches since.

Barca still lead the table, though, level on points with Atletico and face Manchester City in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Barca travel to City for the first leg on February 18, with the return leg on March 12.

Messi should be back in plenty of time for those matches.

Messi Criticises Barcelona's Financial Vice-President

Lionel Messi has denied that he requested his contract be reviewed. The Barcelona player has been angered by club financial vice-president, Javier Faus' comments in which he said he had been against reviewing the football star's salary every six months.

"He's someone who doesn't know anything about football and wants to run Barcelona like a business, which it isn't'', the player retorted from Argentina.

''Barcelona is the best team in the world and deserves to be represented by the best executives. And I would like to remind him that neither I nor any of my representatives have asked for a contract extension, as he well knows'', Messi continued, talking to Catalan radio station RAC 1.

The player dissociated himself from the controversy surrounding charity matches organised by his foundation and an alleged connection with money laundering: "I am deeply saddened by what is being said, not just about me but about people I love like my dad or players who are my friends. These games are 100% charitable".

Messi has complete faith in his father's business operations: "I dedicate myself to playing football and he dedicates himself to looking after my interests off the field".

Messi reiterated that all matters outside of football fall under his father's remit. "I have very close ties with my dad and my family, both personally and professionally. If it was up to me, he would remain chairman of the company and of the foundation", he said.

Luis Suarez Signs new deal with Liverpool

Luis Suárez said his intention is to stay with Liverpool "for a long time" after extending his contract until 2018 and becoming the highest-paid player in the club's history.

The Uruguay international signed a four-and-a-half year deal on Friday after swift negotiations between Liverpool's managing director, Ian Ayre, and Suárez's agent, Pere Guardiola, in Barcelona this week. Suárez's salary will rise from £120,000 to £200,000 a week, reflecting his status as the leading goalscorer in the Premier League, and there are bonuses for goals scored and Champions League qualification.

Liverpool have refused to confirm if there is a get-out clause in the new contract, although Anfield officials had been keen to remove a £40m valuation on a striker they rate in the Gareth Bale £86m price-bracket. They also wanted to ensure he cannot sign for another English club without their consent.

On Guardiola's part, there had been a desire to obtain a watertight agreement that Suárez could leave should Liverpool again fail to qualify for the Champions League. Both parties accepted the need to avoid a repeat of last summer's transfer saga, when confusion reigned in the player's camp over whether he could leave after Arsenal bid £40,000,001 and he publicly accused the manager, Brendan Rodgers, of breaking promises over his future.

Liverpool moved swiftly to secure Suárez's services with the striker in stunning form, his club able to go top of the Premier League with victory over Cardiff City on Saturday, and with Rodgers insisting the player was in the "happiest point" of his professional career. The striker, who had two-and-a-half years remaining on his previous contract, claimed he will honour his long-term commitment to Liverpool.

"It's nice because when you extend your contract, you extend it because you want to stay here for the future," said the 26-year-old. "I signed not only for two-and-a-half more years, but I signed for a long time to stay here and I am so happy. When you are happy, you try everything for the best for the future. I spoke a lot with my family because my family are very important to me and they are happy here. We spoke over the last few weeks with the club and everything is OK. I don't have a problem; the club don't have a problem, so it's very good."

Suárez has scored a remarkable 17 goals in 11 games since returning from suspension on 25 September. He added: "I believe I can achieve the ambitions of winning trophies and playing at the very highest level with Liverpool. My aim is to help get us there as quickly as possible."

Liverpool's owner, Fenway Sports Group, has previously been reluctant to extend contracts mid-term but moved impressively to secure the club's prized asset. Principal owner John W Henry said:"We are committed to working hard to keep our best players and this is an indication that we are moving in the right direction and moving at a pace that impresses one of the best players in world football. "

Novak Djokovic appoints Becker as Coach

Novak Djokovic has appointed Boris Becker as his new head coach, the Serbian player has announced. The former three-times Wimbledon champion and six-times grand-slam winner will begin working with Djokovic before the Australian Open which begins on Monday 13 January.

"I am proud Novak invited me to become his head coach," Becker said on Djokovic's official website, novakdjokovic.com. "I will do my best to help him reach his goals, and I am sure we can achieve great things together."

Becker will join Djokovic's current coaching team of Marian Vajda, Miljan Amanovic and Gebhard Phil-Gritsch and accompany him to all four majors. "I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with Boris. He is a true legend, someone who has great tennis knowledge and his experience will help me win new trophies from the grand slams and other tournaments," Djokovic said.

"Becker is a great person, too, and I am sure he will fit in our team in the best possible way. Boris brings a new and fresh approach, and together with Vajda he will make a winning combination. My goal for 2014 is to play my best tennis and to get in shape for the grand slams and Masters.

"These tournaments have the most weight in our sport, and I want to prove my worth at them. The team is now strengthened and we hope for maximum results."

Vajda, who has worked with Djokovic since 2006, will take on a reduced role in 2014, attending events in Indian Wells, Madrid, Toronto and Beijing, but welcomed Becker's arrival. "In a few weeks Novak and I will start the eighth year of our co-operation," said Vajda. "During that period we have achieved almost all the goals we had. I realised that Novak needed a new head coach in order for him to continue improving certain parts of the game.

"At the same time, I will have more time for my family. Becker's assignment will not affect much my position in the team, since I will do all I can for Djokovic, just like I did before. On the other hand, choosing Boris as a head coach is a good solution. I am sure we will get along very well, and that Novak will continue to progress."

Becker joining Djokovic means that he and Andy Murray (with Ivan Lendl) now have coaches that have played one another in grand slam finals, Becker came out on top on all three occasions: Wimbledon in 1986, the US Open in 1989 and the Australian Open in 1991.

South Africa vs India 1st Test Day 2

The Indian pace attack claimed five wickets for 16 runs during the final session of the second day to reduce South Africa to 213 for six, at the close of play at the Wanderers on Thursday.shant Sharma was chief destroyer for India, returning figures of 3/64, as South Africa trailed by 67 at close following India's first innings of 280.

Launching a fightback, Faf du Plessis (17 not out) and Vernon Philander (48 not out) shared in a seventh-wicket stand of 67 runs unbroken at stumps.

Du Plessis, however, was dropped by Rohit Sharma in the slips off the bowling of Mohammed Shami minutes before the close of play with his score on 17.

India themselves collapsed from 255/5 overnight to 280 all out, and batsman Ajinkya Rahane said his side had looked to push on to a big total.

"We wanted to play as long as possible, but they bowled really well in the first session," Rahane said.

"We had three crucial partnerships, but we saw in our batting we lost wickets quickly.

"But our bowlers bowled really well and put the ball in key areas when they came out to bat."Proteas batsman Hashim Amla said it was not a bad pitch which was to blame for the collapse of either teams.

"I don't think the wicket had much to do with some of the dismissals," Amla said after the day's play.

"The wicket is offering quite a bit for the seamers, it's been inswinging consistently for most of the game."

On a day where 11 wickets fell, the Proteas were coasting along at 130/1 with a well-set Graeme Smith (68) and Amla (36) in the middle, before a middle-order collapse.

Amla left an Ishant Sharma delivery outside off, but was bowled after the ball jagged back to crash into the stumps to end a 93-run stand for the second wicket.

Jacques Kallis was beaten by Ishant Sharma and trapped lbw for a first ball duck.

Next to depart was Smith, who fell to his nemesis Zaheer Khan in the next over. Smith played all around a full ball from the left-arm quick bowler and was out lbw for 68 as South Africa were reduced to 130/4.

It also ended the chance for Smith to score his first ever test century against India.

A brief period of hope was cut short as South Africa lost their fifth wicket with the score on 145.

New batsmen JP Duminy was drawn into a stroke by Shami and edged to Murali Vijay who took the catch at first slip.

Two balls later, AB de Villiers played all around a straight delivery and was out lbw for 13 to Shami.

In the post-lunch session, Alviro Petersen (21) was first to depart with the score on 37.

The Proteas opener was trapped in the crease by Ishant Sharma and was given out lbw as India struck in the 14th over.

Earlier in the day, India's last five wickets fell for 25 runs as they were reduced from 255/5 overnight to 280 all out in the first session.

Morne Morkel made the first breakthrough to dismiss MS Dhoni (19), edging through to wicketkeeper De Villiers.

Rahane joined his captain in the change rooms four balls later and three runs short of his half-century. This time Philander produced a moving delivery outside off and Rahane nicked a pearler through to De Villiers.

Khan made a first-ball duck, trapped lbw to Philander, and India added 16 more runs before Philander clean-bowled Ishant Sharma.

Morkel wrapped it up to get rid of Shami who failed to score.

After picking up three wickets in the morning, Philander finished with overall figures of 4/61 while Morkel returned 3/34.