Liverpool are champions and Norwich City, the side whom they beat on Aug. 9 to launch their title charge, are down and Manchester City are distant runners-up. After that everything is up for grabs.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Wednesday night.
Messi, whose deal expires in 2021, had called his side "weak" and "inconsistent" after they lost the league title to Real Madrid.
Referees at next year's World Cup will use goalline technology for the first time to settle some of the disputes that have marred past tournaments.
Chelsea's youthful new-look squad reminds Juergen Klopp of his Bundesliga-winning former Borussia Dortmund team, the Liverpool manager said on Friday.
Daniel Ceballos fired Arsenal into the FA Cup semi-finals with a stoppage-time goal that sealed a 2-1 win over Sheffield United
A round-up of Saturday's action in the Premier League.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday.
Thirteen-times European champions Real, who had come through each of their last three Champions League semi-final ties, had been second best for much last week's first leg which ended 1-1.
Manchester United dropped out of the Premier League's top four
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney would be a "great signing" for Major League Soccer, Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson said, adding that the 30-year-old still has plenty to offer.
English cricket's leading Test wicket-taker James Anderson and former England football midfielder Frank Lampard were given the OBE.
Liverpool raised the bar so high and enjoyed such a huge winning margin in claiming the English Premier League title last season it would be churlish to doubt their credentials for a repeat showing.
Chelsea beat Sheffield United 2-0 to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for the fourth time in five seasons.
Following is a match by match look at the English Premier League's weekend fixtures
"It's an honour to welcome Didier Drogba to the Impact," said team president Joey Saputo.
Ahead of their high-profile clash on Saturday, check out the five standout clashes between Arsenal and Chelsea.
Former England midfielder Frank Lampard says he will be "in close contact" with his old club Chelsea as he decides on his next career move. The 38-year-old left New York City in November and media speculation has mounted that he could return to the London team in a coaching role or some other capacity. Lampard watched Premier League leaders Chelsea's 1-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion earlier this month and was an onlooker at training on Wednesday when manager Antonio Conte said he was in good enough shape to continue his playing career.
Champions Manchester City galvanised their pursuit of Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday with an emphatic 3-0 victory over a Southampton side who have surprisingly come between the leading title protagonists.
Rediff.com brings a list of sportsmen who got hitched this year...
Frank Lampard could make an emotional appearance against former club Chelsea this weekend as his new employers Manchester City host Jose Mourinho's side in an early showdown between the Premier League's heavyweights. Catch all the action.
Premier League Leeds United suffered the biggest upset of the FA Cup third round when they fell to a 3-0 defeat by fourth-tier Crawley Town on Sunday
Championship side Derby County hit back from two goals down to beat Premier League Southampton on penalties in an FA Cup third-round replay marred by another VAR controversy on Wednesday.
A preview of the line-up action in the English Premier League.
Bruno Fernandes struck from the penalty spot in the ninth minute of stoppage time to give Manchester United victory at Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday after an incredible finale.
Arsenal ended their seven match winless run in the Premier League with a surprise 3-1 London derby victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday while Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw at Leicester City.
Ajax Amsterdam registered a 4-1 win at De Graafschap, their first title since 2014 and a record-extending 34th overall completed the double after they won the KNVB Cup earlier this month.
'It's a problem not just in football -- it's a problem in society, but football now is at the forefront of everybody's minds in terms of, we've got the power to do something about it'
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
A virtuoso performance from Sergio Aguero earned Manchester City a 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday, the Argentine scoring all his side's goals in an incident-packed clash at The Etihad.
Manchester United dropped further down the table after losing 5-3 against newcomers Leicester City. Barcelona and Real Madrid scored 13 goals between them during a memorable La Liga weekend, when Cristiano Ronaldo netted a hat-trick.
Liverpool head to United with widest gulf in years
Chelsea scrambled a stoppage-time winner to snatch a 1-0 victory over Everton on Saturday, showing their Premier League title mettle by claiming three points when they looked on course to suffer another damaging blow.
Vibrant Chelsea made it a torrid few days for Liverpool as goals by Willian and Ross Barkley sealed a 2-0 victory to send them through to the FA Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday. Liverpool's 44-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League ended in stunning fashion with a 3-0 defeat at Watford on Saturday and they were rocked again at Stamford Bridge.
"I want to finish my career very strong. I want to add some more medals and trophies to my collection. So I think it's a match made in heaven, really.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
Liverpool won the Super Cup 5-4 on penalties against Chelsea
Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has said he is discussing his future with Major League Soccer team Montreal Impact but that retirement talk was premature. French media reported on Wednesday that the 37-year-old Ivorian was to quit playing and join the coaching staff of Premier League champions Chelsea under interim manager Guus Hiddink. "Lovely to receive these messages but I have not yet announced my retirement and am still in discussion with @impactmontreal about my future," Drogba, who has a contract with Montreal Impact through to December, posted on Twitter.
