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      How race for 5th Champions League spot looks with Premier League at risk of missing out after Man Utd and Newcastle woes

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      THE Champions League is set for a major revamp that will see two major European nations be handed an extra spot in the competition from next season.As it stands, the Premier League would miss out on gaining a fifth place.
      Manchester United finished bottom of their Champions League groupCredit: Alamy
      Newcastle crashed out of Europe by losing to AC MilanCredit: Getty
      The Champions League has long featured 32 teams split into eight groups of four, with the top two advancing out of each.
      From next year it will be moving to the Swiss Model.
      This will instead see 36 teams admitted into one big league table with the top eight qualifying automatically for the round of 16 and positions 9-24 contesting a play-off.
      To determine fixtures teams will be split into four pots of nine.
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      Each club will be drawn to face two teams from each pot, including their own.
      No teams will drop into the Europa League following the conclusion of the group stage.
      With the number of teams admitted into the Champions League growing from 32 to 36, four extra spots will be up for grabs.
      Two of these spots will go to the leagues whose clubs perform best in European competitions, including the Europa League and Europa Conference League, this season.
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      While the further two will go to the team that comes third in the Uefa nation ranked fifth in coefficient, and the other going to the champions’ qualifying path.
      The best performing leagues will be determined by the average coefficient of clubs participating in Europe.
      Every win by a club from a nation is worth two points, a draw one and a defeat none.
      Bonus points are then accrued by progressing through various stages of each competition.
      Playing in the Champions League group stage is worth four points, with five dished out for qualifying for the round of 16 and one each for the quarter-finals, semis and final.
      Winning a Europa League group, as Liverpool already have done, is worth four points, while two are given to runners up.
      Bonus points are then handed out for reaching the round of 16, quarters, semis and final.
      Winning your group in the Europa Conference League, as Aston Villa could, is worth two points, while qualifying as runner-up is worth one.
      Bonus points are given for reaching the semis or final.
      All points earned by clubs from each country are added up before being divided by the number of teams from that nation in Europe, eight in the Premier League’s case.
      Manchester United and Newcastle’s failure to progress, even into the Europa League, has seen the Premier League’s coefficient drop to third as it stands.
      The English top flight would have been awarded the extra Champions League spot in four of the last five seasons, the exception being 2019-20.
      Currently its coefficient number, 12.13, is behind those of Germany, 13.36, and Italy, 13.14.
      With Man Utd and Newcastle both out already, the Prem will be heavily reliant on its other clubs to have deep runs in order to accumulate enough points to climb into the top two.
      Holders Manchester City have won their Champions League group, while Arsenal have too.
      Liverpool, Brighton and West Ham have all progressed in the Europa League, and Aston Villa have qualified for the Europa Conference League knockout rounds.
      Read more on The Sun
      As it stands, the Bundesliga and Serie A would be handed the extra Champions League places.
      Should a team from one of the two nations with the highest coefficient win the Europa League without finishing in the top five of their own division, that country could have six teams in the Champions League.
      The Bundesliga are leading the coefficient raceCredit: Getty
      Serie A would grab the second bonus spot as it standsCredit: Rex More

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      Xavi ‘fighting for Barcelona job and under maximum pressure’ after back-to-back defeats against Girona and Antwerp

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      XAVI is reportedly fighting for his job at Barcelona following back-to-back defeats.Barcelona have just suffered losses to Girona in LaLiga and Royal Antwerp in the Champions League.
      Xavi’s job at Barcelona is reportedly under threatCredit: Getty
      Barcelona have lost back-to-back gamesCredit: EPA
      The defeat in Europe did not prove costly as the Catalonians still topped Group H.
      However, the loss to LaLiga leaders Girona has left Barcelona seven points off the pace and slumped down in fourth.
      Spanish outlet AS, has claimed that the loss to Antwerp has “stained the club’s image in Europe”.
      The report has suggested that Xavi, 43, has been left in a “weak position” and that he “knows” he has lost the confidence of all six members of the club’s sports commission.
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      The commission is made up of president Joan Laporta, Deco, Rafael Yuste, Joan Soler, Enric Masip and Bojan.
      Deco has recently had a disagreement with Xavi as he denied being consulted about a late call-up to the team.
      He told Movistar Plus: “The call-ups are a matter for the coach. We did not come to a consensus on anything.
      “There was a change of plans regarding travel and we have decided that everyone should travel.
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      “It is an issue that was discussed for management reasons.”
      After the defeat to Antwerp, Xavi admitted that he was “worried”.
      He said: “The feeling is not good. We’ve had misfortune, from a 2-2 draw. We could have gotten more. We’re on a rough patch.
      “I’m worried, it’s normal. The team is not comfortable. We’re on a bad run, we’ve had two negative results.
      “We have to be critical of ourselves. We have to improve. The opposing team generates chances, but it’s hard for us to do so.
      “We have to improve and know that we are not on a good run.”
      Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is Ladbrokes’ favourite to replace Xavi should he be sacked.

      Roberto De Zerbi – 5/1
      Rafael Marquez – 6/1
      Julen Lopetegui – 6/1
      Ruben Amorim – 7/1
      Michel – 7/1
      Unai Emery – 8/1
      Pep Guardiola – 12/1 More

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      Rio Ferdinand makes bold prediction about Newcastle and Eddie Howe after AC Milan loss but claims ‘They can’t say it’

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      RIO FERDINAND claims that Newcastle will be glad to have been dumped out of Europe entirely.Eddie Howe’s depleted squad finished bottom of their Champions League group after losing 2-1 to AC Milan at St James’ Park.
      Rio Ferdinand discussed Newcastle’s European exitCredit: Rex
      Eddie Howe’s side finished bottom of their Champions League groupCredit: Getty
      The Toon’s European adventure has come to an end, but Ferdinand believes that it could be a blessing in disguise.
      Appearing on TNT Sports, the former Manchester United star said: “Eddie Howe and the players can’t say this but I’m guaranteeing you now but they’ll be delighted to not go into the Europa League.
      “Because the amount of injuries they’ve got, Kieran Trippier just limped past us here, talking about the amount of injuries they’ve got, and a few of them are quite long-term.
      “It makes it very difficult to be battling on many fronts in different competitions when your squad is so threadbare.
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      “They have to get these players back fit, and more and more games would make that more and more unlikely to get players back fit.”
      Jermaine Jenas then pointed out that the Europa League would have provided an opportunity to qualify for the Champions League via a different route, given the intense competition for places in the Prem.
      The former Toon midfielder then added that more European football “would have been good” for his old side, but did concede: “I get Rio’s point.
      “They’re down to their bare bones. Kieran Trippier’s just walked very slowly by us having been taken off. He’s another one that they’re going to have to look at moving forwards.
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      “It’s a tough time for them but he’s going to have to rally them, get them together for the rest of the season.”
      Newcastle are currently without Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy, Elliot Anderson, Sven Botman, Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes, Javier Manquillo and Matt Targett due to injuries.
      They were boosted by the return of Dan Burn from a back injury last night, but Sandro Tonali remains suspended.
      After last night’s game, Howe admitted he was “devastated” with his side’s early exit.
      The Toon boss said: “We’ve gone into Champions League games with very few options in terms of team selections and in-game changes. That’s hurt us in a number of games.
      “That’s not an excuse, it’s just reality. Even today, I had to make two changes I didn’t want to make. We’re devastated with the result.”
      Jermaine Jenas had a different point of view to FerdinandCredit: PA
      Kieran Trippier limped past Ferdinand and CoCredit: Getty More

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      Champions League last-16 draw simulated with Arsenal landing worst case scenario but it’s good news for Man City

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      WITH the Champions League group stage now concluded, the English teams remaining in the competition will be eagerly anticipating who they will face in the last 16.Arsenal and Manchester City both topped their group, while Manchester United and Newcastle fell out of Europe entirely by finishing bottom of their respective groups.
      Arsenal have drawn a horror Champions League tieCredit: Getty
      Meanwhile, Man City have been handed a relatively easy tieCredit: AFP
      The makeup of Monday’s Champions League draw
      Topping the group means the two Premier League title challengers will face one of the sides who finished second in their group.
      However, these opponents range from Copenhagen and PSV to Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli, with seeded teams facing off against unseeded sides.
      Ahead of next Monday’s draw, SunSport have simulated who the Gunners and City will face when the first leg of the knockout draw comes around in February.
      And after running the teams through a simulator, we can reveal who they have come up against.
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      As the luck would have it, Arsenal – who are in the last-16 for the first time since the 2016/17 season – have drawn a horror tie against French giants PSG.
      Meanwhile, reigning champions Man City have been handed a far easier tie against PSV, who finished second in Arsenal’s group.
      There are some tasty ties elsewhere though, with Bayern Munich facing off against Napoli.
      Jude Bellingham’s Real Madrid have been drawn against Lazio, while fellow Spanish side Real Sociedad are up against RB Leipzig.
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      Another Spanish team who finished top of their group, Atletico Madrid, will face a tricky tie against Porto.
      Two sides who helped dump Newcastle and Man Utd out of the Champions League will be facing off when Borussia Dortmund take on Copenhagen.
      The fourth Spanish side to top their group, Barcelona, will take on Inter Milan.
      The seeded teams will play away from home on the 13/14/20/21 February, while they will then host the second legs from 5/6/12/13 March.
      The draw for the last 16 will commence at 11am GMT on Monday December 18 in Nyon Switzerland.
      The simulated Champions League draw More

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      Fans wish CBS Sports was shown in UK as they ‘cry real tears’ at segment savaging Micah Richards

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      FANS shared their love for CBS Sports once again after a hilarious clip ridiculing Micah Richards went viral.CBS Sports has built a reputation for mocking members of the panel, which includes Richards, Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry and host Kate Abdo.
      Micah Richards was mocked for his theatrical dive for Aston VillaCredit: CBS Sports
      Richards had no way to respond to the trolling but saw the funny sideCredit: CBS Sports
      His colleagues Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher found the clip hilariousCredit: CBS SPORTS
      On Wednesday it was Richards’ turn for a bit of teasing as CBS rolled back the years to find an extremely embarrassing moment.
      Carragher began the segment by criticising Manchester City goalscorer Micah Hamilton for diving.
      But Richards felt that was unwarranted as the defender had made contact with the youngster, and suggested his shirt was pulled.
      Carragher ignored Richards and continued the joke, unbeknownst to his colleague.
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      He said to Richards: “Hear me out. When you think of his name, he obviously looks up to you. Where do you think he got it from?”
      CBS Sports then showed a clip of Richards in action for Aston Villa against Stoke in 2015, where the defender dived theatrically in an attempt to win a penalty.
      Richards tried to make the most out of the slightest bit of contact with Glenn Whelan by jumping high in the air, and the audacity of his dive left his CBS colleagues in stitches.
      Henry responded saying: “What are you doing?!”
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      CBS then paused on a still of Richards high in the air with Carragher crying out: “What is that! I have never seen anything like that, look where his boots are!”
      Fans found the segment hilarious with one responding by saying he was “crying real tears”.
      Another added: “There is no sports studio show better than this. Literally crying. Whatever it costs, you need to keep these four together.”
      And a third wrote: “I absolutely love this show.”
      CBS Sports have won a lot of plaudits for their Champions League coverage with many won over by the camaraderie between the presenter and pundits.
      Just a day before Carragher was the victim as Abdo trolled him after he appeared to be out of breath during an analysis segment.
      The presenter quipped: “I’ve got an inhaler in my bag, would it help you?” More

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      Pep Guardiola has brilliant response after learning Man City wonderkid Micah Hamilton was ballboy for him six years ago

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      PEP GUARDIOLA was shocked to learn Micah Hamilton was a ballboy for him six years ago.The youngster scored on his Manchester City debut against Red Star Belgrade with an impressive strike.
      Pep Guardiola was shocked to learn Micah Hamilton was a ballboy for him in 2017Credit: TNT Sports
      The youngster scored on his Manchester City debut against Red Star BelgradeCredit: Getty

      He jinked past two defenders before smashing the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
      Guardiola, 52, revealed he has been training with the first-team squad quite regularly, but he had no idea the forward once helped his team out in a different capacity.
      The City boss was shown a photo from 2017 where he dished out advice and instructions to a young Hamilton when he was a ballboy at the Etihad.
      Guardiola was shocked to see the snap as he had forgotten about the interaction with the 20-year-old.
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      He said: “I didn’t know! Six years ago? Wow!
      “What a goal, eh! And what a game. I’m so happy for him.
      “He’s training quite often with us, we saw his skills up front one versus one and he made a fantastic goal and penalty and when he could not be 1vs1 he gave extra passes. Defensively he was aggressive.”
      Hamilton became the fifth-youngest Englishman to score on their Champions League debut at 20 years and 30 days.
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      He is also the youngest to score on their debut since Marcus Rashford in September 2017 aged 19 years and 316 days.
      Fellow youngster Oscar Bobb was also on target, doubling City’s lead after the interval with his first senior goal. More

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      Ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter lined up to replace Erik ten Hag as Man Utd manager after meeting with Sir Jim Ratcliffe

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      GRAHAM POTTER is being lined up to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.SunSport understands incoming investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe has met with former Chelsea chief Potter and favours him as the new boss at Old Trafford if he fires Ten Hag.
      Graham Potter is being lined up by Man Utd to replace Ten HagCredit: PA
      Erik ten Hag is under increasing pressure at Old TraffordCredit: Getty
      The threat to the Dutchman’s position increased following Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League home defeat to Bayern Munich.
      United crashed out of Europe with their lowest-ever group-stage points tally of FOUR.
      And they did not even drop into the Europa League after finishing BOTTOM of Group A.
      Ten Hag’s flops, who were also hammered 3-0 by Bournemouth in the Prem last Saturday, were booed off as their season hit a new low.

      And a heavy loss on Sunday at bitter rivals Liverpool — where United got humiliated 7-0 in March — could be the final straw for under-fire Ten Hag.
      Jose Mourinho was sacked by the Red Devils following a 3-1 loss to Jurgen Klopp’s side in December 2018.
      Potter, 48, has not managed since being sacked by Chelsea in April after less than a season in charge.
      But Ratcliffe remains a huge fan of the former Swansea and Brighton boss and wanted him at French side Nice.
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      The Ineos chief is set to buy 25 per cent of United next week and will immediately take over football operations.
      Potter turned down the chance to succeed Alex Neil as manager of Championship side Stoke this week.
      It is understood he is only prepared to return to the dugout if a major job came up.

      Ten Hag is United’s fifth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired following his 2012-13 Prem title triumph.
      But the 53-year-old Dutchman is heading the way of his predecessors, despite a good first season in charge.
      The former Ajax boss finished third in the Premier League last season, reached both domestic cup finals and won the Carabao Cup — United’s first silverware in six years.
      This term they have gone backwards, losing 12 of their 24 games in all competitions.
      Captain Bruno Fernandes misses Sunday’s Anfield showdown through suspension, while defenders Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are doubts after getting injured against Bayern.
      Read more on The Sun
      Off the pitch, United will also take a financial hit of more than £20million following their Champions League exit.
      It is believed they budget to reach the quarter-finals, so will lose out on matchday income and TV money as well as participation and performance fees.
      Ratcliffe is a big fan of Potter More

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      Newcastle 1 AC Milan 2: Devastated Toon crash out of Europe as Italians fight from a goal down to break Geordie hearts

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      IN the end, all the money in Saudi Arabia and all the passion of the Geordie Nation was not enough. Newcastle United, seemingly coasting to victory after Joelinton had thumped them into a half-time lead, were dumped out of Europe by a stunning AC Milan comeback. 
      Joelinton opened the scoring for NewcastleCredit: Getty
      The Brazilian broke the deadlock in the 33rd minuteCredit: Getty
      The Champions League demands elite-level wisdom and experience and that is the one thing Newcastle’s owners cannot buy. 
      It took Manchester City three attempts to get through the group stage and more than a decade to win the thing. There are no short cuts in this competition.
      Milan, seven-time European champions and semi-finalists last season, used every bit of their nous to deny Eddie Howe’s side even a consolation spot in the Europa League, as Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chukwueze fired them to victory. 
      Newcastle needed to win this match and hope Paris St Germain did not defeat Borussia Dortmund in order to progress to the Champions League knock-out stage. 

      And early in the second half, a full-throated Toon Army were bellowing ‘Show Me The Way To Barcelona’, with both matches in their favour.
      So Milan’s smash-and-grab job was an almighty kick in the conkers for Howe, already reeling from heavy Premier League defeats by Everton and Tottenham.
      Newcastle can look back on this campaign with a mixture of pride and regret but it will be a tough ask for them to return to the top table next season thanks to their dismal away form.
      In a proper Group of Death, Toon were twice outstanding against PSG but twice outplayed by Dortmund, having survived an onslaught to secure a goalless draw in the San Siro in their opener, only to be struck by a sucker punch here. 
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      Martin Dubravka was passed fit to start in goal, while Callum Wilson returned to lead the line. 
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      Christian Pulisic scored the equaliser in the second halfCredit: Getty
      Samuel Chukwueze broke Newcastle hearts with a late winnerCredit: Reuters
      Milan fielded their full complement of Chelsea old boys – Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud.
      And they came dressed in the single worst kit ever seen at a major English football ground – a pink, green and blue number that looked like a bubblegum wrapper designed by somebody on a bad acid trip.
      Anthony Gordon made his usual energetic start, charging down his full-back to concede a throw-in and send the Leazes End into rapture. 
      Soon Gordon was upended by Pulisic and Kieran Trippier curled a free-kick just wide. 
      Trippier was soon surging forward and feeding Joelinton, whose centre evaded keeper Mike Maignan, leaving Tomori to make an outstanding saving tackle to deny Miguel Almiron on the goal line.
      It was all there for Howe – the tempo, the intent, the volume of the Toon Army.
      But Milan held a threat, especially through their dangerman Rafael Leao, who looped a shot narrowly wide as Newcastle were caught on the hop.
      On 33 minutes, though, Newcastle were ahead – Fabian Schar bringing the ball out of defence, Gordon scampering forward and angling a pass to Lewis Miley, who cut back for Joelinton.
      It was a smash-and-grab from AC Milan
      The big Brazilian took one touch then thumped into the far corner from 18 yards, shooting with a power which belied his relative lack of backlift. 
      Joelinton had been renowned for missing sitters in his previous life as a striker in pre-Saudi Newcastle, but here he was scoring a screamer in the Champions League from midfield. 
      Tino Livramento halted a Milan break with a tackle on Leao. The full-back has name which sounds especially pleasing in a Geordie accent and it was roared to the tune of the Hokey-Cokey.
      By half-time, Howe’s boys seemed fully in control, simply hoping that Dortmund could keep Kylian Mbappe & Co at bay. 
      Soon after the interval, St James’ Park erupted at news that the Germans had scored – yet PSG swiftly levelled. 
      And then disaster struck the Toon, as a Yunus Musah miskick turned into a decent pass for Giroud who squared for Pulisic to score, with the home defence panicked and static.
      It was a horribly soft goal to concede to a Milan side who hadn’t registered a shot on target and had barely threatened until then. 
      Howe sent on Alexander Isak in place of Gordon and welcomed back Dan Burn from injury.
      Fikayo Tomori rattled the post in the final minute of added timeCredit: Reuters
      Newcastle swept forward and Isak bent a shot just over, the night air crackling with agonised cries. 
      Then Bruno Guimaraes leathered a shot from the edge of the area and Maignan pushed it brilliantly onto the crossbar, as news of a disallowed Mbappe goal emerged from Dortmund. 
      Leao should have buried Newcastle when a Livramento blunder allowed him a clear sight at goal but the winger shot against the post. 
      Everything, both here and in Germany, was on a knife edge – why on Earth have UEFA chosen to scrap the group stage is anybody’s guess. 
      But then anyone who has ever attended a UEFA will know full well the European governing body’s staggering incompetence. 
      Read more on The Sun
      Six minutes from time, with the game resembling an NBA match, Milan swept from one end of the pitch to the other and Chukwueze drilled into the far corner, finally demolishing the wall of noise.
      Tomori struck the woodwork in injury-time as Newcastle went death-or-glory and ended up expiring.  More