Chelsea must stick together to keep their top-four hopes alive this season, with Cesar Azpilicueta calling on his team-mates to staunch their loss of points.

The Blues slipped to a draw against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, as Serge Aurier cancelled out Raheem Sterling's opener in a 1-1 encounter.

It leaves Graham Potter's side with just one win in their past five Premier League games, and with a seven-point gap to fourth-place Manchester United.

With only 25 points this season, Chelsea are slipping away from Champions League qualification contention, but Azpilicueta issued a cry to turn matters around.

"Every point matters, and today we lost two points, that's clear," he told Sky Sports. "Since the beginning of the season, we [have] lost too many points.

"Now we are far from where we want to be, and every game you don't win is a chance that you miss. This is the reality when you see the table, that's where we are.

"We need to have a very good second half of the season if we want to achieve Champions League for next season. We have to stick together.

"We know this is not the most pleasant time, but in these difficult moments, we need everybody to stick together, to work hard, to improve, to be humble."

Sterling's early goal had looked to put Chelsea in firm control at the City Ground, but Steve Cooper's under-fire hosts bounced back in the second half.

With nine shots against one from the Blues after the interval, Forest earned their equaliser, and Azpilicueta acknowledges his side let the game slip away.

"They were putting more pressure [on us] and we were not able to escape," he added. "They created a few chances, and we lost two points.

"We were not able to find the right space to calm down their reaction. We were not able to manage that kind of situations."

Chelsea will regather themselves next for back-to-back clashes with Manchester City, facing Pep Guardiola's side in the Premier League and FA Cup next week.

Graham Potter described Chelsea's performance as "not good enough" after a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest – as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink warned the Blues face Champions League misery.

Hasselbaink believes his former club are destined to miss out on a top-four finish after they slipped up at the City Ground on New Year's Day.

Chelsea won the Champions League only two seasons ago, and head coach Potter may find himself under pressure if they are not playing in Europe's premier club competition in the 2023-24 campaign.

The London club are eighth in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.

Ex-Blues striker Hasselbaink told Sky Sports: "I think they are too far from the top four. Yes, they do miss some really important players – [Reece] James, [N'Golo] Kante, [Ben] Chilwell – but they are defensive-orientated players.

"He [Potter] needs to win matches, he needs to win as many matches as possible. Chelsea need to be in the Champions League. That's not going to happen.

"He's had a lot of injuries and you need to give him time. You need to give him time to mould his team."

Potter saw Chelsea squander an early lead on Sunday, with Raheem Sterling's strike countered by a fine second-half reply from Serge Aurier.

Former Brighton and Hove Albion boss Potter described it as "a hard-earned point against a team that's set up well", and he praised the spirit in the Forest ranks that saw them raise the tempo after half-time.

But that may not wash with the Chelsea supporters who expect their team to be able to ride out such pressure against teams battling to avoid relegation.

Forest, who are 18th in the table, could easily have secured all three points, as they had the better chances in a lively game.

Chelsea have won just one of their last seven Premier League games, losing three and drawing three in that run.

"Our performance level wasn't good enough, I don't think, to take the three points," Potter said.

"When we had control of the game we didn't move the ball fast enough, there wasn't enough movement for us, and when we lost control of the game we struggled a bit."

Potter said it "would have been unfair" if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had converted a late chance. As it happened, the striker failed to get his head on a cross from Hakim Ziyech.

The Chelsea boss said his side "didn't deserve to win the game with that", and he refused to discuss possible new signings, amid claims defender Benoit Badiashile is poised to sign from Monaco.

Asked about Champions League qualification, Potter said: "We've got a long way to go in terms of how we want the team to look and the performance level. It would be a mistake for us to worry about what can happen in five months' time.

"We need to focus on the next match and get our performance level better and more consistent."

The next match is a Premier League home game against reigning champions Manchester City on Thursday, and the game after that is another clash with City on Sunday in the FA Cup third round.

It gets no easier for Potter who said his team's midweek win against Bournemouth had been "a step forward".

"Today was a little bit of a backwards one," he added.

Roger Federer saluted Iga Swiatek's miracle shot at the United Cup, declaring 'that was crazy' in response to a tweet from the world number one.

Swiatek - the winner of eight WTA titles in 2022 including the French Open and US Open - helped Poland to a commanding 4-1 victory over Kazakhstan in their opening match in Brisbane.

With the Poles' first win in the competition secure, the 21-year-old helped Hubert Hurkacz put the icing on the cake with a 6-3 6-4 success in their mixed doubles clash against Zhibek Kulambayeva and Grigoriy Lomakin.

Swiatek's moment of brilliance came at 30-15 in game six. Desperately chasing Lomakin's drop volley after a fiercely contested rally, she produced a wonderful backhand slice around the net post to the amazement of everyone inside the Pat Rafter Arena.

The shot was executed on several occasions by 20-time grand slam champion Federer, who retired last year, including in his third-round clash with Nick Kyrgios at the 2018 US Open.

Swiatek subsequently asked the Swiss in a light-hearted tweet: "Do you approve?" - to which he replied: "That was crazy."

The world number one is back in action on Monday when Poland ironically face Switzerland, who boast the likes of Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic and three-time grand slam winner Stan Wawrinka in Group B.

Mike Evans made history with his 63-yard touchdown reception in the first half of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' critical Week 17 clash with the Carolina Panthers.

The Bucs went into the half trailing 14-10, but knowing victory would clinch the NFC South and their spot in the playoffs.

It would have been much worse for the Bucs if not for Tom Brady's deep shot to Evans, which took the latter to the 1,000-yard mark for the ninth successive season.

That saw him tie Oakland Raiders great Tim Brown for the second-longest such streak in NFL history.

Only San Francisco 49ers legend Jerry Rice has a longer streak (11).

Evans already owned the longest such streak to start a career, extending his own record with a reception that the Bucs hoped would be the catalyst for a comeback in a potentially decisive game.

Marco Verratti was in line to make his 400th appearance for Paris Saint-Germain after being named in the starting XI to face Lens.

Italy playmaker Verratti signed fresh terms with PSG in December, tying him to the Ligue 1 champions until 2026.

Christophe Galtier selected the 30-year-old to take on Lens on Sunday, marking Verratti's 400th game for PSG.

Jean-Marc Pilorget, who played 436 times for PSG between 1975 and 1989, is the only other player to hit the 400 landmark for the club.

Kylian Mbappe, who scored a last-gasp winner against Strasbourg in PSG's first league match back after the World Cup, featured up front, with Neymar suspended due to the red card he received last time out.

Lionel Messi was already ruled out, with the 35-year-old having only been due to return from Argentina this weekend following his World Cup celebrations.

Antonio Conte believes Tottenham need to delve into the transfer market if they are to repeat their "miracle" top-four finish of last season.

Spurs finished the 2021-22 campaign strongly to pip rivals Arsenal to Champions League qualification, but their attempts to finish in the top four again this season have faltered.

A 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday, as well as a draw with Brentford on Boxing Day, means Spurs have lost ground on Manchester United, with the Red Devils making it three straight wins with victory over Wolves on Saturday to move into fourth.

Conte's side have been unfortunate with injuries, with key players such as Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison both spending time on the sidelines.

Former Chelsea and Inter boss Conte feels Spurs could do with signing players to build the depth of their squad and make them competitive at the top end of the Premier League.

"I continue to repeat that we made a miracle [finishing fourth last season]," he told reporters after goals from Emiliano Buendia and Douglas Luiz condemned his side to defeat.

"Because we played only one competition with 12, 13 players and they didn't have injuries in the last 15 games and we played only the best players. Arsenal were only four points up and we finished 20 points less than Manchester City. We did a miracle and I knew the situation.

"I was very clear with the club and in the summer people spoke about Tottenham as title contenders. From my experience it was a bit crazy to read this but you have to accept this. If you have these injuries it becomes difficult.

"To become title contenders you need a solid foundation, 14, 15 strong quality players and the young players to develop and every season you can add two players, two players to invest £60million, £70m players to improve the level of your team."

Despite the Villa defeat, Conte was pleased with his side's attitude and he is confident his team will bounce back when they take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Wednesday.

"About the performance, I'm not disappointed," Conte said. "From the start to the end I've seen the right commitment and desire and intensity.

"I was expecting this moment. Now we have to fight, strong, because the situation, we are there and in this league you can slip quickly.

"I'm not scared. I believe in my work and I believe in these players."

Serge Aurier stunned Chelsea with a clinical equaliser as Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest secured a 1-1 draw at the City Ground.

A frenetic New Year's Day game saw Raheem Sterling fire Chelsea into a 16th-minute lead, but Forest had several good chances and hit the crossbar before Aurier pulled them level just after the hour.

Chelsea had lost their last three games on their travels, so they at least avoided a fourth successive defeat away from Stamford Bridge.

However, the point leaves them seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester United as head coach Graham Potter battles to put the Blues back in the hunt for a Champions League place.

The best early chance went to Forest in the 10th minute when Brennan Johnson ran in behind the Chelsea defence, forcing Kepa Arrizabalaga to make a sharp save before the goalkeeper gathered a half-hit follow-up attempt.

Yet Chelsea took the lead when Christian Pulisic's cross from the left was looped up against his own crossbar by defender Willy Boly, under pressure from Kai Havertz, with the ball bouncing out for Sterling to drive in from five yards.

Forest squandered another good opportunity early in the second half when Johnson elected to shoot from a narrowing angle rather than centre to an unmarked Taiwo Awoniyi, who was furious there was no pass.

They went even closer in the 55th minute when Morgan Gibbs-White sent an 18-yard drive crashing against the underside of the bar, but had their reward eight minutes later.

Former Tottenham right-back Aurier was an unlikely hero and his finish was excellent after a scramble on the edge of the six-yard box, controlling the ball with his chest when Boly headed to his fellow Ivorian before rifling powerfully past Kepa.

Substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed a late chance to win it for Chelsea, who cannot afford to be dropping points against teams battling to avoid relegation.

Alisson warned Liverpool cannot make excuses for their below-par performance against Leicester City as they target an improvement at Brentford.

Two calamitous own goals from Wout Faes gifted the Reds a 2-1 victory over the Foxes at Anfield on Friday – their fourth consecutive win in the Premier League.

However, Jurgen Klopp's men were criticised for their display, having fallen behind to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's early goal and looked vulnerable at the back.

Liverpool have an opportunity to move ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham when they visit the Brentford Community Stadium on Monday, and Alisson goalkeeper knows they need to do better.

"The only thing we could take from Friday was the win and the effort we put on the pitch," the Brazil international told LFC TV.

"But there's a lot of space to improve. Looking at the performance, we have to do a lot better if the ambition is to keep achieving the goals that we have in front of us.

"We have high expectations and the supporters have high expectations about us. 

"Liverpool is a huge club which will always try to fight for titles and to be there at the top all the time. We have to do more, but we know that.

"We cannot rely on excuses. It was only the second game we have played after the World Cup. The players who had time off used that to prepare themselves. The ones who went to the World Cup could train and then rest to prepare for this moment.

"It's going to be a really important moment of the season now and we have to focus. We have to do better.

"Sometimes it's just a matter of mentality. It's not that easy to change it but we can do that for sure."

Liverpool have scored three or more goals in each of their past five meetings with the Bees.

The Reds have only scored three or more goals in six consecutive games against the same opponent once, versus Fulham between 1986 and 2000.

The Chelsea Pride fan group condemned homophobic chants that were heard during the first half of the Blues' Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Moments after Chelsea took the lead in Sunday's contest, a chant of "Chelsea rent boys" was audible in the ground and on Sky Sports' television coverage.

The chant was defined in January 2022 as a hate crime by the Crown Prosecution Service, with Chelsea welcoming that decision at the time.

It has not been eradicated, though, and remains a slur occasionally aimed at Chelsea players.

Chelsea Pride, which describes itself as the club's official LGBTQ+ and Friends Supporters Group, said such a chant was unacceptable.

The group said in a statement: "We totally condemn the Chelsea Rent Boy chant that can be heard at the city ground. Time to call this out the game is live on @SkySportsPL This is now classed as a hate crime."

The Pride In Football organisation backed that reaction by stating: "We are very disappointed to hear that *one day* into 2023 and there is homophobia being heard at a football game.

"If you hear someone around you being homophobic, call them out. We need to kick homophobia out of football. This is not okay!"

Forest fan group LGBTQ Trickies hit out at those responsible and called for police action.

They said in a response to Chelsea Pride: "From all genuine #NFFC fans, please accept our apologies, not only do we hope @NottPolFootball will do their best to take action, we would hope @NFFC release a statement condoning this and take necessary action.

"We are embarrassed and ashamed."

Antonio Conte acknowledged Tottenham's confidence was "killed" after again conceding the first goal in their 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa.

Spurs began 2023 with only a second loss in their last nine matches played on New Year's Day, as second-half goals from Emiliano Buendia and Douglas Luiz gave the visitors all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham, who missed the chance to return to the top four, have now conceded the opening goal in each of their last seven Premier League matches, doing so for the first time since November 2010.

They have also now conceded at least twice in seven consecutive league matches for the first time since November 1988 (eight).

Conte was missing the likes of Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur for Sunday's visit of Villa, and the Italian feels the lacking of a creative spark was detrimental for his side.

"In the first half, we played with good intensity," he told BBC. "We didn't concede anything, and we found a team that defended too deep. Then, we conceded this goal and then the confidence dropped for my players.

"We have to know that our life is this. We have to fight every game for one point or for three points. This is the truth, especially when you are without two or three important players and have difficulties.

"We have different characteristics. We don't have many players who are really good at beating the man. We don't have many creative players in our team. For sure, today was really difficult to find space in the first half.

"I'm sure that if we don't concede the goal, we could win the game instead. The goal that we conceded killed us in confidence and in many situations for sure. You have to try and improve and develop these players to be even stronger.

"We have conceded the first goal, and we try to play to score goals. We understand very well that the league will be really difficult for us.

"We have to try to recover all the [injured] players, and then we have to know that in every game, we have to fight and show that we are strong."

Tottenham return to action on Wednesday with a trip to London rivals Crystal Palace.

The Philadelphia Eagles are without Jalen Hurts for a second straight week after the quarterback failed to recover from a shoulder injury in time to face the New Orleans Saints.

The NFL MVP contender was considered a doubt for Sunday's clash, after missing his team's pre-Christmas loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

It means Gardner Minshew will start for the second match in a row in the Eagles' first game of 2023.

Hurts returned to practice earlier this week on a limited basis, taking part in sessions on Thursday and Friday, but had been expected to miss the New Year's Day encounter.

The 13-2 Eagles can clinch the top seed in the NFC and home advantage in the playoffs with a victory over the Saints at Lincoln Financial Field.

Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is "past his sell-by date", with Graeme Souness indicating he was at fault for their 2-0 loss to Aston Villa on Sunday.

Antonio Conte's side made a losing start to 2023 as goals from Emi Buendia and Douglas Luiz ensured victory for Unai Emery's visitors in North London.

Lloris endured a horror-show performance between the posts, spilling a ball to allow Villa's opener before he was beaten at close-range for their second.

His errors have now resulted in four Premier League goals since the start of last season, with three alone this term, and Souness feels he is now a liability.

"I am not a big fan of Hugo Lloris," the former Liverpool midfielder told Sky Sports in his capacity as a pundit. "I've said it for a long time.

"He's made four errors leading to goals since the start of last season, the most of any keeper in the league. For me, he is past his sell-by date."

The latest lacklustre performance from Spurs means they have conceded at least twice in seven consecutive league games for the first time since 1988.

Their goalkeeper's struggles, around a World Cup campaign where he led France to a second successive final, have not helped Conte and his team this term.

He has conceded 3.7 more goals than his Expected Goals faced this season, with only Southampton's Gavin Bazunu (7.9) and Bournemouth's Mark Travers (6.2) faring worse  in that regard.

Overall, Tottenham have conceded five goals from their own mistakes as a team this term, two more than any other Premier League side.

Manchester City are not worried about the Premier League title race despite losing ground on Arsenal, so says Manuel Akanji.

Pep Guardiola's side were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, after Erling Haaland's finish was cancelled out by Demarai Gray's superb strike.

With Mikel Arteta's Arsenal claiming a victory against Brighton and Hove Albion it means the gap is now seven points to the summit for reigning champions City.

Akanji, though, is not concerned, with City having not yet faced their title rivals.

"It's the midway point of the season," he told City's official website. "Of course, Arsenal are in first but in the end, there are lots of games to play.

"We have to play them twice. We'll keep the pressure up and try to win our next game and keep on going. There's still a long way to go."

Not for the first time, City saw their firepower neutralised by cracks in their defensive line, with Gray's goal the only shot on target Everton mustered.

That their domination on the ball was undone by a lapse at the back is not lost on Akanji, who believes they must bank clean sheets to stay in the mix.

"We had enough chances, and we've got to keep the clean sheet in a game like this," he added. "We can't give the opponent the opportunity to score.

"It's something we have to [do] better in the next game. One point is not enough out of these 90 minutes.

"We tried to dominate the game. I think we did it pretty well and had enough opportunities to score a goal. In the end, we have to manage to keep the clean sheet.

"There's going to be some tough games where the opponent is defending well, and we've got to do a better job. We have to be more focused

"If we can do that, we might be better the next time. It's something we have to improve."