Chelsea’s slide continues in EPL

Even facing a Manchester City team depleted by the coronavirus, Frank Lampard couldn’t prevent Chelsea from suffering a fourth defeat in its last six games. And the manager is aware the 3- 1 loss at home in English Premier League play will only increase the pressure on him.

Chelsea slipped to eighth place after its defeat and is seven points behind leader Liverpool and three points in back of fifth- place City.

Elsewhere, Leicester beat host Newcastle 2- 1 and is mounting a title challenge in third place.

Lionel Messi set up Frenkie de Jong for a goal to help earn a 1- 0 win at Huesca in the Argentine great’s 750th overall appearance for Barcelona and his 500th in the Spanish league. ... Athletic Bilbao is set to hire Marcelino Garcia Toral to replace Gaizka Garitano as its coach, the Spanish club said. Bilbao announced Garitano’s departure after the team’s 1- 0 home victory over Elche. ... AC Milan warmed up for a midweek showdown with Juventus by beating host Benevento 2- 0 to remain unbeaten atop Italian Serie A.

Petra Vlhova won the f irst women’s World Cup slalom of 2021 in Zagreb, Croatia. The overall leader beat Katharina Liensberger by f ive- hundredths of a second. Mikaela Shiffrin was 0.27 behind in fourth. Meanwhile, Shiffrin is eyeing a return to training in speed events with the Feb. 9- 21 world championships in Italy approaching.

Veteran left- handed reliever Ross Detwiler signed a one- year, $ 850,000 contract with the Miami Marlins, who also announced the signing of veteran catcher Sandy Leon to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league spring training. ... Texas senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger will bypass his extra year of eligibility to enter the 2021 NFL draft, he announced. ... Mucho Gusto was invited back to defend his crown in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. Mucho Gusto and Charlatan, both trained by Bob Baffert, headline the field of invitees for the $ 3- million race Jan. 23.