Here’s the latest from the day’s sporting action…

Soccer

Premier League leaders Liverpool go to Nottingham Forest this afternoon, six days on from winning the EFL Cup, with kick-off at the City Ground at 3pm.

At the same time, Tottenham entertain Crystal Palace, aiming to close the gap on the top-four, while Chelsea make the short trip to Brentford, Fulham host Brighton, Everton welcome West Ham to Goodison Park, and Newcastle play Wolves.

In the late game, Aston Villa are away to Luton from 5.30pm.

Rugby

Munster moved up to fifth in the URC last night, with a 45-29 bonus point win over Zebre in Cork.

This evening, hooker Eoin de Buitlear makes his first start for Connacht in their fixture with the Scarlets, with the game in Galway getting underway at 5.05pm.

Meanwhile, Harry and Ross Byrne both start in Leinster’s game away to Cardiff from 7.35pm, at the same time as Dan Soper takes temporary charge of Ulster for their meeting with the Dragons in Belfast.

Gaelic Games

Derry’s 100 per cent start to Division 1 of the Allianz Football League will be given a stern test this evening.

Dublin visit Celtic Park, where throw-in is at 5pm.

In the division’s later fixture, Castlebar hosts the all-Connacht meeting of Mayo and Roscommon, with throw-in at 7.30pm.

There’s also action in the lower divisions, while Division 1B of the Very Camogie League pairs Limerick and Down, Kerry and Dublin, and Wexford and Antrim.

Just one fixture is down for decision in the top-flight of the Lidl Ladies Football League, with Mayo travelling to Mallow to face Cork.

Golf

Tom McKibbin is five shots off the lead at the SDC Championship in South Africa.

The Holywood clubman is 6-under-par and in a tie for tenth heading down the back nine of his third round at the St. Francis Links.

Daniel Brown and Robin Williams are the joint leaders on 11-under.

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Rory McIlroy carded a four-under-par 67 for the second successive day to finish three strokes off the pace following round two of the Cognizant Classic in Florida.

McIlroy is among eight players tied for sixth place, alongside Shane Lowry, after hitting six birdies and two bogeys on Friday.

Formula One

The Formula One season gets underway in earnest today, with the Bahrain GP.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is on pole, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc alongside him in second.

Mercedes’ George Russell out-qualified his teammate Lewis Hamilton, with the pair starting from third and ninth respectively, while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez round out the top five.

The race gets underway at 3pm Irish time.