Every morning TheScore rounds up the stories you need to know before your first cup of coffee.
1. #GAFFER Liverpool are on the verge of appointing Brendan Rodgers as their new manager. The Swansea City boss was offered the job by Fenway Sports Group yesterday and has reportedly agreed to sign a three-year deal with the Reds once a reasonable compensation package can be arranged for the Welsh club.
2. #TOUR Connacht’s Mike McCarthy will travel with the Ireland team on their tour of New Zealand as ‘precautionary cover’ for Paul O’Connell. Declan Kidney named his squad yesterday with several new faces included in the 30-man panel.
3.#US OPEN Rory McIlroy is determined to rediscover his form before the defence of his US Open title. The 23-year-old has missed two successive cuts in recent weeks, at the Players Championships and the BMW PGA Championship, but will look to get back on track at this week’s US PGA Tour’s Memorial.
Just a little bit surprising, and it’s something I haven’t really had to deal with in a while, and I just have to knuckle down and figure it out and get back to the way I was at the start of the year,” McIlroy said.
4. #EXPERIENCE Dublin boss Pat Gilroy has stayed loyal to the bulk of his All-Ireland-winning team as they prepare to open their defence against Louth this weekend. There are just three changed to the side which beat Kerry at Croke Park in the final with Kevin McManamon, Philly McMahon and Eamonn Fennell coming in.
5. #REPORTS Aston Villa are believed to be closing in on Paul Lambert after reports that the former Scottish international has resigned from his post at Norwich City. Villa are without a manager since sacking Alex McLeish at the end of last season and the ex-Celtic midfielder is now the favourite to replace him at Villa Park.
