Mitchell vs. Estrada: Preview, Fight Time, Live Stream and TV Info

By Rob Lancaster

British boxing comes back to life in 2015 on Saturday night with an intriguing battle between two fighters who know a defeat could derail their bids to win a world title.

Local boy Kevin Mitchell (38-2, 28 KO) and Mexican Daniel Estrada (32-3-1 24 KO) will do battle for the vacant WBC silver lightweight title at the O2 Arena in London.

Both men know, however, that more is on the line than just a minor belt. A loss is a final elimination that neither can really afford.

They boast similar records and have both fallen short in previous attempts to become world champion at the weight limit.

Poor preparation proved costly for Mitchell when he met Australian Michael Katsidis back in 2010, while he found fellow Brit Ricky Burns too much to handle two years later.

Estrada, meanwhile, comes into this fight off the back of a failed bid to wrestle the WBC strap from the possession of Omar Figueroa—who has since been stripped of the title due to injury—in September of last year.

However, the 29-year-old has the added boost of legendary compatriot Juan Manuel Marquez in his corner for what promises to be an intriguing battle.

When: Saturday, Jan. 31

Where: O2 Arena, London, England

TV: Sky Sports 1 HD (live from 8 p.m.)

Live Stream: Sky Sports (subscription required)

Mitchell made it clear at Thursday's pre-fight press conference that he understands the importance of this fight: "Time is running out. I have 40 fights, I am nearly 30—this is my last shot." 

He has already had a solid career, winning British and Commonwealth titles down at super featherweight.

Clearly, though, Mitchell yearns to be a world champion before he hangs up his gloves. To achieve that goal, he really cannot afford to lose to Estrada.

One would hope that he learned from the Katsidis defeat, one that was made even more painful as it happened to him at Upton Park, the home of his beloved West Ham Football Club.

He also needs to make sure there is no repeat of his last bout. Mitchell defeated Ghislain Maduma last May but failed to make check-in weight on the day of the fight, meaning he could not become the mandatory challenger for the IBF title, per Mike Dawes of the Daily Mail.

There's no doubting Mitchell's talent, but hopefully the penny has now dropped and he'll display the dedication and attention to detail required to get to the very top.

The support Estrada has in his corner could be crucial if he is going to upset the odds in the English capital.

Marquez knows what it takes to become a world champion, and his guidance may be required as his fellow countryman bids to record his first professional win on foreign soil.

Estrada put up a valiant show in the defeat to Figueroa: He was willing to stand and trade with the champion in a bout that featured on the undercard of Kell Brook's victory over Shawn Porter in California.

Such tactics could be foolish against a slick puncher like Mitchell, though he may believe dragging his rival into a war will give him the best chance for success.

According to Matchroom Sports, Marquez insists Estrada has put in the hard work during a 10-week training camp: "He comes motivated and with this big hope to win. Every fighter’s dream is to fight for the World title. That’s why he is here in England."

Prediction

The question is: Can Mitchell cope with the added pressure of knowing his dream could be dashed with another defeat?

He has done everything required of him since losing to Burns, winning his last five outings.

Estrada, though, is a particularly dangerous opponent. He showed against Figueroa that he does not mind mixing it up. That seems to be his best chance to triumph on the road.

Mitchell does not need to be dragged into the trenches, however. His performance in beating John Murray back in 2011 shows he has the skills to cope with a pressure fighter.

He should have just enough to come out on top in the end, possibly via a late stoppage.

Article Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2346565-kevin-mitchell-vs-daniel-estrada-preview-fight-time-live-stream-and-tv-info

Djokovic vs. Murray Live Stream: Full Schedule, Predictions for Australian Open 2015 Finals

By R. Cory Smith

The 2015 Australian Open men's final has a very familiar look. No. 1 Novak Djokovic will battle No. 6 Andy Murray for the title; the two players have a combined seven finals appearances prior to Sunday morning.

Despite half of the Big Four being eliminated by the conclusion of the quarterfinals, Murray and Djokovic keep the success of the top players alive. However, the Aussie Open final has been a completely different story for both competitors.

In anticipation of the final match of the first Grand Slam, here's a look at the schedule and full predictions for Djokovic vs. Murray.

2015 Australian Open Men's Final Schedule

Matchup Time (ET) TV Live Stream

No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 6 Andy Murray Sunday, 3 a.m. ESPN WatchESPN

For everyone who thought the Big Four appeared to be crumbling, this tournament wasn't for you. Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic were able to pull off wins in the Grand Slams last year, but the start to this season already has a different feel.

Sunday's matchup pits two of the best in the world against each other and marks the return of a final for Murray. The British No. 1 was shut out of the finals in his previous five Grand Slams, but he is playing dominant tennis right now.

Murray, looking for his first Aussie Open title, has a lot of history with Djokovic, per the tournament's official Twitter account:

The final mention in that quote is fitting, as the two players have matched up 23 times professionally. Djokovic holds the overall advantage, 15-8, but they are tied at 2-2 in major finals. That does, however, include two wins in Melbourne for Djokovic.

Sports Center notes the stark difference in the Australian Open final:

Since their last meeting in a major final—Murray's Wimbledon triumph in 2013—it has been all Djokovic. The Serbian has won four straight matches over Murray, all on hard surfaces and three in straight sets.

Needless to say, this looks like the Djoker's match to win. But if he's going to do so, he'll need to play flawless tennis against a player eager to win his elusive third Grand Slam title. Djokovic spoke about his play against Wawrinka in the semifinals, per tennis analyst Carole Bouchard:

In the end, it will be Djokovic hoisting the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after a gritty performance. Looking to join the ranks of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in major wins, Djokovic will finally be at eight overall.

Going to his fifth Aussie Open final, the Djoker will emerge as the King of Melbourne again.

Prediction: Djokovic wins 6-4, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3

Article Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2347942-australian-open-2015-finals-full-schedule-predictions-for-djokovic-vs-murray

Serena Williams vs. Maria Sharapova: Schedule and TV coverage for Australian Open 2015

By James Brady

Serena Williams has dominated Maria Sharapova for the past decade, but anything can happen when you get the two best women's tennis players in the world facing off.

The 2015 Australian Open is nearing its end, with the men's finals set to wrap things up on Sunday in the United States, but first we've got the women's finals, featuring the top two seeds in the tournament in Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.

The first day of the tournament saw eight seeded women lose, and the bracket was just as unpredictable throughout the remainder of the tournament. But it's no surprise to see Williams, the top seed looking for her 19th Grand Slam title to move to third all-time among women, and Sharapova, the No. 2 seed, meet in the final.

The result of this match, given the history of these two, also doesn't look very hard to predict on paper.

Sharapova beat Williams two times in a row back in 2004, eliminating her from Wimbledon and then winning the WTA Tour Championships final in Los Angeles, but has not beaten her since then. The two have played each other 15 times since Sharapova's two-match streak, and Williams has won every single one of them, including four Grand Slams. More than that, Williams has dropped just three sets to Sharapova in those 15 meetings.

You don't find too many ridiculous streaks like that on this level, but a recent one does come to mind: Tomas Berdych's 17-match losing skid to Rafael Nadal. Berdych snapped that streak in the quarterfinals, dominating Nadal from start to finish to move to the semifinals. Nadal's previous domination of Berdych is very similar to Williams' streak over Sharapova.

Williams is also saying many of the same things that Nadal said prior to his defeat at the hands of Berdych -- that Sharapova can't be overlooked, that this is a new match and that the record against her simply doesn't matter at the end of the day.

The match is set for 3:30 a.m. ET on Saturday morning. ESPN will broadcast the matchup, and anybody hoping to watch online can do so at WatchESPN or the Australian Open website.

Article Source: http://www.sbnation.com/tennis/2015/1/30/7948507/2015-australian-open-live-stream-tv-schedule-serena-williams-maria-sharapova

Waste Management Phoenix Open 2015: Times, Dates and TV Schedule

By Donald Wood

The PGA season is kicking into high gear in preparation for the first major of the season, the Masters in April, as the 2015 edition of the Waste Management Phoenix Open begins Thursday at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona.

With top names like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington, Angel Cabrera, Bubba Watson and others all looking to build momentum for April’s Masters Tournament, the Phoenix Open will be a great opportunity for players to find their rhythm.

Here are the tee times, vital viewing information, prize money and a breakdown of the biggest name in the tournament.

Where: TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona

Dates: Thursday, Jan. 29 - Sunday, Feb. 1

Watch: Golf Channel

Live Stream: NBC Live Extra

Full TV Schedule: WMPhoenixOpen.com

Purse: $6,300,000

Winning Share: $1,134,000

FedEx Cup Points: 500

Day 1 Tee Times

Tee No. Time (PT) Players

1 7:30 a.m. Graham DeLaet

Kevin Chappell

Troy Merritt

10 7:30 a.m. Bo Van Pelt

Kevin Kisner

Luke Guthrie

1 7:39 a.m. Carl Pettersson

Shawn Stefani

James Hahn

10 7:39 a.m. Robert Garrigus

Tim Wilkinson

Billy Hurley III

1 7:48 a.m. Bryce Molder

Scott Langley

Jamie Donaldson

10 7:48 a.m. Jason Bohn

Ricky Barnes

Martin Flores

1 7:57 a.m. Ryan Moore

Seung-Yul Noh

Zach Johnson

10 7:57 a.m. Hunter Mahan

Phil Mickelson

Rickie Fowler

1 8:06 a.m. Bill Haas

Russell Henley

Gary Woodland

10 8:06 a.m. Matt Kuchar

Jason Dufner

Keegan Bradley

1 8:15 a.m. Angel Cabrera

Ken Duke

John Merrick

10 8:15 a.m. Robert Streb

Ben Martin

Retief Goosen

1 8:24 a.m. Charley Hoffman

Kevin Streelman

Matt Every

10 8:24 a.m. Matt Jones

Brandt Snedeker

Jonas Blixt

1 8:33 a.m. Boo Weekley

Lucas Glover

Kenny Perry

10 8:33 a.m. Camilo Villegas

Martin Laird

Justin Leonard

1 8:42 a.m. Aaron Baddeley

Daniel Summerhays

Russell Knox

10 8:42 a.m. Pat Perez

William McGirt

Brooks Koepka

1 8:51 a.m. George McNeill

Scott Verplank

Justin Hicks

10 8:51 a.m. Andres Romero

Brian Stuard

Francesco Molinari

1 9 a.m. Sung Joon Park

Andrew Loupe

Michael Block

10 9 a.m. Carlos Ortiz

Derek Fathauer

Michael Hopper

1 11:40 a.m. Charlie Beljan

Brian Davis

Ryo Ishikawa

10 11:40 a.m. Robert Allenby

Brendon de Jonge

Nicholas Thompson

1 11:49 a.m. Chez Reavie

Morgan Hoffmann

Jason Kokrak

10 11:49 a.m. Freddie Jacobson

Danny Lee

Brice Garnett

1 11:58 a.m. Erik Compton

David Hearn

Troy Kelly

10 11:58 a.m. Kyle Stanley

Jhonattan Vegas

Chris Stroud

1 12:07 p.m. Patrick Reed

Tiger Woods

Jordan Spieth

10 12:07 p.m. J.B. Holmes

Geoff Ogilvy

Harris English

1 12:16 p.m. Bubba Watson

Billy Horschel

Hideki Matsuyama

10 12:16 p.m. Brian Harman

Scott Stallings

Charles Howell III

1 12:25 p.m. Chesson Hadley

Michael Thompson

Mike Weir

10 12:25 p.m. Nick Taylor

Nick Watney

Kevin Na

1 12:34 p.m. Steven Bowditch

David Toms

Stewart Cink

10 12:34 p.m. Woody Austin

Scott Piercy

Rory Sabbatini

1 12:43 p.m. Derek Ernst

Mark Wilson

K.J. Choi

10 12:43 p.m. Sang-Moon Bae

Ben Crane

Ryan Palmer

1 12:52 p.m. Cameron Tringale

Michael Putnam

Jim Renner

10 12:52 p.m. Chad Campbell

Gonzalo Fdez-Castano

Andrew Svoboda

1 1:01 p.m. Brendan Steele

Jeff Overton

Spencer Levin

10 1:01 p.m. John Huh

Padraig Harrington

Adam Hadwin

1 1:10 p.m. Tony Finau

Justin Thomas

Cory Renfrew

10 1:10 p.m. Daniel Berger

Scott Harrington

Jon Rahm

Source: PGATour.com

Top Player to Watch: Tiger Woods

There are many players who will be on full display in this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, but none will draw as much attention as the 14-time Major championship winner Tiger Woods.

Since missing the cut at the PGA Championship in August 2014, Woods has only played in one tournament, the Hero World Challenge in December. After a slow start and scoring a 77 on Day 1, Woods bounced back and finished 17th overall.

While his performance was outstanding, his ability to recover from a rough start is one of the reasons he is a top star. He has struggled with consistency, but he will have the chance to showcase any improvements he made since last month.

When asked about the expectations on Woods in this week’s tournament, ESPN.com senior golf writer Bob Harig gave his honest assessment of the situation:

Not much. You have to keep this all in perspective, which is always difficult to do with Tiger. This will be just his second tournament since August and he spent at least two months of that time not playing golf. And another seven weeks have passed since his last competitive shot at the Hero World Challenge. Any kind of a solid finish should be viewed as a positive.

Everyone is talking about how Woods will perform, but he is keeping his spirits high and shared a picture of the new shoes he’ll be wearing this week:

The question for the remainder of Woods’ career will be his health. At 39 years old, Woods doesn’t have the same physical ability he once did. His willingness to keep himself in shape and at the top of his game despite injuries is why he can come back, but staying healthy will be the key.

There is no way to question the physical tools Woods possesses after winning 14 majors, but his inability to string together four elite rounds has been his major downfall. If he can find a rhythm early and build confidence, golf fans can’t count out Woods contending for the win.

Article Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2344267-waste-management-phoenix-open-2015-tee-times-dates-tv-schedule-prize-money

Patriots vs Seahawks Live Stream: Kickoff Schedule for Super Bowl 2015 and TV Info

By Brian Mazique

Those outside of Seattle and Boston are probably just hoping Super Bowl XLIX is at least competitive. You never know until the game begins, but this one has all the looks of a close contest. The Seattle Seahawks bring a dominant defense and an underrated offense. The New England Patriots have an all-time great in quarterback Tom Brady and one of the best coaches in league history in Bill Belichick.

Like every year, the Super Bowl is a must-watch event for every American with even the most remote interest in sports. So you know what time and which channel to tune into for your Super Bowl party, here's the viewing information.

When: Sunday, Feb. 1, kickoff at 6:30 p.m. ET

Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

TV: NBC

Biggest Intangible Assets

We know speed, power, accuracy and more physical talents will play a major role in the Super Bowl's outcome; however, there's some less obvious traits that shine bright for both teams.

Experience and Guile

The Seahawks are the defending champions, but their experience in the big game pales in comparison to the Patriots. Take a look at this tweet from ESPN Stats & Info for perspective:

Beyond just the concrete experience advantage, the Patriots are also experts of finding innovative strategies and ways to befuddle their opponents.

Critics can say what they want about deflated footballs and Spygate, but within the context of the game, Belichick's game plans are perhaps the most difficult to figure. Perhaps it's because of this insane football library, per Monday Morning Quarterback:

This is the reason the potential league infractions are so unfortunate. It masks the fact that Belichick and his staff have put together one of the most historic runs in the sport's history. On Sunday, it could end in a fourth Super Bowl title.

Confidence and Character

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson don't get the credit that Brady and Belichick receive just yet, but if the duo keeps winning, there won't be much difference.

Part of establishing a reputation as a dynamic coach-QB tandem is about overcoming adversity. Carroll and Wilson have proven they have the ability to rally the troops when things get tight.

Most recently, in the NFC title game, the offense was stagnant as Wilson was struggling mightily. Also, the Green Bay Packers were experiencing a little more success than normal against the Seahawks defense. Wilson threw four interceptions, but in the overtime period, he came up with the play that sent his team back to the Super Bowl.

To this point, the 35-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jermaine Kearse is the team's most memorable play of the season. Those struggles and the subsequent triumph helped to further strengthen this team. Per the Seahawks' official Twitter account, Wilson talked about the team's character:

Will confidence and character be enough to make the Seahawks back-to-back Super Bowl champions? We'll find out Sunday.

Article Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2346409-super-bowl-2015-tv-coverage-kickoff-schedule-for-patriots-vs-seahawks

Africa Cup of Nations: Cameroon vs Ivory Coast Live Streaming Information

By Binayak Khatri

Cameroon and Ivory Coast come face to face in the two side's final Group D fixture of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations at Nuevo Estadio de Malabo.

The Indomitable Lions will be looking for nothing less than a win in this fixture as anyone from this group are capable of progressing to the quarter finals of the competition. This is because all the teams – Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali and Guinea – in Group D have the same points (2) with the same goal difference (0).

Having recorded a 1-1 draw in their first two fixtures against Mali and Guinea, a victory would only guarantee Cameroon a place in the next round of the competition.

However, a win against Ivory Coast would certainly not be that easy as the Elephants are known to be formidable opponents with the likes of Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Wilfred Bony, Seydou Doumbia and Salomon Kalou amongst their ranks.

And Cameroon head coach Volker Finke, whose position will definitely come under scrutiny if they fail to make it out of the group stages for the first time since 1996, admits that his side's final group game against Ivory Coast will be crucial.

"Wednesday will be a decisive match because Cote d'Ivoire are in the same situation as us," Finke told Goal, adding that he is amazed to see all the teams in Group D have the same points despite a vast difference in their Fifa rankings.

"I am a bit surprised at the situation in the group, especially when you consider our opponents - we are the third of the four in the Fifa rankings."

Meanwhile, the Ivorians will also be hoping to beat Cameroon in their final group game and progress to the final eight of the competition.

Although the Elephants, who have twice emerged as the runners up in the last four years of the Africa Cup of Nations, were expected to easily top this group owing to the quality in their squad, they have failed to do so, recording 1-1 draws against Guinea and Mali in their two opening fixtures.

Now the Ivorians are currently in a do-or-die situation as they need to beat Cameroon in their final fixture to progress to the next round.

Many were counting on Manchester City star Yaya Toure to lead the Ivorians to glory in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, but head coach Herve Renard admits that the midfielder is finding it difficult without the quality of his club teammates.

"Ivory Coast are not Manchester City," Renard told Goal. "The potential of the players is not the same. At City there are a lot of players able to defend very well and create."

"With us, it is a bit different, which is why we ask him to do a different job, although he was very comfortable because he was used to doing that earlier in his career, especially at Barcelona."

However, Renard admits that more than Toure, it is the less experienced players in his squad who are giving him a headache.

"Players like Yaya and Kolo are not difficult to manage. You ask them to play somewhere and they do it, because they are thinking about the team," he added. "Other players who don't have the same experience think they know it all and won't understand."

Where to Watch Live

The game is set to begin at 6pm GMT (11:30pm IST) with live coverage in India on Sony Six HD. The match can also be watched via live streaming on Sony Six Online.

Viewers in the UK can watch 2015 African Nations game live on ITV 4 and British EuroSport 1 or via live streaming on ITV Player or Eurosport Player.

The match will be broadcast in the US and Canada on Bein Sports USA and Bein Sports Canada respectively, with an option to stream on Bein Sports Connect.

Audicence in Ivory Coast and Cameroon can watch the match via live streaming on Super Sport.

Article Source: http://www.ibtimes.co.in/watch-2015-africa-cup-nations-live-cameroon-vs-ivory-coast-live-streaming-information-621765

Sheffield United vs. Tottenham: Live Stream, Time and TV Info

By Rob Blanchette

Tottenham Hotspur are just one solitary step away from Wembley as they travel to Sheffield United for the second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-finals.

Spurs were victorious in the first leg against the League One promotion hopefuls but only by the slimmest of margins as an Andros Townsend goal won the match 1-0.

The Blades have displayed amazing character in cup competitions in recent times, and they will believe they can overturn the deficit on home soil.

Here is how you can watch this exciting cup tie—with TV, stream and fixture information, as well as a preview of the match: 

When: Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET

Where: Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England.

TV Info: Sky Sports 1 and HD (UK only) BeIN Sports (U.S. only)

Live Stream: Sky Go (UK only) BeIN Sports Connect (U.S. only)

Sheffield United Ready For Spurs Challenge

When you get to the last four of any cup competition in football, the form book goes out of the window.

Sheffield United may sit two divisions below high-flying, European football globetrotting, Tottenham Hotspur—but they are a club who know how to navigate the choppy waters of knockout football.

And in Nigel Clough, the Blades have a coach who has visited the well of success as a player, wishing to also emulate his very famous father in his exploits as a manager.

In the playground of League One, United are a beast of a football club—considered one of the biggest names in the third tier. 

Having lost their Premier League status in 2007, the South Yorkshire club has followed the path of many a "sleeping giant" and slid down the pecking order.

But in the cup, Clough's boys have excelled. The manager's record with the Bramall Lane outfit against EPL opposition is outstanding.

United's loss at White Hart Lane was only the team's second defeat in eight matches against top tier sides, per John Ashdown of The Guardian, with an exceptional five victories to their credit. 

And speaking to BBC Sport, Clough was quick to talk up his team's chances, believing they can overcome the north London giants:

Few teams outside of the Championship division can muster a crowd of 25,000 for any fixture, and with a sea of red and white behind them—it will be an exceptionally difficult night for Spurs.

Tottenham have failed to win any silverware for six seasons, and they will feel the League Cup is their one true chance to break that duck, but the weight of being overwhelming favourites will not help Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine manager advised caution after his side's first-leg win and highlighted Clough's positive style of play, per BBC Sport:

"This victory is very important, but we need to win again next week in Sheffield and have to be prepared for the fight. They played very aggressively in the first half, and played narrow and deep. They played well and it was very difficult for us."

Pochettino knows this is not a straightforward match and his team will have to be defensively resolute. But if Spurs can get the early goal it will settle their nerves and allow them to go on and claim the result they need.

Match Preview

Tottenham were left exasperated in their last match as they crashed out in the FA Cup at home to Leicester City.

The game appeared to be a straightforward win for Spurs as they looked to proceed in club football's oldest cup competition, but the Foxes spoiled the script, winning 2-1.

Tottenham were unlucky to prematurely end their FA Cup run for this season, but they were nowhere near their top level against Leicester, as highlighted by John Cross of the Mirror:

Emmanuel Adebayor could lead the line against Sheffield United and he will be desperate to get back into goalscoring shape, following nine weeks away from the game.

WhoScored.com predict Clough's team will be unchanged from the one which lost recently at White Hart Lane, with Ben Davies also now available for the Blades after injury.

WhoScored also said Nacer Chadli is Tottenham's primary selection concern as the player has been away on compassionate leave.

Despite the romance of the cup, United will struggle to stop Spurs reaching Wembley if the London side find their top gear.

Adebayor is one of the most ruthless strikers in England when he is on his game, and he has the quality to take Tottenham into the final.

But Clough has the name and the reputation to cause an almighty shock—and if the Blades can sharpen their knives sufficiently—the League One team could make it a dream night for the lower leagues.

Article Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2342874-sheffield-united-vs-tottenham-time-live-stream-tv-info-league-cup-preview

Chile vs. USA: Live Stream, Date, Time, TV Info and Preview

By Tom Sunderland

Chile will play host to the United States on Wednesday evening at Calama's Estadio El Teniente, and although the stakes may be low, both outfits will fiercely contend for a bright start to 2015.

The 2014 World Cup combatants have named experimental lineups for the fixture, with Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli poised to hand a raft of newcomers their debuts ahead of this summer's Copa America, which they'll host.

USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann has also selected a wealth of untested assets for the fixture, with stars both seasoned and otherwise fighting for their places ahead of a packed 2015 calendar.

Read on for full viewing information and match preview ahead of the Wednesday encounter.

Date: Wednesday, January 28

Time: 11 p.m. GMT/6 p.m. ET

Live Stream: Fox Soccer2GO (US), beIN Sports Play (US)

TV Info: Fox Sports 1 (US), beIN Sports 14 (US)

Form Guide

Both Chile and the United States have kept themselves busy since returning from their World Cup campaigns, but in the friendly fixtures since, it's La Roja who are in far stronger form.

Sampaoli's side lost 2-1 to Uruguay's in its most recent outing back in November, but a five-match unbeaten streak prior to that defeat saw it concede just two goals in 450 minutes of play.

Given that 10 of the 20 players named in the Chile squad are yet to feature for the national team, a lot will depend on how the Chile-based talents adapt to Sampaoli's style of play.

The Stars and Stripes, meanwhile, haven't won a fixture since September, when they beat the Czech Republic 1-0 in a friendly, their first match back after returning from the World Cup.

Per the official USMNT Twitter account and South American football expert Juan Arango, the long journey to South America and the conditions at hand may be a weakening factor for the visitors:

Since then, they have gone four games without a win. Perhaps more worryingly, they haven't scored more than one goal in a game since their 2-2 draw against Portugal during the World Cup group-stage campaign.

Their most recent fixture, a friendly 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Republic of Ireland, illustrate that both attack and defence are very much concerns for the team.

The long trip to Chile will be an obstacle to overcome in itself, but recapturing some sense of offensive promise will be a priority in Klinsmann's eyes.

One to Watch: DeAndre Yedlin

Still fairly fresh from completing his move to Tottenham Hotspur, DeAndre Yedlin was something of a surprise call-up for the United States, but the former Seattle Sounder has a great chance to impress.

Still some distance from dethroning Kyle Walker in the right-back role, the youngster is aware of his need to graft and improve, speaking to the official United States Soccer website:

I think at the time with Spurs I’m obviously just training and not getting a ton of games because I still need to get my fitness up. But I think it allowed me to get time with the National Team, which is always good, and hopefully get some games in.

Game fitness is obviously the most important thing, so I think they saw a positive in it, I saw positive in it, and this will work out for everyone.

Klinsmann will still only utilise the 21-year-old if he sees it as helpful to the team's cause; he's under no pressure from Spurs to simply throw the right-back minutes because of his current profile.

Tom Collomosse of the London Evening Standard agrees the Premier League level is still some way out of his grasp:

That being said, Yedlin is a player of huge potential, and one who can clearly go far beyond his previous Major League Soccer standards if that potential is fulfilled.

Should he feature against Chile, his renowned pace will be one thing to watch, but fans are now beginning to expect more nuanced technique from the defender too.

Article Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2344031-usa-vs-chile-date-time-live-stream-tv-info-and-preview-of-friendly-match

Africa Cup of Nations: South Africa vs. Ghana Live Stream and TV Info

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

Venue: Estadio De Mongomo Date: Tuesday, 27/1/15 Kick-off: 18:00 GMT

MATCH PREVIEW

South Africa are without defender Thulani Hlatshwayo, who has not recovered from a concussion suffered in the 1-1 draw with Senegal.

And Bafana Bafana will give a late fitness test to defender Rivaldo Coetzee, who missed the last game because of a knee injury. Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan, who scored the winner against Algeria, will again lead the line for the Black Stars. South Africa must win, while Ghana may only need a draw to go through.

Ghana are targeting a first Cup of Nations victory against South Africa as they bid to extend a record of reaching at least the semi-finals at each of the last four Nations Cups. The Black Stars put an opening defeat to Senegal behind them when they beat Algeria thanks to a late goal from Gyan on his return from a bout of malaria.

However, midfielder Andre Ayew said: "We're not taking anything for granted. Algeria is behind us and next is South Africa. It will be a very tough battle.

"Expectations back at home must now have risen, but Ghana have always dealt with the pressure."

South Africa have the toughest task of all four contenders but coach Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba said: "We still have another game to play, so don't write us off just yet.

"Football has its own miracles. With one game to go, we can still surprise a lot of people."

MATCH FACTS

South Africa are unbeaten in three previous Afcon matches against the Black Stars, winning two and drawing one

Ghana have failed to score in each of those three previous games against South Africa (1996, 2000, 2002)

Bafana Bafana are looking to make it into the knockout round in consecutive Afcon tournaments for the first time since 2002

Ghana last failed to make the knockout round in 2006, finishing no lower than 4th since then

Asamoah Gyan has scored in his last six appearances for Ghana

The Black Stars have lost just two of their last 13 Afcon group games (W9 D2)

South Africa have won just one of their last 14 Afcon games (D7 L6)

Bafana Bafana have kept only two clean sheets in those 14 matches

Article Source: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30891882

Africa Cup of Nations: Senegal vs. Algeria Live stream and Info

By Mutembei Kevin

A win and a draw for Senegal, and a win and a loss for the Algerians at AFCON 2015 so far… Who is faring better and, more importantly, who can edge their way to victory on Tuesday?

Algeria and Senegal are two of the teams at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations showdown that seem to have started as brightly as most of their fans expected. However, if one were to analyze things with a discerning eye, their sensational opening match victories should not fuel expectations beyond reasonable levels.

TV listings, live streaming info, kick-off time

Senegal vs. Algeria

Wednesday, 28th Jan. 2015 00:00Nuevo Estadio de Malabo (Malabo)

Senegal were the first to get off the mark, recording a 2-1 victory over tournament favorites Ghana. The three points garnered on the day were more than three points – it was an ego-lifting victory over one of their sternest rivals at AFCON, and one that gave them belief that 2015 could be their year. 

That being said, are we supposed to ignore the facts that Ghana went ahead and controlled the game for long spells, that the Black Stars were missing their brightest star Asamoah Gyan, and that Senegal’s winner was scored in what was literally the last second of the game?

It is a similar case for the Algerians, who recorded the most flattering score line of CAN 2015 so far by beating South Africa 3-1. Bafana Bafana went ahead and had the chance to double their lead through a penalty. Could things have been different if Tokelo Rantie had buried his spot kick?

These factors are the small kinks in the otherwise promising fortunes of both teams in Equatorial Guinea. Given that Algeria’s and Senegal’s starts at the tournament, despite all their glitter, are not the most commanding, most convincing performances, both team’s coaches must look to organize their teams in such a way that as little as possible errors will be made.

More importantly, each team must be ready to clinically punish any errors committed by their opposite numbers.

Article Source: http://www.livesoccertv.com/news/12972/algeria-vs-senegal-live-stream-info-watch-on-january-27-2015/

Capital One Cup: Chelsea vs. Liverpool Live Stream, TV Info and Prediction

By Gianni Verschueren

Chelsea will host Liverpool in the second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final on Tuesday, Jan. 27, with everything left to play for after the 1-1 draw at Anfield in the first leg.

The Blues have a slight advantage thanks to the away goal, but they come into the match on the back of an embarrassing 4-2 defeat against Bradford City on Saturday, and the Reds will present the Premier League leaders with a tough challenge.

Brendan Rodgers' troops haven't lost a match since December, a 3-0 loss against Manchester United, and while the draw against Bolton brought their momentum to a halt, the in-form Reds won't go down quietly at Stamford Bridge.

Date: Tuesday, Jan. 27

Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT, 2:45 p.m. ET

Venue: Stamford Bridge, London

TV Info and Live Stream: The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports 1 (for UK viewers) and beIN Sports (for U.S. viewers), with mobile coverage available via the Sky Go app and beIN Sports Connect.

Team News

The big story coming out of Anfield this week is the return of Daniel Sturridge, who has been training with his teammates after missing virtually all of the first half of the campaign due to an injury:

In his absence, Liverpool's forwards have failed to produce in front of goal, with Mario Balotelli in particular struggling.

Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini have been serviceable, creating space for the likes of Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana to help out in the scoring department, but the squad has lacked a top finisher capable of deciding close fixtures.

Sturridge has the potential to be that designated scorer, and while he was widely expected to return to the pitch at some point in February, the Liverpool Echo reports he impressed enough in training to perhaps make the bench for Tuesday's match:

Rodgers has been impressed with his team's improvements over the last couple of weeks, and he told the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce the Reds will travel to Stamford Bridge believing in their chances:

It will be a different game at Stamford Bridge but we are going into the game with no fear.

We will do everything we can to get to Wembley. Winning a trophy is a priority and it is a one-off game to get us there. We certainly won’t underestimate Chelsea. We know that every element of our game has to be at a high level. Particularly away from home, our form and resilience has been getting better and better.

Their result at the weekend doesn’t help. They will have great motivation and after a game like that you want to put it right, but there is also in the back of your mind even if you are 2-0 up you can lose so there will be a wee bit of trepidation.

They had a tough result but they are an outstanding side.

Balotelli was dropped from Liverpool's squad for the FA Cup tie against Bolton, and the club's rush to get Sturridge back to the pitch suggests Rodgers' confidence in the Italy international is at an all-time low. He's unlikely to feature much against the Blues, if at all.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho took the defeat to Bradford City particularly hard, as he told reporters (h/t Goal UK) he refused to speak to his players after the 4-2 loss:

The Blues mainly fielded backups against Bradford City and have little injury concerns going into the semi-final against Liverpool, with starters like Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard and Willian expected to return to the starting XI.

The club's ability to rotate players and rest key contributors could play a big part on Tuesday, taking advantage of the heavy schedule the Reds have faced in recent weeks. Sterling in particular has been playing heavy minutes, and he'll once again be key on Tuesday.

With Chelsea's elimination from the FA Cup, this semi-final tie against Liverpool has become even more important for a club that has looked like the dominant force in England all season. Mourinho didn't hide how he felt about the tie, according to the Blues' official Twitter feed:

With a trip to Wembley Stadium for the Capital One Cup final on the line, the importance of Tuesday's match simply can't be understated.

Prediction

Chelsea needed a heroic performance from Courtois to escape Anfield with a draw in the first leg, a highly entertaining affair in which the Reds were simply the better team.

The Blues have responded well to setbacks all season, however, and the loss against Bradford City should lead to a far improved performance on Tuesday. Against Liverpool's relatively inexperienced squad, I expect Chelsea to pull through after another close and spectacular match.

Final score: Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool (Chelsea advance on aggregate, 3-2)

Article Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2342684-chelsea-vs-liverpool-second-leg-live-stream-tv-info-prediction-and-team-news

The Boy Next Door Movie Watch Online

By Anthony D'Alessandro

It was the tale of two stars at the weekend box office, one who opened a film — Jennifer Lopez with Universal’s The Boy Next Door at $15M — and one who tanked — Johnny Depp with Lionsgate’s Mortdecai at $4.1M. The discrepancy between the two films showed one jennifer lopezstar, Lopez, who kept it cheap and met her audience’s wants head-on, and another, Depp, who at a high price lost himself in a zany caricature disconnected from reality.

Universal’s Blumhouse production Boy Next Door kept it lean and mean with a production budget of $4M, while Lionsgate/OddLot spent $60M on Mortdecai, a figure many still consider exorbitant for an avant garde Depp film in the wake of his spring sci-fi bomb Transcendence which cost $100M.

One studio executive summed it up perfectly today, saying, “Depp should take a page from Jennifer Lopez’s book and do a low-budget film that isn’t triple its box office. He needs to make his investors money, stop taking sizeable paydays, and take it from the back end.”

In the face of American Sniper, which has been a tsunami at the box office with $200M and counting, Universal’s Boy Next Door performed a bit better than what was initially expected for the thriller, making it Lopez’s highest opening in January — on track to beat The Wedding Planner’s $13.5M (final cume was $60M).

Boy Next Door is a genre film, a woman-in-distress pic much like the ones Ashley Judd and Halle Berry have made before, as well as Lopez (ie, 2002’s Enough, pictured left). The actress plays a married teacher who has an affair with the young stud next door. When she tries to call it off, that’s when the trouble begins. Rival distribs think Boy Next Door will get to $38M stateside, and in relation to its budget, that makes the film a success. Boy Next Door earned a B- CinemaScore but played very well with Latin audiences (44%) and African Americans. Of those polled, moviegoers said they were there for Lopez.

Lopez was looking to do a Fatal Attraction-type popcorn thriller reminiscent of those in the 1980s and ’90s. She and producer Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, who was behind the actress’ 2002 film Maid In Manhattan and her TV movie doc Jennifer Lopez: Dance Again, received a call from Blumhouse who was looking for the right lead for the Barbara Curry script.

Said Goldsmith-Thomas: “We loved the idea of investing in ourselves and taking no money upfront. Our attitude was, ‘Let’s put on a show.’ We all literally shared Jennifer’s trailer. We rehearsed at her house and she pulled costumes out of her closet. All the money was up on the screen and the idea of becoming a participant was the idea we embraced. We shot the film in 23 days.”

At the PGA Awards last night, Jason Blum gave props to Lopez’s CAA agent Kevin Huvane for pointing her in Blumhouse’s direction. “I’m grateful to her for trying our (production) system,” said Blum.

While Lionsgate vied to blast the word out about Mortdecai via myriad TV and web comedy promos, the tracking didn’t improve from week to week since the beginning of the year, as we detailed in the Saturday early AM box office report. Universal kept the marketing for The Boy Next Door razor-focused on Latin females, posting gains in weekly tracking. Further adding to Boy Next Door‘s profile with its targeted demo was the fact Lopez’s co-star Ryan Guzman is also Hispanic. Total awareness among females for the film grew from 53%-63% on January 4 to mortdecai78%-80% on January 16.

Lopez anchored her press tour in Miami, and visited such shows as Univision’s Despierta America for the first time as well as the network’s beauty pageant reality show Nuestra Belleza Latina. Lopez’s appearance on the season premiere of that primetime show registered a 22% uptick in ratings from its season premiere a year ago. In addition, interstitial spots were created for both the web and female TV networks such as Oxygen, with Lopez and Guzman talking about whether they ever had an obsessed attraction in a lover or a crazed suitor. Another win among fans was the tagline in the film’s trailer where Guzman’s character tells Lopez’s kids in the film, “I love your mother’s cookies.”

mortdecai 2While Depp’s zany personalities may be ripe for such franchises properties as Alice In Wonderland and Pirates Of The Caribbean, many believe outside of that, Depp’s offbeat alter-egos aren’t working. “When he did films like Donnie Brasco — what resonated was that he played a real thug; a gritty person coming from a real place like the characters Al Pacino use to play,” said one distribution executive. “The world is crying out now — they don’t want movies like Mortdecai from Johnny Depp! He needs to be really careful about what he takes next.”

whitey bulgerUp next for Depp is Warner Bros’ Whitey Bulger biopic about the organized crime figure. The film isn’t being groomed as a blockbuster, but it could be a contender for Depp in next year’s awards season. Additionally, he has Pirates Of The Caribbean 5 which is going into production in two weeks, and Alice In Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass for 2017. If Depp doesn’t work in the latter two Disney franchises, his B.O. draw will truly be out of whack, and he could face a similar career fate as Nicolas Cage, who after failing to deliver on a number of action films was done in by Disney’s $150M Sorcerer’s Apprentice which bombed in the U.S. and Canada. In the wake of Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Cage has largely been relegated to independent, sub-par action films.

Added another distribution suit: “Johnny Depp needs a new franchise. I’m not sure what he means in Pirates Of The Caribbean any more. He has run his course.”

Article Source: http://deadline.com/2015/01/jennifer-lopez-johnny-depp-boy-next-door-mortdecai-box-office-1201358275/