All the major European soccer leagues resume this weekend, after a week's break for the Euro 2012 qualifiers. Wayne Rooney should expect a hostile reception from fans at his old club, as his Manchester United team travel to Goodison Park to face Everton in an early kick off game on Saturday.

Rooney, who scored for England in their Euro qualifier against Switzerland earlier this week, has been faced with allegations about his private life. Meanwhile, Arsenal will be hoping that the injury to their star winger Theo Walcott will not affect their game against Bolton, as will Tottenham, whose striker Jermain Defoe is also out.

The weekend's fixtures follow (local time):

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has been sacked with immediate effect. The move comes a week after the 57-year-old was suspended for six months, for disrupting an anti-doping test. The former Manchester United Assistant Manager was also criticised for Portugal's poor performance at the 2010 World Cup finals, as well as in the Euro 2012 qualifiers. He had been two years at his post.

The 57-year-old -who also held the position from 1991 to 1993- was dismissed after a disciplinary hearing, following the recent decision to suspend him for six months, for insulting officials from Portugal's anti-doping body. Aside from his recent suspension, former Manchester United Assistant Manager Queiroz had also been under pressure, following a series of poor results on the pitch.

Portugal struggled to reach the 2010 World Cup finals, and were knocked out by eventual winners Spain at the last 16 stage. Their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign has also started badly, with a 4-4 home draw with Cyprus, followed by a 1-0 defeat in Norway.

Sporting Lisbon Coach Paulo Bento has already been tipped by the Portuguese media as the front-runner to take over from Queiroz.

Rafael Nadal reached the US Open semi-finals for the third time, with victory over fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco on another windy night in New York. The world number one, chasing the only grand slam title to have so far eluded him, won 7-5 6-3 6-4.

While his performance was not as fluent as Roger Federer's the night before, it was equally dominant. Nadal will play Mikhail Youzhny in the last four, after the Russian beat Stanislas Wawrinka in five sets.

Mikhail Youzhny reached his second US Open semi-final following an epic five-set victory over Stanislas Wawrinka at a blustery Flushing Meadows. The 12th seed took over four hours to defeat 27th seed Wawrinka 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 3-6 6-3 6-3 at Arthur Ashe stadium. Youzhny will play rafael Nadal in the last four. The Russian also reached the semis in 2006, when he lost to Andy Roddick in four sets.

The Harambee Stars bashing after their 1 - 0 loss to lowly ranked Guinea Bissau at the African Cup of Nations qualifier last weekend, takes a back seat as the Kenya Premier League (KPL) resumes a week's break, only four points separate the top four Ulinzi, Tusker, Sofapaka and Gormahia, and with only 8 matches to go, the title is still very much wide open.

A preview of what matches to look out for this weekend follows:

Only 8 games stand between the top four teams and the title. With 5th placed Mathare United determined to close the gap on the leaders, the former champions face a baptism of fire when they take on Stima in Bukhungu, but all eyes will be at Nyayo stadium where  Ulinzi Stars will play Mahakama and the Gor Mahia take on KCB in a double header which will be screened live on Supersport.

On Sunday, champions Sofapaka will play Chemelil Sugar in what appears to be an easy match for Sam Ssimba's charges -at least on paper, leaders Tusker have a much tougher assignment against Sony Sugar, at the same venue, in yet another double header. 

AFC Leopards will play their league game in an empty stadium following disciplinary issues .The independent disciplinary and appeals committee (IDAC) slapped the ban on Leopards' spectators after crowd trouble in their match against Sofapaka at the Nyayo stadium. The club was also hit with a KES 500,000 suspended fine.

The Nairobi Club will play Posta Rangers at the Karuturi Sports Club grounds in Naivasha on Monday.