Facing a tipping point to their season, the struggling Calgary Flames are shuffling the decks as they prepare to play host to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday in a New Year's Eve clash. In an attempt to ignite a couple of key struggling forwards, it appears Jonathan Huberdeau will line up alongside Elias Lindholm and Yegor Sharangovich, switching spots with Andrew Mangiapane. Huberdeau, Calgary's highest-paid player, has not scored a goal in 17 straight games and been held without a point in 12 consecutive games. Mangiapane, who would play on a line with Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman, has scored one goal in his past 17 games. Mangiapane and Huberdeau are in prolonged slumps, and this is the latest attempt to find something that elevates Huberdeau's offensive skills toward his 115-point season in 2021-22 with the Florida Panthers. "Hopefully we can get something going together, get on the same page," Huberdeau said. "These guys have been playing well, too, I think I can go in there and add a little offense." The Flames are coming off a 2-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday and have only three wins in their last nine games (3-4-2). Because of the struggles, their playoff chances have taken a big hit. Huberdeau (who has four goals and 15 points in 35 games) and Mangiapane (a 35-goal scorer two seasons ago) getting on track would be a boon to Calgary's chances. "I feel comfortable there," Mangiapane said of skating with Backlund and Coleman. "Obviously two smart players, so I'm happy to be back on that line and just kind of find my game again." The Flyers arrive in Calgary also following a 2-1 loss to the Kraken. Philadelphia surrendered a 1-0 third-period lead and dropped an overtime clash in Seattle on Friday. It followed a 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks the night before to kick off a four-game western road trip. "In overtime, they get the bounce, but overall, it was a good effort," said Travis Konecny, who scored Philadelphia's lone goal Friday. "We'll take the point. It's a tough way to come in — back to back after the (holiday) break — so we'll take it and move on." The Flyers, who have missed the playoffs three consecutive seasons, are right in the heart of an incredible battle for the second spot in the Metropolitan Division, but their hold has become a bit more tenuous with only one win in their last four outings. They are choosing to see things the other way; the overtime loss gives the Flyers points in 12 of 13 games (8-1-4), likely why coach John Tortorella was not about to lament the blown lead. "It's just grind away and find a way to get a point," said Tortorella, who became the first U.S.-born coach to reach 1,500 games. "You always want the other one, but I have no complaints about the effort." One battle to watch when the puck drops between the Flames and Flyers is the special teams. Both clubs are near the bottom of the league on the power play, yet near the top in penalty killing. Moreover, both teams are tied with the St. Louis Blues atop the league with nine short-handed goals. —Field Level Media
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Manchester United reverted to type after a recent mini revival, slipping to an insipid 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth, while Chelsea were 2-1 winners over Watford at Vicarage Road.
Our Premier League Data Diary sheds some light on the detail behind the major stories from this weekend s big games.
LIVERPOOL LEAVE IT LATE AGAIN
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Ronaldo initially described the claims, first reported by German publication Der Spiegel last Friday, as fake news via an Instagram video.
The 33-year-old has now published a statement on social media in which he denies the allegations against him and hits out at a media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense .
I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in. Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media s…
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Ceferin took over as UEFA president in September 2016 and started a new four-year term in February 2019.
The Slovenian s tenure will be extended to 2027, with the deadline for candidates to oppose him having passed on Thursday.
Noel Le Graet, the president of the French Football Federation, faces a challenge to keep his seat on the FIFA Council.
Portugal FA chief Fernando Gomes will be hoping to secure the votes to take Le Graet s place.
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Uruguay made sure it was anything but a friendly for Neymar.
The Selecao captain shouldered the responsibility as Brazil snatched a narrow win over an undermanned Uruguay, who displayed their trademark fight despite having almost a whole team out through injury.
It was a far from vintage performance from Brazil and their talisman on a dreary night at Emirates Stadium Oscar Tabarez s side made sure of it with Neymar s second-half penalty proving the difference.
La Celeste s lengthy absentee list included goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and centre-back duo Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, as well as midfield pair Nahitan Nandez and Camilo Mayada due to their impending Copa Libertadores final duties for Boca Juniors and River Plate respectively.
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Caoimhin Kelleher has proven himself as a very good goalkeeper in a Liverpool shirt many times. However, not only is he firmly behind Alisson Becker in the pecking order, but the Merseyside club have also completed the signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia, before sending him back to the La Liga side on loan for the season.
With Mamardashvili set to arrive to Anfield next summer, Kelleher will be expected to leave, being clear that there s very little chance of him becoming Liverpool s No. 1 ever.
Here s what the Ireland international has to say on the matter.
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The former England captain was appointed as Blues’ new manager on Wednesday on a three-and-a-half year deal after leaving DC United last weekend.
That was two days on from the Midlands club, who were taken over by US-based Shelby Companies Limited in July and had seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady become a minority owner the following month, sacking boss John Eustace while lying sixth in the Championship table.
Wayne Rooney. Birmingham City Manager.
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC)
Rooney returns to management in his home country having previously been in charge at Derby from 202…
Neymar has grown to become a household name in world football, so it can be easy to forget that his professional debut came just 10 years ago.
The 27-year-old has won two LaLiga titles, Ligue 1 and the Champions League in a trophy haul that reflects his outstanding talent, while his statistics over the course of a decade tell a similarly spectacular story.
As the Brazilian reaches a notable anniversary a decade on from his first appearance for boyhood club Santos, we take an Opta-powered look at his career in numbers.
Santos
At the age of 17, Neymar da Silva Santos Junior came on as a 59th-minute replacement for Mauricio Molina in Santos 2-1 win over Oeste on March 7, 2009. It was the start of something special and it did not take the teenager …
Sean Dyche has criticised Everton’s ‘leaky’ defence following a second defeat after going two-nil up in back-to-back games.
Everton lost 3-2 to Aston Villa after leading by two goals after 30 minutes, having also lost 3-2 to Bournemouth after leading by the same advantage prior to the international break.
In doing so, Dyche’s side became only the second side in Premier League history to lose back-to-back games after leading by two or more goals in both.
Following Saturday’s defeat to Villa, Dyche feels his side are lacking the cutting edge at vital moments.
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