Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp missed the visit of Sunderland to Anfield yesterday after coming down with suspected appendicitis.

The German undertook pre-match media duties on Friday but was subsequently taken ill and the club announced he would not be at Anfield for the Premier League fixture.

First-team duties were instead overseen by the remaining members of his backroom team.

The club stated on their website: “Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp will be absent from today’s Barclays Premier League fixture against Sunderland at Anfield, after suffering a suspected bout of appendicitis.”

Altidore winner

A late goal by Jozy Altidore gave the United States a 1-0 win over Canada in a friendly in southern California yesterday.

After failing to put away a couple of earlier chances, Altidore rose high at the far post to head home a perfectly-weighted cross by Ethan Finlay in the 89th minute at the StubHub Centre in Carson.

It was the former Sunderland striker’s 33th career goal for the US national team.

The match was played less than two months before both nations resume their qualifying campaigns for the 2018 World Cup.

Hazard ‘sorry’ that Mourinho left

Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard has revealed he sent a text message to Jose Mourinho after he was sacked apologising for his poor form.

Hazard, who has yet to score in the Premier League this season, admits to feeling guilty.

“I sent him the message to say I was sorry he had gone and... well… just that I was sorry,” he said.

“We’d enjoyed all that success together last season, but this time round we hadn’t.

“I felt a little bit guilty because I’d been player of the year. I’d been one of the most decisive players, and this year I’d performed less well.”

Winger Kakuta joins China’s HC Fortune

Gael Kakuta has become the latest player to move to the Chinese Super League, with the former Chelsea winger joining Hebei China Fortune.

The 24-year-old swapped west London for Sevilla in the summer having failed to make his mark at Stamford Bridge and spent loan spells with six different clubs.

Sevilla reportedly had to pay 3.5 million euros compensation for the out-of-contract Kakuta – a fee they are reported to have nearly doubled by selling the Frenchman on to China.

Kakuta joins former QPR midfielder Stephane Mbia at Hebei China Fortune, where ex-Roma forward Gervinho is now plying his trade.

Pearce’s Longford debut delayed

Former England captain Stuart Pearce’s debut for a non-league side dubbed the worst in the UK has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Pearce was coming out of retirement at the age of 53 to play for Gloucestershire-based Longford AFC.

The club have lost all of their 20 games this season in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division Two after the manager and first team all left.

They scored their first goal of the season on January 13 in a 9-1 defeat by Abbeymead Rovers – with their current goal difference standing at minus 187.

Pearce was set to play for Longford AFC against Smiths Athletic yesterday, but the game was called off following heavy rain.

City to field young team in FA Cup

Manchester City are likely to field a young side in their FA Cup fifth-round tie at Premier League champions Chelsea after organisers decided that the match would take place on Sunday, February 21.

City are disappointed they have to travel to London three days before visiting Dynamo Kiev in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League clash.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini said: “If we play against Chelsea on the Sunday it won’t be a normal team.

“It will be a young team. I don’t see why we can’t play on Saturday. I must do what I think is better for the club, which is the Champions League.”

Plea bargain

The former head of the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) has agreed to hand over more than $10 million in stocks and property in a deal to reduce his punishment in the FIFA corruption scandal.

Eugenio Figueredo, a former FIFA vice president, also agreed to cooperate with police in Uruguay, where the 83-year-old is from.

Figueredo was arrested in Zurich last May as part of the sweeping investigation into corruption at soccer’s governing body. He faces charges of money laundering and taking kickbacks to sell media and marketing rights for tournaments and matches across the Americas.

The deal could help Figueredo reduce his potential jail time by up to half the maximum 15 years.­­­­

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