Champions League

CHELSEA travel to Rennes knowing that a win could see them qualify for the Champions League round of 16 with two games to spare.
The Blues would move on to the magic ten points with a triumph, as would Sevilla if they beat Krasnodar.

Frank Lampard will have some big calls to makeCredit: AFP

How Chelsea could line up against Rennes

These results would leave the duo level on ten points, with the French and Russians tied on just one.
And things look good for Chelsea, with Frank Lampard boasting very nearly a clean bill of health across the board, with just Christian Pulisic set to be unavailable.
Edouard Mendy has made a transformative impact at Stamford Bridge, having conceded only three goals in ten appearances, and is set to return against his former club.
Reece James has displaced stalwart Cesar Azpilicueta with his outstanding performances this term, although the Spaniard may be given some minutes on Tuesday night.

Thiago Silva missed out on the trip to Newcastle following a lengthy journey back from international duty, but is set to return alongside Kurt Zouma in place of Antonio Rudiger, with Andreas Christensen waiting in the wings.
Ben Chilwell has shaken off his back complaint sustained for England against Belgium and should again start for the Blues.
Lampard, 42, will likely field a midfield trio again, with N’Golo Kante at the base ahead of Jorginho – with Billy Gilmour nearing full fitness but not quite ready for first-team football.
⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

Lampard has plenty of options to call upon

Thiago Silva is set to returnCredit: Reuters

Kai Havertz has recovered from coronavirus and is available again, and will likely start as he continues to get back up to speed – with Mason Mount making up the trio and Mateo Kovacic in reserve.
Hakim Ziyech has already produced some breathtaking moments and could continue on the right flank, with Tammy Abraham down the middle and Timo Werner cutting in from the left.
The Blues also have Callum Hudson-Odoi and Olivier Giroud to call upon, although the latter has been linked with a move to Inter Miami.

Kai Havertz is back in training after recovering from coronavirusCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Chelsea star Ben Chilwell shows off his quick skills in training More

MANCHESTER UNITED host Istanbul Basaksehir on Tuesday night knowing that anything other than victory will leave them with much work to do in the Champions League.
The Red Devils got off to the dream start in Group H, winning 2-1 in Paris before thrashing RB Leipzig 5-0 at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has some key selection decisions to makeCredit: AP:Associated Press

How Manchester United could line up on Tuesday night

But it swiftly turned into a nightmare when they were embarrassed by Turkish champions Baseksehir last time out in the competition.
Former stars Paul Scholes and Robin van Persie ripped into their old side’s defending on that occasion in Turkey, particularly for 35-year-old Demba Ba’s strike.
And Solskjaer will be desperate to right that wrong in the return game by getting his selection spot on.
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

The Norwegian, 47, elected to hand Dean Henderson a rare opportunity out in Istanbul at the start of the month.
But David de Gea is likely to return as the pressure cranks up.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a certainty at right-back, with Solskjaer set to field a back four, rather than five.
Skipper Harry Maguire virtually always plays and tomorrow should be no different – although who partners him is up in the air.

Victor Lindelof is the regular man for the job, although Axel Tuanzebe has shown signs of great promise this season, particularly in Paris – while Eric Bailly might be back in contention following his latest injury lay-off.

Solskjaer has plenty of options at his disposal

Edinson Cavani has only been used from the bench so far at UnitedCredit: Reuters

Luke Shaw is out with a thigh injury, making new recruit Alex Telles favourite to start – although Brandon Williams could potentially be handed a rare game.
Scott McTominay, following his Euro 2020 joy with Scotland, may be restored to the midfield – and he could be partnered by Paul Pogba, who is believed to have recovered from a knock sustained on international duty.
Otherwise, Donny van de Beek may be given a chance to show what he can do, having only been able to provide glimpses during his cameos so far at Old Trafford.
Mason Greenwood should be fit again following his absence due to personal reasons and is in contention to start on the right, while Juan Mata and Dan James are also primed and ready.
Talisman Bruno Fernandes will almost certainly take up his regular No10 role, with Marcus Rashford wide on the left – and Jesse Lingard still missing through injury.
Anthony Martial has been the main man up front for the Red Devils this term, although perhaps Edinson Cavani could be given a first start, having got off the mark with a late goal against Everton before the international break.

Paul Pogba and David de Gea could both startCredit: Reuters

Solskjaer says sometimes the points are more important than the performance as he calls Man Utd’s performance way below par More

LIVERPOOL’S Champions League clash against Midtjylland may be moved to Dortmund – Jurgen Klopp’s old stomping ground.
UEFA are considering switching the December 9 clash from Denmark to a neutral venue because of Covid travel restrictions.

Liverpool’s clash with Midtjylland may be moved to DortmundCredit: AP:Associated Press

Jurgen Klopp managed Dortmund for seven years before joining LiverpoolCredit: Getty Images

Germany is a favoured destination with Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion a potential host.
Liverpool will need to isolate for 14 days on arrival back in the UK from Denmark with no travel exemptions in place.
The UK government removed Denmark from the UK’s safe travel list due to an outbreak of the virus at mink factories.
Danish health authorities have found a mutated form of coronavirus that can pass to humans was present in mink farms across the country.

And that means Liverpool’s final game in Group D is now in line to be moved from Denmark.
The Football Association persuaded the Government to give an elite sport exemption to Iceland’s national team to play the midweek Nations League game at Wembley, after the Icelanders had played in Copenhagen three days earlier.
But a similar relaxation of the rules is yet to be agreed for Liverpool players after their Champions League visit to Denmark, so Uefa and Midtjylland are in the process of making alternative arrangements.
The Danish club have already been involved in Covid-19 controversy – again through no fault of their own.

Liverpool won the first clash between the sides 2-0 at AnfieldCredit: Getty Images

Danish farmers protest in Aalborg after a Government order to cull all mink in the country due to a mutated form of coronavirusCredit: EPA
Uefa is looking into claims that Ajax breached safety protocols ahead of their visit to Midtjylland earlier this month – although the match delegate is understood to have raised no concerns in his report.
Among the alleged breaches was some Ajax players arriving in Denmark on a scheduled flight when the regulations specify that all teams involved in the Champions League must travel exclusively by private charter.
Ajax are due to visit Anfield on December 1 in the teams’ penultimate match of the group stage.
Mo Salah is the latest Liverpool player to test positive for Covid-19 and will miss Sunday’s big game against Leicester as a result.
The Reds can’t afford to have more stars unavailable because of the virus, especially in the midst of their injury crisis.

LIVERPOOL’S EURO FIXTURES

21 Oct – Ajax 0-1 Liverpool
27 Oct – Liverpool 2-0 Midtjylland
3 Nov – Atalanta 0-5 Liverpool
25 Nov – Liverpool vs Atalanta
1 Dec – Liverpool vs Ajax
9 Dec – Midtjylland vs Liverpool

The Reds have won all three of their Champions League games so far and are on course for the last 16.
Jurgen Klopp’s men can seal qualification for the knockout stages in their next two games against Atalanta and Ajax – both at Anfield.
And the Reds boss will be hoping that’s the case and he can rest some of his first-team stars at Midtjylland with the fixtures coming thick and fast.

Fabinho injury leaves Liverpool in defensive crisis as Brazilian limps off against Midtjylland with Van Dijk out too More

LIONEL MESSI was told to “show some respect” by a ref during Barca’s infamous Champions League semi against Liverpool in 2019, a new documentary has revealed.
The Barcelona magician was berated by ref Bjorn Kuipers for time-wasting during his side’s 3-0 first leg win at the Nou Camp.

Lionel Messi was told to ‘show some respect’ by ref Bjorn KuipersCredit: UEFA

🔜 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲⚽ Behind-the-scenes insight into one of the toughest jobs in football. What does it take to be a #UCL referee?📺 A new four-part https://t.co/GIcOPy5PcX series tracking the lives of Europe’s top officials, starting next week.
— UEFA.com (@UEFAcom) November 12, 2020

Kuipers’ tongue lashing came during a new Uefa show called Man in the Middle that followed the lives of top refs.
The documentary series tracked 16 top officials with unprecedented access to their professional and personal lives.
Prem refs Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor were included in the show, which followed the officials for 18 months.
And it showed that not even the world’s best player Messi was safe from a telling off.

“Messi, come on, show some respect,” Kuipers yelled before pointing to the ‘Respect’ logo on his sleeve. “Every time you do it, come on.”

Lionel Messi was apparently time-wasting during Barcelona’s 3-0 first-leg winCredit: Getty Images

But Lionel Messi saw Liverpool come back to win the second leg at Anfield 4-0Credit: Getty Images
Messi’s time-wasting came back to haunt him, of course, as the Reds came back to win the tie 4-3 after a stunning 4-0 win at Anfield the following week.
Liverpool went on to lift their sixth European Cup by beating Tottenham in the Madrid final, and the rest is history.
Uefa refereeing chief Roberto Rosetti said: “This is a very important documentary for Uefa and our family of referees.

“It highlights the professionalism, motivation and dedication of some of Europe’s best officials, as well as showing the human beings behind the figures seen by players and supporters on the pitch.
“I hope everyone can enjoy the series and that people can learn more about what it takes to become and be an elite Uefa referee.”
If only there was a documentary that helped us clear up VAR.

THE 16 FEATURED REFS

Cuneyt Cakır
Willie Collum
Carlos del Cerro Grande
Ovidiu Hategan
Björn Kuipers
Antonio Mateu Lahoz
Bobby Madden
Danny Makkelie
Szymon Marciniak
Michael Oliver
Daniele Orsato
Gianluca Rocchi
Damir Skomina
Anthony Taylor
Clement Turpin
Felix Zwayer More