Champions League

LIVERPOOL are sweating on Fabinho’s fitness ahead of a tricky Champions League clash against Leipzig.
The Reds travel to neutral territory in Budapest for their last 16 first leg tie on Tuesday night.

And Jurgen Klopp’s men hope Brazilian Fabinho returns in defence after a defensive calamity.
Fabinho missed the 3-1 defeat at Leicester with a muscle injury and will be assessed by the Reds.
Liverpool collapsed to a late defeat after a horrendous mix-up between Ozan Kabak and goalkeeper Alisson.
Klopp is expected to keep faith in his £75million goalkeeper after two poor performances.

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Jordan Henderson could continue at centre-back if Fabinho is ruled out.
In midfield, Thiago is expected to return and play alongside Georginio Wijnaldum and Curtis Jones.
Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino should all play up front in Hungary.

James Milner was added to the casualty list when he limped off against Leicester on Saturday.

Fabinho could return after missing Leicester with a muscle issueCredit: Reuters

Alisson has made howlers in back to back games, but Jurgen Klopp is expected to keep faith in himCredit: Reuters
The Reds are still without long-term absentees Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Diogo Jota.
Liverpool are missing up to nine first-team players in total, including new signing defender Ben Davies.
The Champions League is Liverpool’s last chance of silverware this season after Jurgen Klopp conceded the title.
Man City are 13 points clear of last year’s champions with a game in hand.
And after defeat at Leicester on Saturday, Klopp said: “I don’t think we can close the gap this year, to be honest. We have to win football games, and a large part of our game today was very good.
“What we need to try to avoid are mistakes and misunderstandings.
“In two situations today we didn’t do that and that’s how they were allowed to score two goals.

“Results are massively related to the performance – we were good enough today to win the game apart from a couple of mistakes towards the end.
“When you are new together this usually happens but it happens in pre-season. Unfortunately, we’ve not had that. We’re not worrying about the title, we’re not silly.
“We have a tough game on Tuesday and then the derby next week. That’s what we’re thinking about.”

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THE two Romanian officials at the centre of the Champions League racism row have been charged by Uefa.
Sebastian Coltescu, the fourth official whose alleged comments to former Cameroon star Pierre Webo saw the players of both Istanbul Basaksehir and PSG walk off the pitch in December, and assistant ref Octavian Sovre face severe sanctions if the cases are deemed proved.

Pierre Webo (L) explodes at the official after hearing the remarks back in DecemberCredit: EPA

He was ushered away after hearing the alleged racist commentsCredit: EPA

Uefa announced that the pair had both been charged with “potential violation” of its Article 11.
But there were no more details of the precise allegations, which came after reports in Romania and Spain – where the lawyer to pair is based – that they had been cleared of any alleged racism.
The charges follow a two-month investigation by the Uefa ethics and disciplinary inspector after the incident in the 14th minute of the December 8 match.
Webo was infuriated by the language used towards him with his team walking off in protest.

They were backed by the PSG players, led by France star Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
With Istanbul refusing to play on with the officials still involved – even with Uefa proposing Coltescu was replaced and switched to VAR duties – the match was initially abandoned.
It was then restarted 24 hours later at the point at which play had stopped, with PSG winning 5-1 to take top spot in the group, which also included Manchester United.
The match was due to be the final game of Coltescu’s career but his official retirement was announced the following day.

Now, though, he faces being further shamed by Uefa’s probe, which has now been sent to the organisation’s control, ethics and disciplinary chamber.
The fact that neither PSG nor Istanbul face any charges for walking off and causing the delay of the match is a clear signal that the two officials have been deemed to be entirely responsible for the events of the night.
Article 11 covers all forms of misconduct under Uefa regulations but it seems that the charge will relate to two specific breaches.
Part B of the code says a charge is valid for someone “whose conduct is insulting or otherwise violates the basic rules of decent conduct”.
And Part I refers to a participant – player, official or club employee – “who culpably causes a match to be interrupted or abandoned, or is responsible for its interruption or abandonment”.
There are no set punishments for such cases but Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin has promised to ensure tougher action for any proven offences of racism.

Both sets of players walked off after the shocking alleged incident in the Champions League clashCredit: Getty
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LIVERPOOL may have to play their Champions League Round of 16 second-leg against RB Leipzig AWAY from Anfield.
The Reds are already facing disruption after their away trip for the first clash was switched to Budapest.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are set to face travel chaos in the Champions LeagueCredit: PA:Press Association

That is after they were refused entry to Germany by the federal authorities – and now Leipzig have been told they must quarantine upon return from Merseyside.
Now the Times states Liverpool are facing the prospect of playing the decisive game against Julian Nagelsmann’s team on neutral soil.
And Jurgen Klopp’s club have already begun looking for alternatives with Leipzig being unable to travel to England.
The German boss was unable to return to his homeland for the funeral of his mother and those rules will not be re-evaluated until March 5.

That is only five days before the second-leg is due to be staged in England.
A Uefa statement said: “Uefa is in touch with the respective clubs, the English Football Association and the German Football Association.”
A host of other sides also face disruption due to the strict rules in place, with Manchester City’s first leg with Gladbach moved to Budapest on February 24 with the return scheduled for March 16. 
Chelsea also have to play their first leg with Atletico Madrid in Bucharest.

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Spain is another country placed on the UK government’s ‘red list’, meaning the Blues squad would have to quarantine upon return.
Meanwhile in the Europa League, Arsenal have to travel to Rome to play their first leg against Benfica with the location of the second game yet to be announced.
And Manchester United are unable to play Real Sociedad in Spain for the same reasons and will head to Turin to take on the LaLiga side.

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CHELSEA’S Champions League away tie with Atletico Madrid will be played in Romania.
Uefa have confirmed the match on February 23 will now be held at Bucharest’s Arena Nationala.

Chelsea will travel to Romania for their first leg against Atletico MadridCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Thomas Tuchel’s side in training at their Cobham base on TuesdayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Spanish government Covid restrictions on travel from the UK meant that Thomas Tuchel’s squad were unable to fly to Madrid to play the La Liga leaders in the Wanda Metropolitano.
Atletico told Uefa that Bucharest was their preferred choice if a switch was necessary.
Diego Simeone’s side beat fellow Spaniards Athletic Bilbao there to win the 2012 Europa League.
The decision means that all of the three English clubs in the Champions League last 16 will play their “away” legs on neutral territory.

Both Liverpool and Manchester City will travel to Budapest’s Puskas Arena for their games against Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach respectively
Manchester United’s Europa League last 32 first leg against Real Sociedad has been moved to Turin while Arsenal and Benfica will play both legs of their tie on neutral ground.
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Benfica’s “home” leg will now be played in Rome, with the second tie, nominally at Arsenal, will be held in Piraeus, at the home of Olympiakos.

It means only Spurs – who meet Austrians Wolfsberger – and Leicester, who play Slavia Prague, will play their next European ties as originally scheduled.
However, apart from Arsenal, all the English teams will have home advantage for the return legs, although all those games will remain behind closed doors.

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