The Stagcom 16th January Round Up
Today is known as 'Blue Monday'. Today is meant to be the most depressing day of the year as it's the third Monday in January, but in fact, scientists have said this idea is nonsensical. And we agree - after all you can't argue with science, can you?
But, if any of you are feeling a little bit down today, hopefully our weekend round up can cheer you up. With plenty going on over the last couple of days, here's our take on all of the sporting action.
Prem Update
The top-six in the Premier League continue to trade blows, and there were mixed results for the title contenders over the weekend.
Spurs kicked off Saturday's games with a 4-0 hammering of West Brom in the lunchtime game. Harry Kane hit a hat-trick, as well as a Gareth McAuley own goal to move Spurs up to second place in a game that could have been a cricket score had it not been for Ben Foster making a string of impressive saves.
Arsenal moved back up to fourth after a 4-0 win of their own at Swansea. Olivier Giroud opened the scoring for the Gunners, before two own goals after half-time put Arsenal on their way. Alexis Sanchez scored a late goal to make Paul Clement's first game in charge of the Swans a miserable one.
Chelsea maintained their seven-point lead at the top of the table after a comfortable 3-0 win at Leicester City. The pre-match build-up was overshadowed by Diego Costa's omission from the team, but two goals from Marcos Alonso and Pedro's header meant the striker's absence wasn't felt.
Perhaps the most surprising result of the weekend came at Goodison Park as Everton put four goals past Man City. Pep Guardiola's side now sit in fifth place, ten points off the top, after the heavy defeat. Romelu Lukaku, Kevin Mirallas, Tom Davies and debutant Ademola Lookman made it an afternoon to savour for Ronald Koeman's side.
Man United hosted Liverpool in the final game of the weekend, and it ended in a draw. In a game of few clear-cut chances, Liverpool took the lead through a James Milner penalty, but United grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 84th minute when Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed in off the underside of the bar.
Another Defeat
England slumped to a defeat in their first match of the one-day international series with India. Virat Kohli and Kedar Jadhav both put on centuries as India sealed a three-wicket win.
England put on 350-7 with Joe Root and Jason Roy both reaching 70, but India chased down a record total to defeat England. It means that England have only won three times in 24 ODIs against India and this follows on from the disappointing 4-0 Test series defeat before Christmas.
The sides meet in the second ODI in Cuttack on Thursday, where England will look to level the series.
Murray Progresses
Sir Andy Murray made it through to the second round of the Australian Open, but was far from his best as he defeated world number 95 Illya Marchenko 7-5 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.
Murray had his serve broken twice in the first set, but managed to come out on top in the end. The second set was also close fought with Murray winning it on a tie break; the third was more straight forward as Murray progressed in two hours and 48 minutes.
The world number one will now face Russia's Andrey Rublev in the second round, as he looks to go one better this year in the Australian Open; following five final defeats in his career.
DeGale Draw
On Saturday night, James DeGale came up against Sweden's Badou Jack in New York in the super-middleweight unification fight, only for it to end in a controversial draw!
The judges' scores were so close that a winner could not be determined and it means that both fighters retain their world titles. We will now have to wait and see if a rematch is arranged!
Image credits: Premier League, England Cricket, British Tennis, Barclay Center, Sky Sports