REUTERS SPORTS SCHEDULE AT 7.30 p.m. GMT/2.30 p.m. ET

15 Jan 2021 / 03:29 H.

Here are the top sports stories and upcoming coverage plans for Reuters text service as of 7.30 p.m. GMT/2.30 p.m. ET. For a full schedule of news and events, go to our editorial calendar on Reuters Connect https://www.reutersconnect.com/planning.

TOP STORIES

SOCCER-ENGLAND/

Soccer-Man United's title aspirations set for Anfield acid test

There have been a few false dawns but there is growing belief that Manchester United are on the cusp of reclaiming their place as the pre-eminent force in English football.

HEALTH–CORONAVIRUS/TENNIS-MURRAY

Murray a doubt for Australian Open after testing COVID-19 positive

Britain's former world number one Andy Murray is doubtful for next month's Australian Open after organisers confirmed on Thursday that he has tested positive for the new coronavirus.

MOTOR-F1-FERRARI/LECLERC

Ferrari's Leclerc isolating after positive COVID-19 test

Ferrari Formula One driver Charles Leclerc announced on Thursday he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was self-isolating at home in Monaco with mild symptoms.

UPCOMING

SPORTS

SOCCER-SPAIN-MAD-ATB/REPORT (PIX) (TV)

Soccer - Spain - Spanish Super Cup - Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao

Real Madrid play Athletic Bilbao in the second Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Malaga.

14 Jan 15:00 ET / 20:00 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND-ARS-CRY/REPORT (PIX)

Soccer - England - Premier League - Arsenal v Crystal Palace

Arsenal face Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

14 Jan 15:00 ET / 20:00 GMT

OLYMPICS-SURFING/

Surfing-Surfers look ahead to Tokyo Olympics

Surfers discuss the state of the sport as they prepare for the COVID-19 delayed Tokyo Olympics.

14 Jan 15:00 ET / 20:00 GMT

GOLF-SONYOPEN/

Golf - PGA Tour - Sony Open in Hawaii

First round of the Sony Open in Hawaii from Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, where Cameron Smith is the defending champion.

14 Jan 16:00 ET / 21:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-PHI-MIA/ (PIX)

Basketball - NBA - Philadelphia 76ers v Miami Heat

2020-21 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

15 Jan 19:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-NJD-BOS/ (PIX)

Hockey - NHL - New Jersey Devils v Boston Bruins 2020-21 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey

15 Jan 19:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-FLA-DAL/ (PIX)

POSTPONED - Hockey - NHL - Florida Panthers v Dallas Stars

2020-21 NHL Season (Regular Season) - BB&T Center, Sunrise, Florida

15 Jan 19:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-NYR-NYI/ (PIX)

Hockey - NHL - New York Rangers v New York Islanders

2020-21 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

15 Jan 19:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-BUF-WSH/ (PIX)

Hockey - NHL - Buffalo Sabres v Washington Capitals

2020-21 NHL Season (Regular Season) - KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York

15 Jan 19:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-DET-CAR/ (PIX)

Hockey - NHL - Detroit Red Wings v Carolina Hurricanes

2020-21 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

15 Jan 19:30 ET / 00:30 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-TOR-CHA/ (PIX)

Basketball - NBA - Toronto Raptors v Charlotte Hornets 2020-21 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida

15 Jan 19:30 ET / 00:30 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-SAS-HOU/ (PIX)

Basketball - NBA - San Antonio Spurs v Houston Rockets

2020-21 NBA Season (Regular Season) - AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas

15 Jan 19:30 ET / 00:30 GMT

CRICKET-TEST-AUS-IND/ (PIX)

Cricket - Fourth Test - Australia v India

Day one of the fourth and final test between Australia and India at the Gabba.

15 Jan 20:00 ET / 01:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-WPG-CGY/ (PIX)

Hockey - NHL - Winnipeg Jets v Calgary Flames

2020-21 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Bell MTS Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba

15 Jan 20:00 ET / 01:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-NSH-CBJ/ (PIX)

Hockey - NHL - Nashville Predators v Columbus Blue Jackets

2020-21 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee

15 Jan 20:00 ET / 01:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-EDM-VAN/ (PIX)

Hockey - NHL - Edmonton Oilers v Vancouver Canucks

2020-21 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta

15 Jan 21:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-ARI-SJS/ (PIX)

Hockey - NHL - Arizona Coyotes v San Jose Sharks

2020-21 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Gila River Arena, Glendale, Arizona

15 Jan 21:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-DEN-GSW/ (PIX)

Basketball - NBA - Denver Nuggets v Golden State Warriors

2020-21 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado

15 Jan 22:00 ET / 03:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-LAK-MIN/ (PIX)

Hockey - NHL - Los Angeles Kings v Minnesota Wild

2020-21 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

15 Jan 22:00 ET / 03:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-POR-IND/ (PIX)

Basketball - NBA - Portland Trail Blazers v Indiana Pacers

2020-21 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Moda Center at the Rose Quarter, Portland, Oregon

15 Jan 22:00 ET / 03:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-VGK-ANA/ (PIX)

Hockey - NHL - Vegas Golden Knights v Anaheim Ducks

2020-21 NHL Season (Regular Season) - T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada

15 Jan 22:00 ET / 03:00 GMT

RUGBY-UNION-JAPAN/ (TV)

Rugby-Japan announces plans for new top level league to begin in 2022

The Japanese Rugby Football Union makes a long-awaited announcement on plans for a new top level domestic rugby union league to begin in 2022. The league is expected to be lucrative and may attract many of the world's biggest stars away from their domestic competitions.

15 Jan 23:00 ET / 04:00 GMT

CRICKET-TEST-LKA-ENG/

Cricket - First Test - Sri Lanka v England - Day 2

The second day of the first of two tests between Sri Lanka and England at Galle International Stadium.

15 Jan 03:00 ET / 08:00 GMT

MOTOR-RALLY-DAKAR/ (PIX) (TV)

Rallying - Dakar Rally

The 12th and final stage of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia is a 452-kilometre drive from Yanbu to Jeddah.

15 Jan 04:00 ET / 09:00 GMT

SPORT-DOPING/GERMANY (PIX) (TV)

Verdict likely on German doctor charged with years of blood doping

Verdict expected from Munich court in case of German sports doctor, Mark S., who has admitted to helping athletes with blood doping for years in "Operation Bloodletting".

15 Jan 06:00 ET / 11:00 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND-SHU-TOT/PREVIEW (TV)

Soccer - England - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur news conference

Tottenham Hotspur's Jose Mourinho speaks to the media ahead of his side's Premier League match against Sheffield United.

15 Jan 07:30 ET / 12:30 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND-LIV-MUN/PREVIEW (TV)

Soccer - England - Premier League - Liverpool news conference

Liverpool's Juergen Klopp speaks to the media ahead of his team's Premier League match against Manchester United.

15 Jan 08:00 ET / 13:00 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND-LIV-MUN/PREVIEW (TV)

Soccer - England - Premier League - Manchester United news conference

Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaks to the media ahead of his team's Premier League match away to Liverpool.