Sturridge: Daniel Sturridge could feature in Liverpool’s Premier League trip to bottom club Queens Park Rangers tomorrow, manager Brendan Rodgers said yesterday. The England striker has been unavailable since early September with a thigh injury picked up on international duty, but is close to making a return to the side. “We’ll have to see where he is at tomorrow and go from there,” Rodgers said.
In South America: A Peruvian goalkeeper saved four penalties and scored the winner himself to take his side Cesar Vallejo into the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana for the first time. Cesar Vallejo, who lost the first leg 2-0 at Brazilian side Bahia, won by the same scoreline on Wednesday to take the tie to penalties. Salomon Libman saved one of the regulation first five spot kicks and then two more in sudden death. He then converted the home side’s 10th kick before saving once again to book Cesar Vallejo’s place in the competition’s last eight.
Damiao: Former Brazil international Leandro Damiao has been charged with “unsportsmanlike behaviour” after he pulled his own shirt in a bid to fool the referee into awarding a penalty. The Santos striker tugged his own shirt at a corner kick during last Sunday’s 3-0 defeat by Criciuma in an attempt to make it look like he was being held back. The referee missed the incident but TV evidence was used to bring charges. Damiao faces a ban of between one and six games.
Davis: Northern Ireland skipper Steven Davis yesterday pledged his long-term future to Southampton, with a contract extension at the Premier League club until 2018. The 29-year-old said he was delighted to be staying on the south coast because Southampton were a progressive club, and that he was enthralled with the team’s prospects. “I’m excited to see where we can go together over the next few years,” Davis said. “The club is run the right way and they try to do everything to their best ability.”
The Championship: Rotherham vs Leeds United 2-1.
Lega Pro: Group A – Monza vs Como 2-1. Group C – Reggina vs Lupa Roma 1-1.
Scottish Premier: Hamilton vs Aberdeen 3-0.