Juliette Ferrington
BBC Radio 5 live

Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre has been speaking about the planned Anfield walk-out in protest against ticket prices this weekend: "I respect everyone's right to do what they think is right but for every fan thinking about that I would say 'have a look at the facts'.

"You might be walking out for something you're not quite understanding. 

"If people want to leave after 77 minutes that is disappointing but it shouldn't be because they feel the prices are wrong as there is something for everyone in there. 

"If someone sits in a certain position where there is a £77 ticket next season but can't afford it we will have another option for them. There is something for everyone, no-one is being priced out of the stadium.

"There is a seat for everyone at the right price. That is the thing to look at before you take that type of action and walk out. It can only be damaging to Liverpool if we have got it wrong and someone can define right and wrong in different ways."

Bill Rice
BBC Radio Manchester

"After six goals and two wins in a week, Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal says he is a happy coach, but by the time they kick off at champions Chelsea on Sunday they could be eight points off the top four. 

"With more reports this week Jose Mourinho could replace him at the end of the season, how will the Dutchman respond when he speaks to the media today?

"Has that miserable run of form in December cost them in their pursuit of Champions League football, and should he now realistically target the FA Cup and Europa League if he wants to win a trophy before his time at Old Trafford comes to an end? 

"We are also expecting an update on the condition of left-back Luke Shaw, who was named in United's Europa League squad this week."

Stoke broke their transfer record to sign midfielder Giannelli Imbula from Porto for a fee of £18.3m on a five-and-a-half-year contract.  

"He may be involved tomorrow," says Potters boss Mark Hughes, whose side host Everton. "He trained with a group of 8 or 9 players yesterday and with the full squad today.

"It's my intention to get him involved as soon as possible so he can see what the Premier League is about.

"It's important we give him time. He needs to adapt to this league & I've no doubt come next season he will feel the full benefit of that."

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Director of football Les Ferdinand says QPR tried to sign forward Jiri Skalak, who recently joined Brighton.

The 23-year-old joined the Seagulls from FK Mlada Boleslav for an undisclosed fee.

"We watched him and made an offer, but it was turned down," said Ferdinand.

"It was disappointing but we knew at the time he was likely to join another club. He's a good player and we would have liked him."

Geoff Doyle
BBC Three Counties Radio sport

It’s Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores’s 51st birthday today but celebrations will wait until after the Premier League match at Tottenham.

“I have no time to celebrate today,” beamed Sanchez earlier. “I will celebrate with my family after the match. The staff will give me a present. The attitude of the players is my present – every day on the training ground is perfect. My big celebration will be keeping the team in the Premier League.”

Spain says it will support Gianni Infantino in the Fifa presidential race. Infantino is one of five candidates standing in the 26 February election.

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Scotland legend Gavin Hastings believes two home victories would constitute a successful 2016 Six Nations for Vern Cotter's side.

The Scots were whitewashed last year with five defeats from five matches.

"Clearly they've got to get over the line on at least two occasions," Hastings told BBC Scotland.

"We are playing three away matches but it's not inconceivable that we could win our two home matches against England and France."

Manchester United

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Angel Di Maria says he does not want to be reminded of his "sad experience" at Manchester United as he looks to drive Paris St Germain on to domestic and European success. 

"Things didn't go as I had hoped. I was disappointed and it didn't help me to rise to the surface," said Di Maria.

"Honestly, I don't even remember any more what happened and I don't want to remember. I am happy to be here and that's the most important thing."

Manchester United fans have tried to erase it too, Angel.

Is the managerial job going at Manchester United? Apparently so.

Louis van Gaal is in the Old Trafford hot-seat at the moment but, according to the Daily Mail, former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is closing in on taking over from him in the summer.

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Defending champion Rory McIlroy threw his ball into a lake in disgust before recovering with four late birdies in round two of the Dubai Desert Classic.

McIlroy ended the day on four under par after a 72, which left him five shots behind the early second-round leaders.

The Northern Irishman made four bogeys on the outward nine and slipped back to level par with a fifth at the 11th, but salvaged the situation with birdies on the 13th, 16th, 17th and 18th holes.

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A Question of Sport Teaser

Reckon you know who this is?

Arsenal

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Striker Danny Welbeck played for an hour of Arsenal's Under-21 encounter with Brighton on Friday afternoon having been out for almost 10 months with a knee injury.

Talking about the striker's return ahead of the game, manager Arsene Wenger said he hopes to have Welbeck back in first-team contention in as little as three weeks

"I believe that he needs to play two or three games before thinking about coming back into the first team," the Frenchman said at his weekly news conference.

"He has not played for 10 months so we need to be patient with him. He has good basic fitness but after it is competitive decision-making and he needs to get used to that again."

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Liverpool had been linked with a move for Alex Teixeira but the Brazil midfielder has become the Chinese Super League's latest high-profile recruit.

"In a lot of parts of Europe people talk about the financial power of England because of the television contract and now maybe it's another competitor," says Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.

"If you're 26 and you get an offer like he got everyone would think about it. I have no problem with this, it is absolutely normal in football."

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

It's Wigan Warriors v Catalans Dragons in the Super League tonight - and commentary is on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra from 19:30 GMT. The station has got 60 rugby league commentaries this season - so you shouldn't have to wait long to hear your team.

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There have been stories today that injury-prone Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is ready to leave the club in the summer.

"Why should I think about it. Who suggested it?" says Reds boss Jurgen Klopp when asked about it.

"If someone wants to ask me something about what they have heard about then they can ask me but not 'suggestions', I am not interested in this. Absolutely nothing. 

"Daniel has been back in training two days and that is great so everything looks good in this moment. Now is normal for all training. 

"I have heard nothing. Obviously there were a few problems in the past with a few injuries, but not since I was here, and that is part of the truth.

"But this is the past and I would be cool if we could leave it there and we can start from now on. What Daniel needs, what each player needs, is consistent training. That is normal to be fit for the Premier League." 

So, Tim Peake is going to watch tomorrow's Calcutta Cup clash from space. What's the best/coolest/strangest place you've watched sport? Get involved by using #bbcsportsday, external

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