James Maddison eased fears of him missing England's World Cup campaign after limping off in his final club game before joining up with the squad.

Despite only picking up one previous cap three years ago, Maddison's impressive form was enough to earn him a place in Gareth Southgate's squad for Qatar.

But that spot looked to be in serious peril when, in his final game for Leicester City ahead of the World Cup, Maddison limped off in the 25th minute having put the Foxes 1-0 up.

Clutching at his hamstring, there was immediate concern for the 25-year-old, but he alleviated those fears after the game.

"It should be fine," Maddison said as he left the London Stadium after the match with West Ham, which his side went on to win 2-0.

"Injury isn't too bad! A small problem that was causing a bit of soreness. Can't wait to meet up with the lads Monday," Maddison tweeted after the game.

Maddison's Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed that there should not be any problem with the midfielder's fitness for Qatar, telling reporters: "I’ve just spoken to the doctor, he said he’s fine.

"He just felt a little knock on the knee. We didn’t want to risk it for him or the team."

The news will come as a big relief to Maddison and Southgate with England's World Cup campaign scheduled to get underway against Iran on November 21.

Mikel Arteta would rather Arsenal's momentum not have been checked by the upcoming break for the World Cup after seeing his side go five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Captain Martin Odegaard scored twice as the Gunners secured a 2-0 victory against Wolves at Molineux in their final game before the mid-season break, meaning they will sit top of the pile at Christmas for the first time since the 2007-08 season.

With Manchester City having lost to Brentford earlier the day, Arsenal now have a buffer heading into the hiatus while they stand as the only side in the Premier League to have scored in every match this season.

Arteta will hope his side can pick up where they left off after the World Cup, though he concedes it is not the ideal situation for his in-form team.

"It's great to be where we are and we are enjoying that moment. Now we have a big break and we have to reflect on what we're doing and be prepared for after the World Cup," he said in his post-match press conference.

"Our aim is to play better as a team every day, to have better tools to do what we want to do. I can say it's been phenomenal to work with these players and staff.

"When a team is in that moment you want to carry on playing of course, but that's not possible. We have to use that time as best as possible.

"For those not participating in the World Cup they will have some time off which they fully deserve, and the rest can just fulfil a dream that every kid has to have the chance to represent their team in a national cup. It doesn't get better than that."

While many of the Arsenal squad will be competing at the World Cup, Odegaard will not and Arteta outlined the importance of keeping those staying at home fresh and competitive before the return to action on Boxing Day.

"He's got two internationals before that so he’s going to be more committed to the national team. After that, we will try to prepare him in the best possible way, but we don't know," he added.

"Sometimes when you are in a rhythm and competing it's much better. The players who are here are going to need to compete and have enough fitness to play in the right way against West Ham. We'll try to prepare them in the right way."

Odegaard's brace against Wolves took his tally in the Premier League this season to six, just two shy of his career total in England's top flight prior to the start of the season and Arteta praised his improvement in the final third.

"That's what you want - for your attacking midfielders to win games not only by assisting but by scoring goals," he stated.

"He's changed that mentality and he's practising a lot and he wants to get to his best and we don't know where his limit is like many of the other kids that we have.

"That's what we want – embrace the good moments and support them when they're not that good."

Angel Correa and Joao Felix struck to give out-of-form Atletico Madrid a 2-0 victory at fifth-tier Almazan to reach the Copa del Rey second round.

Atletico have not won in five LaLiga matches but a dominant first-half display saw Correa put them 1-0 up at the break when he took advantage of a mistake from Almazan goalkeeper Alberto Gonzalez.

Felix added a smart second after the break, beating his man before clinically firing into the back of the net to make the game safe.

Atletico consequently cruise into the next round of a competition they have won 10 times, though not since the 2012-13 season.

Correa had already tested Gonzalez by the time Marcos Llorente hit the crossbar with a bouncing effort after Antoine Griezmann's free-kick fell at this feet.

Koke's deflected shot also rattled the woodwork after more fine Griezmann work and Gonzalez made a superb stop to deny Llorente's low drive.

But Felix's long-range shot was too hot for Gonzalez to handle with Correa tapping in the rebound 10 minutes before the break.

Felix added a sublime second in the 63rd-minute, shifting onto his left foot outside the box before rifling into the bottom-right corner.

Griezmann thought he had added a third when he deftly steered home Nahuel Molina's cross, though the offside flag went up to curtail his celebrations.

Koke missed a great opportunity to round out the scoring late on, but he could only side-foot wide.

Brandon Nakashima became the first American winner of the ATP Next Gen Finals with a straight-sets victory over Jiri Lehecka on Saturday.

The 21-year-old was beaten by Sebastian Korda in last year's semi-finals, but he more than made amends by winning all five matches in Milan en route to the title.

Lehecka was also defeated in straight sets by Nakashima in the group stage, but he broke his opponent in the opening game of the final at the Allianz Cloud.

Nakashima recovered from 3-1 down in a first set that went the distance and managed to get over the line after a 5-0 lead in the tie-break was reduced to 6-5.

Czech youngster Lehecka wasted a glorious chance to level up the contest when letting two set points pass him by in the second-set tie-break, which Nakashima went on to win.

The match was over inside 80 minutes as Nakashima, who struck 21 winners to Lehecka's 27, served out the final set to win 4-3 (7-5) 4-3 (8-6) 4-2.

"I am super happy right now," Nakashima said at his on-court interview. "It was a great tournament, this whole week. 

"This final was another tough match. Just a few points that could have gone either way. I am happy with my level today. It's a good way to finish off the year.

"It was a final so there are going to be some pressure moments. There were some nerves at the beginning, but I'm happy I was able to turn it around quickly and close it out."

The final round of Premier League fixtures before the World Cup break produced a huge shock at the Etihad Stadium.

After missing out on England's World Cup squad, Ivan Toney struck twice to give Brentford a sensational 2-1 victory over Manchester City.

That result confirmed Arsenal would be top heading into the World Cup interval, and they increased their lead to five points by cruising past Wolves at Molineux as Martin Odegaard scored both goals in a 2-0 triumph.

Tottenham and Leeds United played out a seven-goal thriller at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the hosts eventually running out 4-3 winners.

Elsewhere, Chelsea fell to a third straight league defeat as they were beaten 1-0 by in-form Newcastle United.

Here, Stats Perform looks through the best facts of the day.

Manchester City 1-2 Brentford: Toney double stuns Citizens

City had previously been unbeaten for 20 home matches in all competitions since a 3-2 defeat against Spurs in February, winning their last 16 at the Etihad.

But Toney, fresh from his England disappointment, scored his 21st and 22nd Premier League goals to end City's streak in dramatic fashion.

His winner came after 97 minutes and 16 seconds, the latest winning goal scored against City in the Premier League since exact goal times started being recorded in the 2006-07 campaign.

The Bees were made to do a lot of defending to earn the three points, with City's 29 shots their most in a Premier League home game they failed to win since a 2-1 defeat to Leeds United in April 2021.

Phil Foden's equaliser in first-half injury time was his sixth home goal in all competitions, his joint-best return in a Premier League season. Six of his eight goals (75 per cent) this season have come at the Etihad, compared to 43 per cent last term (six of 14).

Wolves 0-2 Arsenal: Odegaard fires Gunners to five-point lead

Odegaard's double puts him up to six Premier League goals this season, the most of any Arsenal player, while only Kevin de Bruyne, James Maddison and Leandro Trossard have been involved in more away goals than the Norway international (five, four goals and one assist).

The three points, combined with City slipping up, gives Arsenal their biggest lead at the top of the Premier League since December 2013.

Mikel Arteta's men are the only team to have scored in every Premier League game this season and they will be top of the league on Christmas day for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign.

Another defeat for Wolves means new boss Julen Lopetegui has much work to do, with the Molineux club bottom at Christmas for the first time since the 2003-04 season.

They are seriously out of form, only winning one of their last 22 Premier League games, failing to score in 11 matches over that run.

Tottenham 4-3 Leeds United: Bentancur strikes twice as Spurs come from behind

Antonio Conte's side completed yet another turnaround to beat Leeds and have now rescued 13 points from losing positions, more than any other team.

Rodrigo Bentancur's late double was the first time he has scored twice in the same game within the main five European leagues, on what was his 164th such appearance.

Spurs were made to do it the hard way, as Rodrigo and Crysencio Summerville became the first pair of team-mates to both score in four straight Premier League games.

But Leeds ultimately succumbed to defeat, their fifth straight league loss against London sides since thumping Chelsea 3-0 in August.

Spurs meanwhile have now scored 31 goals in 15 Premier League games this season, only bettering that tally at this stage of the competition in one season, when they netted 35 in 15 to kick off the 2009-10 campaign.

Newcastle United 1-0 Chelsea: Willock wonder strike downs Blues

Joe Willock scored a superb winner to earn Newcastle a fifth straight Premier League victory for the first time since 2014.

On the flip side, Graham Potter becomes the first Chelsea boss to lose three consecutive league matches since Jose Mourinho in 2015 as his side's poor form continues.

A key reason for the defeat was a dismal attacking display, registering just seven touches in the opposition box, their lowest since January against Manchester City.

The closest Chelsea went to scoring was Conor Gallagher forcing an acrobatic save from Nick Pope. No other goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets in the Premier League this season than Pope, with five of his seven coming at St James' Park.

The three points ensure Newcastle will be in the top three at Christmas for the first time since the 2001-02 campaign, when they were top.

France made it a record-extending 12 Test victories in a row with a thrilling late 30-26 win over South Africa in Marseille on Saturday in a contest that saw both sides have a player sent off.

South Africa trailed 13-0 after Pieter-Steph du Toit was dismissed early on for catching Jonathan Danty in the head, either side of a couple of Thomas Ramos penalties, before Cyril Baille stretched over the line. 

But the reigning world champions responded through a Cheslin Kolbe penalty and a try from Siya Kolisi, who darted around the side after a collapsing maul, though Ramos ensured France still retained a six-point lead at the break by kicking over another penalty.

Kolbe and Ramos added further points from the boot for their respective sides early in an action-packed second half, which sparked into life when Antoine Dupont was sent off for his challenge on Kolbe to level up the sides at 14 players each.

South Africa wasted no time in taking the lead for the first time through Kurt-Lee Arendse's score in the right corner following a driving maul, which Faf de Klerk added to with another penalty.

But after Ramos and Paul Willemse found the sticks to keep the scoreline tight, there was to be another twist as Deon Fourie was sin-binned with 10 minutes to go and France profited when Sipili Falatea crashed over in the third phase of play, with Ramos adding three more points to seal a statement win a year out from the World Cup.

Martin Odegaard says Arsenal "have to stay calm" after moving five-points clear at the top of the Premier League by beating Wolves 2-0 on Saturday.

The Gunners captain scored both goals in the second half at Molineux, with Arsenal capitalising after Brentford's surprise 2-1 win against Manchester City earlier in the day.

It leaves Mikel Arteta's side top of the table at Christmas for the first time since the 2007-08 season, with no Premier League football to be played until Boxing Day due to the World Cup in Qatar.

Arsenal will return after the tournament with a target on their backs and Odegaard urged his side to remain level headed.

"We had to dig deep today. The first half was difficult, they defended well. We were a bit slow but we know the quality we have and we always create chances. We stayed patient and it paid off," he told Sky Sports.

"We talked about some tactical things at half-time and did better in the second half. We played the ball out wide and created some overload and got the goal which helps.

"We have to stay calm, it's a long way to the end of the season, we play every game as a final and that's all."

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale said there is little significance to Arsenal's advantage at this stage of the campaign, identifying that plenty could change during the mid-season break.

"It's a massive win going into break and a bit of a bumper but that means nothing really," he said. "Things will change over the break and we have to come back how we finished it."

Arsenal lock horns with West Ham at the Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day, their first game after the World Cup.

Martin Odegaard scored twice as Arsenal beat Wolves 2-0 at Molineux to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The Gunners headed into the game looking to take advantage after Brentford's surprise victory against Manchester City earlier on Saturday but did not have it all their own way in the Midlands.

Gabriel Jesus saw an early effort chalked off for offside and struck the frame of the goal in the first half, while Wolves presented a threat on the counter.

Arsenal's patience paid off in the second half though, with captain Odegaard striking twice to seal all three points and leave the hosts rooted to the bottom of the table.

Jesus smashed home after six minutes only to be denied by the offside flag, while Granit Xhaka was replaced by Fabio Vieira due to illness.

Wolves went close to breaking the deadlock on the counter-attack but Goncalo Guedes fired his attempt over, while Jesus struck the crossbar at the other end.

The visitors finally found a breakthrough nine minutes after the restart, Jesus poking a pass through to Vieira who cut back across the face of goal for Odegaard to tap home from close range.

Gabriel Martinelli forced a fine save from Jose Sa soon after as the Gunners looked to double their advantage, with Toti then making a fine tackle to prevent Odegaard from tucking home again.

Odegaard was on hand again 15 minutes before the final whistle, though, picking up the ball in the middle of the box after Sa denied Martinelli to coolly slot home his second of the game.

What does it mean? Gunners top for Christmas

With the season halting for the World Cup in Qatar and no Premier League football to be played until Boxing Day, Mikel Arteta's side will sit top of the table at Christmas for the first time since the 2007-08 season but Arsenal must exorcise some demons to stay at the summit.

The last five times the Gunners have been in that position (1951-52, 1986-87, 1989-90, 2002-03 and 2007-08), they have not managed to go on to lift the title at the end of the campaign and Arteta will know there is plenty of work to be done.

Odegaard top billing

A brace against Wolves took Odegaard's tally for the season in the Premier League to six goals in 13 appearances, only two shy of his career total in England's top flight prior to the start of the campaign (eight).

With Jesus, Martinelli (both five) and Bukayo Saka (four) leading the line, Arsenal continue to share scoring responsibility.

Lopetegui's challenge

Defeat to Arsenal leaves Wolves with just one win in their previous nine Premier League matches, drawing one and losing seven.

Nottingham Forest's win against Crystal Palace earlier in the day saw Wolves drop to bottom of the standings, with new boss Julen Lopetegui facing a tough ask when his role begins on Monday.

What's next?

Arsenal host West Ham in a London derby on Boxing Day, while Lopetegui's first game in charge is on the same day against fellow strugglers Everton.

Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann backed Jamal Musiala to shine for Germany at the World Cup after he produced a scintillating display in Saturday's 2-0 win at Schalke.

On the day he became the youngest player to make 100 Bayern appearances since the Bundesliga was founded (aged 19 years and 259 days old), Musiala laid on goals for Serge Gnabry and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in a routine victory.

Musiala has now contributed to 21 goals this season (12 goals, nine assists) – more than any other German playing in one of Europe's top five leagues has managed. 

The teenager was also denied a goal of his own by the offside flag after claiming his second assist on Saturday and Nagelsmann believes Germany fans should be excited by his presence in Qatar. 

"Jamal played an outstanding first half of the season," Nagelsmann told Sky Sports after the win.

"Hopefully, he will play the World Cup and the second half of the season even better. He has extremely lively feet."

Musiala's Bayern and Germany team-mate Manuel Neuer, meanwhile, sees him as possessing a crucial role in both teams. 

"He is a very important key player," Neuer said. "We are happy that he is with Bayern and also with the national team."

Musiala's total of 15 Bundesliga goal contributions this campaign (nine goals, six assists) is the highest in the competition, and four more than the next best tally by a Bayern player (Gnabry with 11).

Graham Potter felt Chelsea lacked the quality to get themselves back in the game against Newcastle United.

Chelsea managed just two shots on target as Joe Willock's stunner earned Newcastle all three points in a 1-0 win at St James' Park on Saturday.

The closest Potter's side came was Conor Gallagher forcing a decent stop from Nick Pope, with their 17 goals in 14 Premier League this term their fewest at this stage of a season since 2015-16, when they went on to finish 10th.

Potter becomes the first Chelsea manager to lose three straight league matches since Jose Mourinho in 2015, and the former Brighton and Hove Albion boss was frustrated with his team's attacking display.

"There were too many errors," Potter told Sky Sports. "We had the quality to play through but lacked that last bit.

"Newcastle are very confident. We got back into it a bit second half with Conor's effort but then they scored. They put you under pressure with high intensity.

"We tried but in the end lacked the quality to get the goal we needed. We need to do more to come away to say we deserved anything."

Potter responded to Willock's goal by using his three remaining substitutions, bringing on Hakim Ziyech, Marc Cucurella and Kai Havertz.

Potter felt these changes were needed and that they did have a positive impact, even in defeat, adding: "We had to make the change in the second half as they were overrunning us.

"We needed an extra man in midfield. We responded quite well. As soon as we are 1-0 down it is about fresh legs.

"It was a tight game, [with] not many chances. This is a tough place to come. It is not nice for us. We are in a bad moment."

This string of losses has come in the final three league games before the Premier League pauses for the World Cup.

Potter will use the break to take stock of his opening months in the job, explaining: "There won't be many of us. A lot of the guys go away, but those that remain will work and go again.

"We have had a tough period and there have been a lot of positives but also some negatives. Sometimes you have to accept the struggles you have.

"It is about regrouping and starting again. It is the second half of the season and there is a long way to go."

Dusan Vlahovic will sit out Juventus' Serie A game against Lazio on Sunday with the Serbia striker struggling for fitness ahead of the World Cup, head coach Massimiliano Allegri said.

The 22-year-old has not featured for Juventus since they suffered a 4-3 Champions League defeat to Benfica last month, missing their last four games after sustaining a groin injury.

Vlahovic – who is Juventus' top scorer this season with seven goals – has been named in Serbia's 26-man squad for the upcoming tournament in Qatar but is yet to fully recover.

Despite Vlahovic participating in recent training sessions, Allegri is unwilling to risk him against Lazio, though he remains adamant the striker is not hesitant about returning before the World Cup.

"Vlahovic, no. He doesn't feel like it, he's not well, he'll stay out. [Federico] Chiesa is available tomorrow," Allegri said at Saturday's pre-match press conference.

"You have to be fatalistic. In general, maybe at the first training session with the national team, a player stops and misses the World Cup. 

"Vlahovic was part of training both yesterday and today, it is normal for a player to feel he has to help the team. He's not in optimal physical condition right now."

However, Juventus will be able to call upon Angel Di Maria against Maurizio Sarri's men, with the Argentina international having appeared as a substitute in each of the Bianconeri's last two games after recovering from a thigh problem.

Allegri will make a late decision on whether to start Di Maria ahead of Sunday's match and will not be swayed by his imminent appearance at a fourth World Cup.

"It is not a question of the World Cup. The other times he played half an hour and did well," Allegri said.

"I have to decide whether to let him play for a while or to start him from the beginning. It is clear that when he enters, he raises the level of the team. Tomorrow is about the team. 

"In the last match, it will be difficult. It is like the first of the championship, since then there will be a long break. It is a dangerous match already, because of the quality of Lazio."

Mercedes enjoyed a strong Saturday ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix as George Russell won the sprint race at Interlagos.

Kevin Magnussen was the surprise pole holder after his brilliant qualifying session on Friday, though the Haas driver, who had promised to go "maximum attack" slipped well down the grid.

Russell qualified third and delivered a brilliant drive to claim his first race win and get himself on pole for Sunday's grand prix.

Carlos Sainz of Ferrari clinched second, though a five-place penalty should see Lewis Hamilton join his team-mate at the front of the grid, although the result will be subject to a stewards' enquiry.

Hamilton will be investigated, along with Daniel Ricciardo and Zhou Guanyu, for his position in his grid box at the start of the sprint.

Should he retain his place in second, Hamilton – who is aiming to equal Michael Schumacher as the driver with the most wins at Interlagos (four) – will take his place on the front row for the first time in 2022.

Max Verstappen went out on mediums instead of soft tyres, and that decision backfired as he dropped from second to fourth, though the world champion will move up thanks to Sainz's penalty, which came as a result of the Spaniard clipping the Dutchman's Red Bull.

Sergio Perez, Verstappen's team-mate, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris will start ahead of Sainz, while Magnussen will have to settle for eighth.

For Mercedes, the omens are good, with 15 of the last 17 winners at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix having come from the front row, with eight of the winners having started on pole.

PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION

1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +3.995
3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +4.492
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +10.494
5. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +11.855
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +13.133
7. Lando Norris (McLaren) +25.624
8. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) +28.768
9. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) +30.218
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) +34.170

Joe Willock's sensational strike was enough to earn Newcastle United a 1-0 victory over Chelsea, sending Eddie Howe's side back up to third in the Premier League.

Willock curled a wonderful first-time finish into the top-right corner to break the deadlock in the 67th minute of Saturday's encounter at St James' Park.

Newcastle had needed Nick Pope to be on top form prior to Willock's moment of magic – the goalkeeper denying England team-mate Conor Gallagher.

Tempers boiled over at the end, though while Chelsea will have to lick their wounds after a third straight league loss, Newcastle claimed another statement victory.

In-form Miguel Almiron skied an early volley over the bar in a first half devoid of clear-cut chances that Newcastle slightly shaded.

Armando Broja registered the only shot on target by either side in the opening 45 minutes by, but his tame effort was saved comfortably by Nick Pope.

Newcastle fans screamed for a penalty in injury time when the ball struck Trevoh Chalobah's arm, but referee Robert Jones dismissed those protests.

The hosts started the second half with renewed vigour – Edouard Mendy denying Sean Longstaff, who fired over from a second chance a few moments later.

Newcastle needed their goalkeeper in the 65th minute, though, with Pope brilliantly tipping Gallagher's shot wide.

Willock made Pope's excellence count, curling home past a despairing Mendy after great work from Almiron on the edge of Chelsea's box.

Kai Havertz went close to nudging in an equaliser, but Chelsea's attempts proved fruitless as their poor form under Graham Potter continued.