The big news: Chelsea maintain their lead at the top

After their hard earned 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, Chelsea re-established a three-point advantage at the top of the table. However, manager Antonio Conte, owing to charismatic character that he is, was confident of his team avoiding the imposition of point deduction after a latest charge of failing to control their players, at Manchester City last weekend. Antonio Conte dismissed the possibility of such a sanction as “a joke”.

“The time cannot be too far distant when a commission concludes the only proper sanction is a points deduction. For me, if you are involved in a situation where you are not at fault, why must you pay?” the Italian said. “Why? I don’t understand this. At the end of the Manchester City game, my players tried to keep their calm. It would be a joke [if the FA imposed such a punishment on his club]. You must be honest and understand which team is at fault.”

Other top stories:

  1. Manchester City outcast Joe Hart tried his best to empower Torino against Juventus, but eventually ended up losing 1-3 on Sunday. The visitors came from behind to move seven points clear. Torino gained the lead when Andrea Belotti scored. However, Gonzalo Higuain scored a brace as Miralem Pjanic made it 3-1 in favour of Juventus.
  2. Nice moved back to the top of France’s Ligue 1 after they drew 2-2 against reigning champions Paris St-Germain. Wylan Cyprien and Alassane Plea scored to put Nice ahead in the second half. However, PSG’s Edinson Cavani scored twice in the second half to ensure a draw. 
  3. Manchester United’s new find Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been ruled out until Boxing Day after injuring his ankle in their 1-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday. Mkhitaryan was fouled by Danny Rose and was taken off on a stretcher in the 85th minute. United manager Jose Mourinho said it was not a serious injury.   
  4. Robert Snodgrass denied that he purposely fell to the ground to earn Hull City a penalty. Snodgrass maintains his “dive” against Crystal Palace was an attempt to protect his reconstructed left knee. Snodgrass, who converted the penalty, said that Mike Jones should never have awarded to give Hull a 1-0 lead, has been heavily criticised.
  5. Kerala Blasters beat Delhi Dynamos 1-0 in the first leg of their semi-final clash of the Indian Super League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Sunday. A 65th-minute winner from Kervens Belfort saw Kerala Blasters secure a hard fought win. 
  6. The All India Football Federation announced on Sunday that Chennai City FC and Minerva Punjab FC would be a part of the I-League for the 2017 season, a first for both. Along with Chennai City and Minerva Punjab, Sudeva FC, FC Bardez Goa and Neroca FC had also placed a bid for the upcoming season, with AIFF looking to expand the league. The new season will commence on January 7, 2017.