Juventus and Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio suffers a knee ligament injury in the warm-up of a training session with the national team. The 29-year-old is expected to be ruled out for several months. He immediately underwent an MRI scan which revealed a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament,” Italy doctor Enrico Castellacci said.

Striker Eniola Aluko says she’s putting her career as a trainee solicitor on hold to focus on football. Writing in her exclusive BBC Sport column, Aluko says: “Now I’m qualified, my plan is to put law on the backburner and give football my full attention. It coincides nicely with what is the biggest year of my football career.” Aluko who plays for England and Chelsea Ladies is hoping to represent England in the Women’s World Cup in Canada later this year. His brother Sone Aluko plays for Hull City and Nigeria, the country of their parents.

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez is one of several former Liverpool players who will return to Anfield to play in the charity match, to feature sides led by captain Steven Gerrard and retired vice-captain Jamie Carragher. Former Reds Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Dirk Kuyt and Xabi Alonso will be also be involved in the game, organised by the Liverpool FC Foundation. The All-Star charity match at Anfield will take place on Sunday.

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge could be ruled out for up to a month after suffering a muscle tear in his hip. The 25-year-old withdrew from the England squad on Monday, having sustained the injury in Liverpool’s 2-1 Premier League defeat by Manchester United on Sunday. Speaking ahead of Friday’s game against Lithuania, England manager Roy Hodgson said Sturridge was “devastated” and “didn’t want to leave” after scans showed the extent of the injury. Should Sturridge be ruled out for four weeks, he would miss Liverpool’s Premier League games against Arsenal and Newcastle United, their FA Cup quarterfinal replay against Blackburn Rovers and a potential semi-final against Aston Villa.

Newcastle United left-back Massadio Haidara looks set to be sidelined for the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery. The 22-year-old Frenchman was stretchered off in the win over Aston Villa last month. Haidara’s absence leaves Newcastle facing a heck of an injury crisis at the back ahead of Sunday’s derby against Sunderland, with Steven Taylor and Paul Dummett also out injured and captain Fabricio Coloccini suspended.

Premier League clubs have agreed to share £1bn from the record TV deal with the rest of the English football pyramid. Lower league sides and grass-roots football stand to benefit, while clubs have also pledged to pay all staff the living wage by the start of the 2016-17 season. The TV rights sold for a whopping £5.1bn last month.