Despite starkly contrasting playing philosophies, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and his Manchester United counterpart Louis van Gaal are grappling with similar problems ahead of their meeting at Anfield on Sunday.

While Klopp espouses hard-running, high-pressing, "heavy metal" football, Van Gaal is all about patient ball retention, but both men are yet to find a consistent formula for scoring goals.

Two months after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) suspended Russia over doping and corruption claims, the country is launching reforms and making promises.

While meeting some recommendations and even pondering making doping a criminal offense for competitors and coaches, many Russian officials still see the accusations as a smear campaign meant to discredit Moscow.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said he needs football to be "entertaining" bur refused to criticize the approach of Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal.

The two men will go head-to-head when the bitter north-west rivals meet at Anfield on Sunday, with the match portrayed in some quarters as a clash between German manager Klopp's high-octane game and the Dutchman's more pragmatic approach.

Defending champion Serena Williams and No. 5-ranked Maria Sharapova were drawn into the same section for the Australian Open on Friday, setting up a potential quarterfinal match featuring the 2015 finalists.

Six-time champion Williams has a tough draw starting in the opening round against Camila Giorgi of Italy, who finished 2015 at No. 34 and was the highest-ranked player who was not seeded for the season's first major which begins Monday.

The Cleveland Cavaliers gave San Antonio another tense test at home before the Spurs rose up on defense for what they deemed their biggest win of the season.

Tony Parker had 24 points and San Antonio used a furious start to the fourth quarter to beat Cleveland 99-95 on Thursday night, remaining undefeated at home and avenging their previous loss in their own arena.

Novak Djokovic is in the kind of form that has rivals no less than Rafael Nadal describing it as being close to perfection. Serena Williams has been injured, has hardly played since the U.S. Open and had to withdraw from her only tune-up event ahead of the Australian Open.

The preparations of the reigning champions couldn't be more contrasting in the week leading up to the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Olympic bronze medalist Carolina Kostner made a return to competitive skating on Friday, finishing second in an invitational event in Japan.

Kostner had 59.69 points in the women's singles program to finish 12 points behind Joannie Rochette of Canada.

Pope Francis prayed for racing legend Michael Schumacher on Thursday as he offered his backing for a Formula One-led road safety campaign aimed at reducing the number of children killed by cars.

The prayer came after Francis was visited by Jean Todt, the president of the Formula One's governing body FIA, who showed the pontiff a shock three-minute video used in the "Save Kids' Lives" campaign.

FIFA on Thursday banned Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid from buying players for one year over their dealing in under-age players.

The ban will start from the July transfer window this year and finish with the January transfer market in 2017.

Arsenal conceded a 90th-minute equalizer at Liverpool to lose its outright lead in the Premier League on Wednesday, as Leicester kept up its surprising title challenge with a 1-0 win at Tottenham.

Only a superior goal difference is keeping Arsenal above Leicester after the 3-3 draw at Anfield. Manchester City was held to a 0-0 draw at home at Everton and is three points off the lead in third place.