Europe

Chelsea kept pace with Arsenal at the top of the Women’s Super League (the two sides will clash on Dec. 5 in the FA Women’s Cup final at Wembley) by destroy second-to-last Birmingham City on Sunday in an entirely one-sided game.

Chelsea controlled 76% possession and outshot the visitors 25 to two at Kingsmeadow, with Sam Kerr scoring a first-half hat trick and providing one assist while Fran Kirby recorded a brace. 

The pick of the goals was scored in the fourth-minute by Kirby, who saw the keeper off her line and provided a delicate chip from 18 yards out.  

Manchester United sacked manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Sunday, a day after a fifth defeat in seven Premier League games left the Old Trafford club seventh in the standings.

Following is a fact-box on the highs and lows of the Norwegian's time at the club:

HIGHS

Dec. 19, 2018

Appointed United's caretaker manager to replace José Mourinho for the rest of the season, marking a return to the club where he won six league titles and the Champions League as a player.

PARIS — Lionel Messi scored his first Ligue 1 goal as Paris Saint-Germain opened a 13-point lead in Ligue 1 despite playing almost half an hour with 10 men in a 3-1 home win against Nantes on Saturday.

Messi found the back of the net with a curled left-footed effort from outside the box three minutes from time, adding to Dennis Appiah's own goal after Randal Kolo Muani had cancelled out Kylian Mbappe's first-half opener.

Christian Pulisic is in fine scoring form as the American has scored for club and country in the last eight days. This Pulisic goal vs Leicester during Chelsea’s 3-0 victory was his first Premier League goal since opening day in August.

Pulisic Goal Vs Leicester City

Chelsea had a dominating performance against the Foxes with first-half goals from Antonio Rüdiger and N’Golo Kanté to give the Blues an early lead.

Thomas Tuchel decided to change things up front for his team in the 62nd minute with Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech coming on.

NBC has won a bidding war and retained the U.S. Premier League TV rights after major competition from broadcasters like ESPN and CBS. The American broadcaster announced a six-year extension with the EPL on Thursday.

BERLIN — Werder Bremen coach Markus Anfang has denied using a fake COVID-19 vaccination certificate after an investigation was launched by German authorities, the club said.

Werder, playing in Germany's second division this season, said an investigation was under way but the coach had denied allegations he used a fake certificate following a meeting with club bosses late on Thursday evening.

"On Thursday evening the management of SV Werder Bremen was informed of an ongoing investigation into an alleged use of a forged vaccination certificate by Markus Anfang," Werder said.