Champions League

LIVERPOOL superstar Mohamed Salah revealed he is “addicted” to a new hobby.Salah has set the world alight ever since joining the Reds in 2017 as he won every honour available, including the Premier League and Champions League, and has scored 198 goals in 322 games.
Mohamed Salah has discovered a new and sophisticated hobbyCredit: Reuters
Salah revealed he is “addicted” to chess and plays all the time when he is not with LiverpoolCredit: AP
This comes as no surprise as the star forward is a world-class athlete that completely understands the Merseysiders’ manager Jurgen Klopp’s genius tactics.
And it’s obvious the Egypt international is a big fan of strategy as he has adopted a fun and sophisticated hobby outside of the field.
The 31-year-old revealed he is passionate about chess and plays “literally every day”.
Sometimes the ex-Roma star goes undercover online to play against other people but uses glaring hints on his username which hint at his real identity and spark questions from the other participants.
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Salah told Sky Sports: “I play chess, I am addicted to chess. Every day, literally every day.
“I put my name and some numbers so some people they ask, ‘Are you Mo Salah’?
I say, ‘Yes’, they don’t believe it and say, ‘You are lying’, I say, ‘Yes I’m lying.’
“I’m good, I’m not Magnus[Carlsen] but I’m good. No one has a chance with Magnus.”
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Salah’s strategic mind has seen him break some of the world’s greatest teams down throughout his six-year stint at Liverpool.
The former Fiorentina star worked his way through Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola’s defences at the Etihad earlier today.
Salah provided the assist for Trent Alexander-Arnold’s equaliser just 10 minutes before full-time to salvage a 1-1 draw for the visitors. More

JACK GREALISH has become predictable, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.Manchester City are a largely predictable team to play against under Pep Guardiola – they press high, keep possession around the edge of the box and look for cut-backs and late runs.
Manchester City and Jack Grealish have become predictable, claims Troy DeeneyCredit: Getty
The easy thing is highlighting that. The hardest thing in the world is stopping it, and Jack is no different.
When he is on it, cutting inside playing those one-twos, he is unstoppable.
The difference between last season and this season is the efficiency, and Jack has to hold his hands up on that one. His injuries have not helped, but he just looks a bit off it.
There was always going to be a hangover after that Treble season, and you can’t expect him to be as good right now as he was.
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Jeremy Doku has come in and has now got that fire in his belly and motivation to keep Jack out of the team.
If Jack was playing the way he was at Aston Villa, people would still be saying he is world class by a country mile.
But because he is in such a good team, if his standard goes from 9/10 to 8/10 then people react, and say he isn’t doing what he needs to.
He is becoming a victim of his own success, and those analysing him are falling victim to the moment, but Jack has had to change under Pep.
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Some will say he’s changed for the worse. He no longer takes people on for fun, looking for the pass inside instead.
But, I actually see it as a compliment from Pep. He thinks Jack is smart enough to do that.
If you are a Mykhailo Mudryk and rely heavily on your pace, if you asked him to do what Jack does, it would go the other way. Mudryk is fast, just kick it and run.
Jack still has the ability to take people on, but Pep thinks he is good enough to play those intricate passes.
SunSport columnist Deeney claims Man City are dealing with a post-Treble hangoverCredit: Getty
Jack could probably be more selfish on the ball at times, but you can’t be selfish in a Pep team. If you are, you don’t play.
Let’s not forget, Jack is having to create and dominate in a side missing their best player – Kevin De Bruyne.
Last season, De Bruyne would get Jack the ball early a lot to allow him to attack. They’ve struggled to do that this year, especially with Ilkay Gundogan gone too.
It is a mini rebuild and Jack is struggling with that, and that’s no slight on him.
De Bruyne is one of the best players I’ve ever played against, and he takes the focus and pressure off of players around him.
It just goes to show, even with City’s squad depth, take out a world class player and they cannot replicate it. Take Bukayo Saka out for Arsenal and replace him with Reiss Nelson, you see a big difference.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp could give Man City a completely different gameCredit: EPA
People have wised up to Jack as well. Teams have tweaked their game to stop him. Jack has pace but he is not a speed merchant, so full-backs stay wide and invite him inside to pounce on him or foul him. So, Jack has to adapt.
It will be slightly different against Liverpool. They will press high and really go for it, and give Jack a lot more space to show what he can do, whether that is from the off or off the bench.
An interesting thought is whether Jack would actually suit Liverpool’s fast-paced countering style more, but the Reds can be just as predictable.
We all know how Jurgen Klopp plays, and I don’t think Jack is fast enough to even start for Liverpool right now.
Speaking of speed, Liverpool have one of the best centre-back partnerships in world football in Ibrahim Konate and Virgil van Dijk, and they will pray Erling Haaland is not fit to start.
At times, City just need one pass, and it isn’t to Jack. One goal-kick from Ederson beating the high press towards the most prolific goal scorer we have ever seen.
It is a puzzle people struggle to solve – press or sit back – and they know Haaland needs one chance and he will score. World class defenders still have no idea how to stop Haaland. More

MANCHESTER United are staring at a potential £110m black hole – just as Sir Jim Ratcliffe promises a bright new dawn.Ratcliffe is set to finally confirm his partial buy-out and take charge of United’s footballing future.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to confirm his Man Utd takeoverCredit: PA
Man Utd are at risk of dropping out of the Champions League following a defeat to CopenhagenCredit: PA
But even before Britain’s richest man can nestle his backside in the Old Trafford directors’ box, he faces the prospect of his first three weeks at United determining the next three YEARS.
That is because Erik ten Hag’s side face a make or break Champions League spell which will have massive financial and morale implications.
And even for a multi-billionaire who cannot easily count his riches, the impact on what Ratcliffe could then do to get United back to where they want to be would be significant.
This week, exactly 12 months after Ratcliffe first publicly registered his interest in an Old Trafford takeover, he is set to finally complete a rather lesser-scale agreement.
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United fans have grown increasingly restless as the drawn-out deal seems to have stalled approaching the finishing line, even if there are no indications of any genuine problems.
But the fans hoping that Ratcliffe’s arrival can transform the club after he paid £1.25bn for a 25 per cent stake and control over “football operations” may have to recalibrate their ambitions.
United’s horror defeat in Copenhagen before the international break leaves them perilously close to the brink of a humiliating Champions League group stage exit.
Bottom of their group with just two games to go, United must negotiate a trip to the infamous “Hell” of Galatasary’s Ali Sami Yen Stadium, scene of one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most miserable European upsets 30 years ago.
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Man Utd face a huge loss if they crash out of the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
Even victory in Istanbul would require United to get at least a draw when Harry Kane – the striker they were so desperate to sign but could not get – and his new Bayern Munich side come to Manchester next month.
While defeat in Turkey would leave them in danger of even missing out on the consolation prize of a place in the Europa League.

That nightmare would cost United an initial £13.5m – missing out on £8.35m for qualification plus £5m in gate receipts – and the chance of earning a potential £60m.
But it would also almost certainly end ANY chance of United being invited to play in the first incarnation of Fifa’s expanded Club World Cup, and a share of the likely £1bn cash pot, in 2025.
Europe has 12 slots in the 32 team tournament to be played in the USA, with Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City and this season’s Champions League winners earning automatic berths.
The other eight European places will be determined by the four-season “coefficient” table.
While senior Fifa figures had indicated only one place per nation would be allowed from that list – to ensure eight countries had teams involved – that is now understood to be subject to a rethink.
A cap of two per nation is being considered, with a final decision due to be made by Fifa at next month’s Council meeting in Jeddah.
The Red Devils could miss out on a huge amount of incomeCredit: Getty
Such a change – which still ensures qualification on sporting merit – would open the door to United getting the chance for a likely £50m windfall.
Bayern and Liverpool are effectively safe, with Jose Mourinho’s Roma, Inter, PSG and Villarreal currently the next in line.
United are seventh but only one one win ahead of Leipzig, while Porto would leapfrog the Old Trafford side as well if they win their final two group games and United lose both.
If that happens, United could finish the season no higher than ninth and out of the frame for the USA, joining fellow European giants Juventus and – unless they win the Champions League this term – Barcelona on the sidelines.
Such a scenario demonstrates that even a man of Ratcliffe’s wealth cannot influence everything and that events on the pitch have an impact off it as well.
Between those two games, the likely first home match of the Ratcliffe era will see him sit down to watch the club he has invested in face the team he tried to buy in 2022, when Chelsea visit Old Trafford.
Rebuffed then – he finally made a bid AFTER the deal with the Todd Boehly-led syndicate had been agreed – revenge might be sweet. And more than important as United seek to get back into the top four race.
That is the expectation of supporters and the Ineos involvement has been given Fergie’s seal of approval, with the legendary ex-boss telling the Gambling Zone: “I am optimistic about Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment in United.
“I am still a director of the club and I know Jim well. We shall have to see what he does but I am optimistic.”
One problem for Ratcliffe, for all his promises of investment, are Uefa and Prem financial rules.
Aside from the issue over multi-club ownership, where Ineos’ control of unlikely French title contenders Nice could mean United not able to play in Europe, new regulations mean teams playing in Uefa competitions can only spend 80 per cent of their revenue on wages and transfers next season, dropping to 70 per cent by 2025-26.
Even in the Prem, sides not in European football will be limited to spending between 85 and 90 per cent of their revenues on an annual basis.
Missing out on substantial revenues that rivals in the Prem will be earning will make that necessary overhaul harder to pull off.
Meanwhile, this weekend, while United face the backlash of Everton indignation at their unprecedented ten-point deduction, City and Liverpool will be going head to head in a match that might prove pivotal in the title race.
The sort of match United, under Fergie, pretty much assumed would involve them. That all seems a long time ago. 
Man Utd face Everton this weekendCredit: AFP More