Klopp said he wasn’t looking for a new goalkeeper. Everyone believed him. Don’t play poker with this guy.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes the Europa League will be taken more seriously when the knockout phase begins in the new year because of the quality of teams left in the competition.

Christian Benteke’s brilliant strike saw Liverpool beat Bordeaux 2-1 to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League with a match to spare.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has ruled out any chance of Steven Gerrard playing for the club again.

Everton 1 Liverpool 1: Liverpool began their search for a new manager last night after the club’s owners Fenway Sports Group sacked Brendan Rodgers.

Never lost a derby. Can Shankly claim that? Can Paisley? Can your precious Rafa, eh? EH? EH?!?

Brendan Rodgers insists he is more than happy to accept Liverpool being the favourites heading into the Merseyside derby.

Liverpool’s Europa League campaign continues to stutter and disappoint in equal measure after they were held at home by Sion.

Liverpool v FC Sion

Waterford SHC quarter-finals

Tottenham 2  Qarabag 1 Europa League Group J

Three time county champions De La Salle face a relegation play-off to keep their Waterford SHC senior status intact after Fourmilewater dumped them out of the race for the News & Star trophy on Saturday evening at Fraher Field.

Celtic have the prospect of facing Robin van Persie and Nani’s new side Fenerbahce plus Ajax and Molde from Norway in Group A after they were drawn together in the Europa League group stages.

Good evening. Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

A 30-man brawl marred yesterday’s Waterford SHC third round game between Mount Sion and Dungarvan at Fraher Field. 

A last-gasp Paul Murray point pinched victory for Cappoquin over local rivals Lismore at Ballyduff last night (2-16 to 2-15). It represented an amazing turnaround for Ger Manley’s men after their 23-point defeat to Mount Sion last weekend.

Waterford SHC final

Ballygunner came out the wrong side of the craziest finish to a Waterford county final against Passage last October.

Fourteen-man Ballygunner encountered some turbulence against old rivals Lismore at Walsh Park yesterday, but a polished second-half showing of 2-14 secured their place in the last four of the Waterford SHC.

Maurice Shanahan measured a last-minute free to supply Lismore with the draw they required on Saturday night to reach the quarter-finals and nudged Fourmilewater towards the relegation play-off.

UEFA has announced that Celtic have been reinstated in the Champions League.

Celtic will be eagerly awaiting the results of a UEFA investigation into the eligibility of a Legia Warsaw player during their Champions League defeat against the Polish side.

Ballygunner became the first team to qualify for the Waterford SHC quarter-finals following a low-key top of the table tussle with Mount Sion at Walsh Park last night (0-20 to 1-9).

Mount Sion 2-22 Tallow 1-07

Just six days after the Waterford minors broke down the barriers of history in Croke Park, the SHC swings back into action tonight with a heavyweight quarter-final between De La Salle and Ballygunner at Walsh Park (5.30pm).

Ballygunner gritted their teeth to take the spoils in a crunch championship tie against 14-man Dungarvan last night at Fraher Field (1-19 to 2-13).

Mount Sion 1-16 Dungarvan 0-16

Reigning champions De La Salle blitzed An Rinn 4-17 to 0-11 in the Waterford SHC on Saturday, with Jake Dillon rattling home 3-6, as Derek McGrath’s men secured their second win of the Group 1 campaign.

Kevin-Prince Boateng has insisted he will walk off the pitch again if he is racially abused – even if it is in the Champions League – and criticised FIFA for not doing more to tackle the issue.

De La Salle 0-18 Mount Sion 2-8

Russia 2 Northern Ireland 0

Alessandro Del Piero is set to confirm his move to Australian club Sydney FC this lunchtime, despite interest from Liverpool.

Waterford senior hurling champions Ballygunner have secured a place in the last eight of the 2012 competition with victory over Lismore at Fraher Field on Saturday.

Newco Rangers chief executive Charles Green faces a fresh blow in his battle to hold on to the the club’s wantaway players as his purchase of their contracts is not valid, according to an employment law expert.

Allan McGregor is in talks with Besiktas, according to the Turkish club’s official website.

On a weekend that provided more than its fair share of drama, only three of the quarter-finalists have been confirmed after the penultimate round of games in the group stage of the title race.

Celtic reduced their bank debt by £2m (€2.4m) during the second half of last year, their interim financial results show.

FIFA today confirmed the Swiss Football Association will not be suspended, ending any lingering chance of Manchester United being reinstated into the Champions League.

MANCHESTER UNITED’S feint hopes of landing a Champions League place ended yesterday after the Swiss FA docked Sion 36 points for fielding ineligible players.

Sion have today described the decision of the Swiss Football Association (SFV) to dock them 36 points over the fielding of ineligible players as a “cowardly act”.

The Swiss Football Association (SFV) look to have avoided a ban from all sporting activity after docking rebel club Sion 36 points for fielding ineligible players.