The Morning Sports Briefing

Munster resigned to losing Earls

Munster are resigned to losing Ireland and Lions back Keith Earls to English Premiership table-toppers Saracens at the end of the season.

The 28-year-old is one of just four of the province’s players who are centrally contracted by the IRFU and he is believed to be unhappy with the conditions of the new deal he has been offered, meaning he is ready to swap Thomond Park for Allianz Park.

Gerry Thornley writes: “To lose Earls would be a hugely demoralising blow for the Munster organisation and their fanbase. Assistant coach Victor Costello yesterday admitted that to lose Earls, Murray and Zebo ‘would be a massive dent to our ambitions.’”

Gordon D’Arcy column

In his column today Gordon D'Arcy suggests Ireland will not have to wait long to replace the talismanic leadership of Paul O'Connell: "There is a precedence down through the history of Irish rugby, in my lifetime anyway, when a great leader has passed for a similar type of animal to fill the void."

And D’Arcy believes the man wearing his old jersey, Robbie Henshaw, is set to have a big championship, he writes: “I do believe we will see a new, outstanding Irish performer during this Six Nations.

“The way a Joe Schmidt team can play will provide opportunities for that player to be Henshaw, be it running from 12 or 13.”

Liverpool beat Stoke on penalties

Elsewhere Liverpool are through to the League Cup final after beating Stoke City on penalties at Anfield last night.

Mark Hughes's side dominated proceedings but could only find the net once through Marko Arnautovic. With the tie level 1-1 on aggregate it went to a shootout, and despite Jon Walters and Glenn Whelan converting their spot kicks Marc Muniesia saw his effort saved by Simon Mignolet, sending Liverpool to Wembley.

Konta in Australian Open last four

Johanna Konta is a win away from becoming the first British woman to reach a Grand Slam final since Virginia Wade in 1977 after beating Zhang Shuai 6-4, 6-1 in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

Andy Murray is also through to the semi-finals after beating David Ferrer in four sets.

Duffy defends GAA over GPA proposals

Meanwhile Páraic Duffy has defended the GAA against the charge that they did not give a fair hearing to the players' proposals for football championship reform, as formulated by the Gaelic Players Association.

He said: “We welcome their proposal. They’re entitled to make a proposal, but I have to make the point as well, this is an organisation of 750,000 members.

“We have clubs; we have all kinds of units. The GPA is one of those units and we welcome the fact they made a proposal. But just because it came from the GPA doesn’t mean that we should have accepted it.”

What to watch out for:

Tennis

The Australian Open last eight clashes continue in Melbourne (Eurosport 12am-12pm)

Football

Everton travel to Manchester City for the second League Cup semi-final. (SS1, 7.45pm ko)