Tuesday Morning: Liverpool's Nunez Could Feature Against Real Madrid Tonight

The Minister of State for Sport has lent his voice to calls for Russian and Belarussian athletes to be barred from next year's Olympic Games

SOCCER

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says there is a chance forward Darwin Nunez could play against Real Madrid tonight.

The sides meet in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at Anfield.

Nunez sustained a shoulder injury after scoring in Saturday's 2-0 Premier League win at Newcastle.

Tonight's other first leg has Serie A leaders Napoli away to last season's Europa League winners, Eintracht Frankfurt.

Both games kick-off at 8.
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Watford returned to fifth in the Championship last night courtesy of a 3-2 win at home to West Bromwich.

Leaders Burnley are away to playoff hopefuls Millwall tonight.

Sunderland are five-games unbeaten ahead of their trip to Rotherham United.

Blackburn could end the night in the top-6 if they beat Mick McCarthy's Blackpool.

Elsewhere, Norwich City play Birmingham City, and Swansea face Stoke.

All of the games kick off at 7.45.

RUGBY

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton is a doubt for Saturday's Six Nations match against Italy in Rome.

The Leinster out half has a groin problem, so Ross Byrne is set to deputise.

Sexton is believed to be on track to play the concluding matches with Scotland and England.

Athy’s Joey Carbery has been called up to the squad, as have Kieran Treadwell and Scott Penny following injuries to Eadestown’s Tadhg Beirne and Joe McCarthy.
 

OLYMPICS

The Minister of State for Sport has lent his voice to calls for Russian and Belarussian athletes to be barred from next year's Olympic Games.

Ireland is one of 34 governments calling on the International Olympic Committee to clarify the definition of 'neutrality'.

The IOC has previously claimed they will explore avenues to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete as neutrals in Paris.

Ireland are joined in their statement by the United States, Canada, France, Germany and Great Britain.