Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is itching to return to the team for the Premier League match against Manchester United at Anfield on Monday.
Manager Juergen Klopp has preferred Loris Karius for the last three games, but erratic performances from the 23-year-old German have prompted calls for Mignolet to be restored to the starting line-up.
“I didn’t play the last two weeks and I don’t want it to be any longer so I hope to play against United,” Mignolet said.
“Against Arsenal, Tottenham and Leicester I have been important for the team by making some good saves. I have the advantage that the game against United is on Monday so I can have a full preparation,” the Belgian added.
Armenia coach quits after poor start
Armenia head coach Varuzhan Sukiasyan has resigned from his position following a woeful start to their 2018 World Cup qualification campaign.
The 60-year-old Sukiasyan took over in December and his second spell in charge of the side lasted just seven matches.
He previously coached the side for 17 fixtures from 2000-01.
Armenia have lost all three of their qualification matches for the next World Cup in Russia and are bottom of Group E.
Holders Barca to face Hercules in cup
Holders Barcelona will play third division Hercules in the Spanish King’s Cup round of 32 following yesterday’s draw which also paired Real Madrid with minnows Cultural Leonesa.
The competition’s format ensures the top six teams in La Liga last season meet the lowest ranked sides left in the last 32, the first round to involve teams from the top flight.
Formentera, the only representative from the fourth tier, will meet last season’s runners-up Sevilla.
The first legs take place bet-ween Nov. 29 and Dec. 1, the second from Dec. 20-22.
Ched Evans found not guilty of rape
Former Wales striker Ched Evans was found not guilty of rape after a two-week long re-trial ended in Cardiff yesterday.
Evans, who was released in 2014 after serving half of a five-year sentence for the alleged rape of a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room in 2011, had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal last April.
The jury of seven women and five men took two hours to acquit Evans, a former Manchester City player, at Cardiff crown court yesterday.
The 27-year-old, who was playing for Sheffield United at the time and is now at League One Chesterfield, said in a statement that he was “overwhelmed with relief” at the verdict.
Ronaldo keen to stay at Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo described receiving his latest individual award as a “privilege” as the 31-year-old, who helped his side win last season’s Champions League, was voted the Marca and La Gazzetta dello Sport readers’ number one player in Europe’s elite club competition.
The striker scored a total of 16 goals in last year’s Champions League before firing the winning penalty in the 5-3 shoot-out victory over Atletico Madrid after the final finished 1-1 after extra-time.
Ronaldo, who also went on to win this summer’s European Championship with Portugal, said: “It’s a privilege to win this award.
“It just makes me want to keep working hard for this club. It’s my dream to keep playing for Real Madrid and I really want to stay here for many years.”
QPR board back boss Hasselbaink
QPR have announced that their manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has the unanimous support of the board following the completion of an internal investigation prompted by allegations made in the Daily Telegraph.
Hasselbaink was secretly-filmed by undercover reporters as part of a Telegraph investigation with the newspaper alleging the Dutchman requested a fee of £55,000 to work for a fake firm seeking to sell players to the club.
The former Chelsea and Leeds striker immediately denied any wrongdoing, and Rangers have now backed Hasselbaink following an internal investigation.
Klopp and Son win monthly awards
Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp has been named Premier League manager of the month after leading the club to three consecutive wins in September, the first time the German has won the award.
Tottenham forward Son Heung-min won the player of the month prize for the first time after an impressive run of form.
“I went into the office of my coaches and said: ‘We are manager of the month!’ I don’t need personal prizes but it’s nice now I have another one,” Klopp said.
“We are on a good way but there are so many good teams in this league and so many difficult games for us, which we have to be ready for.”