Jurgen Klopp has set Jordan Henderson and striker Divock Origi a deadline of May 15 - the date of Liverpool’s last Premier League match at West Brom - to prove their fitness in order to be considered for the Europa League final against Sevilla the following Wednesday.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits he was too optimistic about Philippe Coutinho’s injury and he may not yet be ready to return.

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has avoided major controversy in his short spell at Anfield, but even he cannot have imagined a match-winning penalty would create such a fuss.

Peter Stringer is thankful Bath rescued him from “oblivion” at Munster after feeling he was unfairly ignored by Rob Penney and Simon Mannix.

FOOTBALL on Leeside could be about to get its good name back.

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney has named a 26-man squad for Saturday’s Heineken Cup final with Biarritz, conscious that one or two of the walking wounded might not make it.

DONNCHA O’Callaghan and Shaun Payne are out of the Munster team to meet Harlequins in the opening match of the Heineken European Cup at Thomond Park on Saturday.

SOUTH African-born Shaun Payne has been thrown into the Kingsholm cauldron for Saturday's Heineken European Cup tie.

MUNSTER coach Alan Gaffney has described the loss of Rob Henderson as “a hammer blow” in advance of upcoming Celtic League encounters.

Leinster 8, Munster 15

WITH the hurling and football championships now reaching their conclusive stage and the rugby season upon us, thoughts of the forthcoming World Cup are exercising the minds of the sporting public.

A FEAST in the pack, a famine in the back division.

Mike Catt will make his belated Lions tour entrance against Australia A tomorrow, admitting: ‘‘It’s one step at a time.’’

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL sat himself down inside the sundrenched window of the lounge of the Glenview Hotel - and was immediately on his feet again.