Champions League

PREM clubs are well on track for an extra Champions League slot next season.Manchester City’s upset at Juventus represented England’s only defeat in seven games this week, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Manchester United all winning and Spurs squeaking a draw at Rangers.Manchester United came from behind to beat Plzen to go eighth in the Europa League standingsManchester City were only English team beaten in Europe this weekWhile Arsenal thumped Monaco 3-0 on TuesdayLiverpool are the most decorated English side in Europe, with six Champions League titles to their nameCredit: APThat puts England on an average of 12.571 coefficient points, more than a full point ahead of Italy – who secured a fifth Champions League slot alongside Germany last term.And with extra bonus points due at the end of the league phase next month, after Uefa recalculated the system, the Prem sides are on course to stretch their advantage even further.Liverpool are one of just two teams in Europe guaranteed a slot in the top eight of the new Champions League table after winning all six of their games to date.Barcelona, with 15 points are also through but Arsenal are third in the table and Aston Villa fifth, both needing a single point to be 100 per cent sure of making the knock-out stage and with great chances of being seeding directly to the last 16.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd while Manchester City’s horror run of two defeats and a draw in their last three matches means they are in a lowly 22nd and in serious danger of missing out on the knockout phase, the performances of the other three teams is set to cancel out any consequences.Chelsea need just a point from next week’s home game with Shamrock Rovers to be certain of four extra bonus points for topping the Conference League.And despite three Europa League games without a win, Spurs are just outside the top eight – with matches against Swedes Elfsborg and Hoffenheim of Germany to come – while United are two places above them.The top two nations over the entire season will earn an extra slot in the Champions League for next term with England in pole position and set to pull even further clear.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSIf every team finished in exactly the same position – which is unlikely to happen – it would net the English teams an extra 4.350 points, taking their total to 16.821 points before extra bonuses for reaching the last 16.Italy would go up from their second placed tally of 11.500 to 14.750, while Spain, currently fourth behind Portugal, would leapfrog their neighbours into third spot on 13.625 points.Pep Guardiola ‘proud’ of his Man City team despite 2-0 loss to Juventus Since the start of the new league phase in September, the seven Prem sides have won 27 matches – more than any other country – and lost just five.Italian sides have won 25 with 11 defeats, Spanish teams have won 23 and lost 15, the eight Bundesliga outfits have 22 wins and 19 defeats between them while France’s representatives have 17 wins and 12 defeats.All teams earn two points for every win and one for a draw but their club and national tally is also boosted by bonus points accrued through the three competitions.Each of the 36 clubs in the Champions League starts with six bonus points, with the possibility of earning up to six more if they finish top of the eight-game table, although there are no pre-competition bonuses for either the Europa or Conference Leagues.The top eight sides in all three competitions at the end of the first stage – the Conference League, with just six matches, ends before Christmas but there are two match rounds in each of the others in January – automatically make the last 16 knockout stage.Teams ranked ninth to 24th are then drawn in a knock-out round to join them.Current position Nation Current coefficient Current bonuses Total (Live position including bonuses)England 12.571 4.250 16.821 (1)Italy 11.500 3.250 14.750 (2)Portugal 11.400 2.000 13.400 (4)Spain 10.714 2.911 13.625 (3)Belgium 10.600 2.375 12.975 (5)Germany 10.250 2.391 12.641 (6)France 9.786 2.321 12.107 (7)New Champions League formatEach club will play eight matches in the opening phase – against seeded opposition, in a system designed to ensure that teams play opponents of similar difficulty.The top eight teams in the “final” table will automatically go through to the last 16, where they will be joined by the eight play-off winners of ties between the sides placed ninth to 24th in the table.Despite there being just eight matches in the opening phase, European matches will be spread over 10 midweek slots.The new Champions League format also sees the implication of two additional qualifying spots.They will be awarded to the nations that are top of the “country coefficient” chart each season. More

KYLE WALKER was subject to disgusting racist abuse after Manchester City’s defeat to Juventus.The defender was targeted by online trolls following the 2-0 loss.Kyle Walker was subject to sickening racism onlineCredit: AlamyWalker shared the abusive message he receivedCredit: X/ kylewalker2Walker shared the horrible message he received in his Instagram DMs, which he strongly condemned.He called for racist abuse to be clamped down on by Instagram, declaring it “never acceptable.”Walker wrote: “No one should ever be subject to the sort of vile, racist and threatening abuse I have received online since last night’s match.”Instagram and the authorities need to stop this happening for the sake of all who are suffering this abuse. It is never acceptable.”To our fans, we will continue to work as a team to do better, to improve, and to turn the corner together.”City have responded to Walker’s message by showing support for their right-back.A club statement read: “Manchester City strongly condemns the racist abuse that Kyle Walker was subject to online following last night’s fixture.”We refuse to tolerate discrimination of any kind, regardless of whether that be in stadiums or online.Most read in Football”We will be offering Kyle our full support following the disgusting treatment he has received.”England also showed support for the 93-cap star.Pep Guardiola does a Jose Mourinho with gesture to Liverpool crowd as fans convinced Man City boss has ‘lost his mind’A statement read: “We are incredibly disappointed that Kyle has been subject to such abhorrent abuse on social media.”Discrimination of any kind is completely unacceptable. We support strong action by the authorities and social media companies. More

MONACO nullified Arsenal’s set-piece prowess last night with two interesting tactical manouvres.The Gunners swept past the Ligue 1 side 3-0 at the Emirates in the Champions League.Monaco took a different approach to defending Arsenal corners last nightCredit: APBut in a departure from recent matches, none of their goals came from corners.In their last Premier League game against Fulham, William Saliba equalised from a corner routine.The Frenchman also scored from a corner against Manchester United in a game that saw Jurrien Timber net via the same method.Last night, Monaco boss Adi Hutter tried a different approach to most Prem coaches.READ MORE ON ARSENALIt has become customary across the English leagues for sides to now send everyone back to defend corners.This often leads to congested penalty areas with, at times, all 11 players on the defending team in the 18-yard box.Under the tutelage of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, Arsenal have become masters of chaos as deliveries get whipped in.Monaco, however, found a way to combat their threat.Most read in Champions LeagueBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSIn a move reminiscent of a tactic used by Jose Mourinho at Porto 20 years ago, Hutter’s men left three players up near the halfway line for each corner.This led to Arsenal sending three players back in order to stop a potential counter.Arsenal Player Ratings vs MonacoMonaco also sent a player towards the corner to prevent a short option, thus reducing congestion further still.With fewer Arsenal players in the penalty area, Mikel Arteta’s side possessed fewer threats.Ordinarily the Gunners would have at least one player attempting to disrupt the goalkeeper during corner routines.But with fewer men in the box, Radoslaw Majecki found himself to be far less bothered than most Prem stoppers have been against Arsenal this term.Monaco left three men up during Arsenal cornersMonaco also sent a man over to cover the short optionIrrespective of their relative success in defending corners, Monaco still fell to a 3-0 defeat courtesy of two open-play goals by Bukayo Saka and a late Kai Havertz strike.Ahead of the game, a mural of Jover was seen outside the Emirates.The German-born French coach was recent dubbed the “most annoying bloke in football” by Man Utd legend Gary Neville.Jover, 43, joined Arteta’s coaching staff in 2021.READ MORE SUN STORIESSince the start of last season, the Gunners have scored 22 goals from corners.This is more than any other Premier League club in that timeframe.Arsenal ordinarily like to disrupt the opposition goalkeeperCredit: GettyA mural of Nicolas Jover was spotted outside the Emirates last nightCredit: RexHow to stop Arsenal at cornersArsenal have turned into a prolific team when it comes to scoring from corners.The Gunners have now scored 22 goals from them since the start of last season – seven more than their nearest rival Manchester City and eight more than Premier League leaders Liverpool.Two of them came against Manchester United – Jurrien Timber and William Saliba netting in the second half to earn Mikel Arteta’s men a vital win as they chase down Arne Slot’s Reds.Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were the architects with their deliveries, and each now have seven set-piece assists since the start of the 2023/24 campaign – more than any other player.United legend Dimitar Berbatov joked Arsenal are the new Stoke City of the top flight – a side under Tony Pulis who terrorised the so-called “bigger clubs” with set-piece mastery.Here are four ways to stop Arteta’s side at corners More