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LIVERPOOL travel to Atalanta for the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final TONIGHT.The Reds need a huge performance to turn the tie around after the Italians shocked Anfield by running out 3-0 winners last week.
Kick off time: 8pm BST
TV channel: TNT Sports 1
Live stream: discovery+
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SOFYAN AMRABAT’s Manchester United career looks to be coming to a close, according to reports.Amrabat signed for United following a protracted transfer saga that started before last season had even ended.Sofyan Amrabat’s Manchester United career will come to an end this summer, according to reportsCredit: GettyAmrabat had already made his intentions to leave Fiorentina clear before their 2-1 defeat to West Ham in the Europa League final.United were front-runners for the Moroccan’s signature given Ten Hag had previously managed Amrabat at Dutch side Utrecht.Whether United would sign the midfielder rumbled on all summer before his loan was confirmed in September.His signature came with a considerable £8.5million fee with the expectation he would sign permanently for £17.2m this summer.READ MORE ON MAN UTDBut the midfielder hasn’t played enough to justify that fee and Italian journalist Rudy Galetti reports he will be sent packing back to Fiorentina.He suggests that “many” clubs are keeping an eye on Amrabat across Europe.The current front runners for his signature this summer are AC Milan.Amrabat has played 23 times for Manchester United, starting in just 24 per cent of those games.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMuch of those minutes have not come in his favoured central midfield position after the emergence of Kobbie Mainoo.He has stepped in when needed at left-back, given United’s long-term injuries to Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw this season.Jamie Redknapp calls out Man Utd star for ‘looking like he’s playing in Soccer Aid’ in scathing assessmentIt’s unlikely that Amrabat would have a future at Fiorentina – having gone on strike to force a move to United.The midfielder was stripped of the Fiorentina captaincy before making his switch to the Premier League. More
KALVIN PHILLIPS could end a season to forget with European winners’ medals for Manchester City AND West Ham.If City retain the Champions League, Phillips qualifies after three cameos and a dead-rubber start.Kalvin Phillips could end the season with another two European medalsCredit: Richard Pelham / The SunAnd two more bit-parts for the Hammers mean the same in the Europa League.But they might not be pride of place on the mantelpiece.Phillips, 28, joined the East Londoners in the January transfer window after struggling to make an impact at the Etihad.Fat-shamed by Pep Guardiola, his game time was limited to just ten appearances in the first half of the season.READ MORE ENGLAND NEWSThat did, though, include four Champions League matches.Treble-winner Phillips came on in the 83rd minute in the 3-1 win over Red Star Belgrade then the 89th minute as City beat Young Boys by the same scoreline.He got 29 minutes from the bench in the home tie against the Swiss outfit then played the full 90 and scored in the final group game away in Belgrade. City had already booked their spot in the knockout stages with five wins from five before his late penalty in the 3-2 victory. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSPhillips endured a nightmare start to life at West Ham, gifting a goal away on his debut, seeing red at Nottingham Forest then played his part in the almighty collapse at Newcastle before swearing at a fan. He has also been dumped out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad ahead of the Euros before being sidelined with a hamstring injury as his season goes from bad to worse.West Ham boss David Moyes slams Bayer Leverkusen’s bench as ‘a disgrace’ for what they did during fiery clashKarren Brady on West Ham breaking into Big Six
THERE are unofficial guarantees in the future of our league football and they are held by the presumptuously named Big Six, with one or two wealthy others knocking at the door.
You have to believe, don’t you, and I do — that my team could be hammering at the door along with the likes of Aston Villa and another of the liquid-gold clubs, Newcastle United.
However, an elite section is not as it should be in the best possible world.
Despite our ambitions at the London Stadium, the people who run the game must at least try to bring more clubs back into the big-time picture.
Since the rebel rich blithely tried to join a European Super League and were scuppered by their supporters, the game has moved further towards the wealthier and successful clubs.
So now the task should be to try to prevent the cliff edge that is forming, not between the top flight and the Championship, but between the top six in the PL and the rest.
Not an easy thing to do.
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Phillips, though, did come on as a late substitute in both legs of the Europa League last-16 tie with Freiburg, a 1-0 defeat away and a 5-0 win at the London Stadium.And it means this torrid campaign – which so far has yielded just 622 minutes of action across five competitions – could still end with double Euro glory. West Ham must overturn their first-leg deficit against Bayer Leverkusen before facing AC Milan or Roma in the semis – with Liverpool Atalanta, Benfica or Marseille awaiting in the final.Meanwhile, reigning kings of Europe Manchester City are the favourites to lift the iconic Champions League trophy once again this season. Pep Guardiola’s men got a thrilling 3-3 draw away at Real Madrid and will be confident of going through to take on Arsenal or Bayern Munich for a spot in the final. Phillips scored a penalty in the 3-2 win away at Red Star Belgrade in DecemberCredit: GettyThings have not been easy for the midfielder at West HamCredit: Getty More
SERIE A are looking poised to enter SIX teams in the Champions League next season.In the reformatted edition of next season’s competition, two countries will be given an extra group-stage place.UEFA have revamped next season’s competition to keep it entertaining and more competitiveCredit: ReutersUnder the new rules, two leagues can earn an extra position in the Champions LeagueCredit: RexBut there is a way the Serie A could enter a SIXTH team after Atalanta’s 3-0 victory over LiverpoolCredit: RexItaly are poised to receive an additional Champions League place as one of two countries with the best Uefa co-efficient.Places will be assigned to the associations with the best collective performance – classed as their coefficient – by their clubs in Europe this season.The Italians – who have four teams left in Europe – are frontrunners to profit from the rule change that has come about ahead of the competition’s expansion to 36 teams.This means fifth place is set to qualify – which will currently benefit Roma – who have become somewhat Europa League staples.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSHowever, there is also a way in which Italy could enter a SIXTH team into the Champions League.That is if Roma or Atalanta win the Europa League AND finish outside the top four in Serie A.Atalanta currently sit sixth and stormed to a shocking 3-0 victory over favourites Liverpool in the Europa League first leg quarter-final at Anfield.An Atalanta European triumph would free up another Champions League spot for an Italian club, as the additional place only applies to a team’s domestic league finish.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERThe extra spot will not go to the Champions League or Europa League winners as they automatically qualify.In theory, Roma or Atalanta would be excluded from the list and bump the spot down to seventh place in Serie A.This means a seventh place finish in the Serie A could land Champions League football, if both the winners of the Champions League and Europa League are Italian clubs that finish outside of the top four.However, Uefa have not entirely clarified the way the extra spot will be assigned regarding the Europa League victor.Work out which global sporting icon lives in this waterside padIt is therefore possible the clubs will ask for further clarification before going into the final, especially considering it is very tight in the race for a top five spot in Serie A.Italy sit top with a coefficient of 18.714, with England – on 16.928 – now behind Germany on 16.875. Bayer Leverkusen’s first-leg 2-0 victory over West Ham and Liverpool’s heavy home defeat has changed the complexion on the coefficients.Aston Villa are in a commanding position in the Europa Conference League with their 2-1 win at home to Lille, while Arsenal and Manchester City’s Champions League ties could still go either way.How the coefficient looks after the Europe’s first-leg quarter finals More
AC MILAN star Rafael Leao was involved in a heated blast with a journalist following AC Milan’s Europa League loss to Roma. The Italian giants were beaten by their league rivals 1-0 in the quarter-final first leg at the San Siro. Rafael Leao was involved in a heated blast with a journalistCredit: calciomercatoitLeao was captured walking past the mix zone following the loss when he told a reporter: “Do your job well.”It is unknown what caused the Portuguese star’s outburst. Leao was taken off along with ex-Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic in a tactical decision manager Stefano Pioli was forced to defend. He said: “Pulisic and Leao have confidence. Players like them, even on a difficult evening, can make an important play. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”I made the changes when I thought it was right.” Pioli recently raised eyebrows when he gave a bizarre response when asked if Leao and Theo Hernandez were back to their best. He said: “Yes. Out of necessity Theo had made himself available to play as a central defender and in my opinion he did it brilliantly.“On the wing they hear each other, they smell each other, they know each other, they kiss each other, I kiss them too when they score a goal.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe added: “I think Theo had difficulty last year in getting over the disappointment of the World Cup final, the fatigue of the World Cup in that period.“This year when we restarted the season I found him to be very positive, very proactive.’That’s you out for Soccer Aid then’, say fans as Michael Owen tripped up his own dog in hilarious footage “He has become a leader of this team, he doesn’t talk much.“The games he played as a central defender made him understand how much more attentive and active he can be in the defensive phase.“He has such great potential that he absolutely must continue like this.” More
SPURS fans may be secretly hoping for Arsenal to BEAT Bayern Munich next week – to keep the fifth Champions League spot safety valve alive.England had been favourite to claim one of the two extra spots in the competition following the Champions League quarter final first legs.Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Atalanta has left England’s hopes of an extra Champions League spot in tattersCredit: GettyWest Ham’s 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen has handed Germany an advantageCredit: PABut Liverpool’s humiliating 0-3 home defeat by Atalanta, coupled with Leverkusen’s two late goals against West Ham, changed the equation.It allowed Germany to push past England into second spot in the coefficient table.And unless the Anfield side can pull off one of the great European comebacks or the Hammers turn around their tie at the London Stadium, it may require an Arsenal win in Bavaria to keep England’s hope of an extra place in the Champions League on track.Tuesday’s draws for Arsenal and Manchester City against Bayern and Real Madrid respectively saw England nudge level with Germany in this season’s coefficient table and ahead when last season’s results were then taken into account as a tie-breaker.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut while Aston Villa’s narrow 2-1 home win over Lille in the Conference League was a boost, the two Europa League games represented massive blows to England’s chances of earning one of the two extra spots for the best performing countries.Every win, draw and round progression by a team adds to a country’s total, which is then divided by the number of clubs involved at the start of the competition.But it means that any wins by German sides are worth more than those by the Prem teams.That’s because the Bundesliga had only seven representatives across the three competitions at the start of the season, compared to the eight English sides.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERAhead of the second leg ties next week, Germany has created space above England in the seasonal table – while Italy now looks certain to be confirmed as getting the first extra place.But if Arsenal can win in the Allianz Arena, alongside a City victory over Madrid at the Etihad and Villa avoiding defeat in France, England would edge back in front and be in the box seat.Liverpool 0 Atalanta 3- Jurgen Klopp’s Treble dream in tatters as Reds are humiliated in Europa League quarter-finalBut a Bayern win and Leverkusen avoiding defeat – unless Liverpool do something incredible in Bergamo – would then require City to both beat Madrid next week and eliminate Munich in the semis before triumphing at Wembley in June.And with Liverpool’s likely exit making Leverkusen front-runners to lift the Europa League, Villa would need to at least reach the Conference League Final for there to be any realistic chance of England leapfrogging Germany.English teams in EuropeQuarter-final, first-leg results:
Real Madrid 3 Man City 3 (Champions League)
Arsenal 2 Bayern Munich 2 (Champions League)
Liverpool 0 Atalanta 3 (Europa League)
Bayer Leverkusen 2 West Ham 0 (Europa League)
Aston Villa 2 Lille 1 (Europa Conference League) More
WEST HAM manager David Moyes hit out at Xabi Alonso after their Europa League quarter-final defeat.The Hammers frustrated Bayer Leverkusen for long periods in the first leg but eventually fell to a 2-0 defeat.David Moyes hit out at Bayer Leverkusen’s bench after the gameCredit: GettyMoyes claimed Leverkusen tried to get Lucas Paqueta bookedCredit: RexThere was a mass altercation after Paqueta’s late tackleCredit: APPaqueta is now suspended for the second legCredit: APTo make matters worse for West Ham, Lucas Paqueta and Emerson are suspended for next Thursday after picking up their third yellows in the competition.The Brazilian midfielder picked up the booking for a rash challenge on Amine Adli.Leverkusen’s players and bench were furious over the tackle, surrounding the referee and pushing Paqueta.After the game, Moyes fumed at the reaction from the soon to be Bundesliga champions, saying: “He will be a huge miss but I thought their bench was a disgrace.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”He [the referee] got surrounded. I thought it was disgraceful and was really disappointing.”Did they get him booked? I think so.”You should let the referee make the decision and not the way they reacted to the incident.”I thought it was a rule all the way through. We would not all run off and surround him. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER”It was a poor thing for them to do and they are a good side and they didn’t need to react like that.”On Moyes’ comments, Alonso said: “I thought it was a deserved yellow card. I have a lot of respect for David but we don’t look at their bench.”The Tap In West Ham’s Moyes Out fans should ‘be careful what they wish for’ ft. Tony CotteeWest Ham now face an uphill battle in the second leg, with star man Jarrod Bowen potentially out injured.The Irons need to win by two goals to force extra-time against Leverkusen, who are unbeaten in 42 games.But Moyes insists his side still have belief: “We know we are playing a good team but we are not out of the tie. If we can get that first goal it will make a difference.”We did a really good job defensively. We were aware of them scoring late goals in other games and they put us under intense pressure and we found it difficult.”We were playing a Champions League team and a good one at that.”We will have to come up trumps next week and the first thing we have to do is get one goal and take it from there.” More
CAOIMHIN KELLEHER showed just how much he was prepared to put his body on the line against Atalanta last night.The keeper pulled off a stunning save in the first half… using his FACE.Caoimhin Kelleher did well to shut down Mario PasalicCredit: TNT SportsHe winced in pain straight awayCredit: TNT SportsHis eye showed signs of bruising straight awayCredit: TNT SportsThe chance came after the ball dropped to Mario Pasalic just outside the six-yard box.Kelleher, 25, did brilliantly to scramble towards the midfielder and stop the shot with his visage.The ball left a visible bruise afterwards under Kelleher’s eye.Fan on X were quick to react to the brilliant improvisation from Kelleher.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOne fan wrote: “What a save.”Another said: “That’s a good stop.”But some fans disagreed with the idea that the save was good.One fan wrote: “Literally hits him on the head. Not a save, Jesus.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSA fourth fan said: “What a stop 😂 it hit his face?”Despite Kelleher’s brave keeping in the first-half, it was a night to forget for Liverpool.Former Liverpool star Danny Murphy opens up on cocaine addiction after retiring before finding his way as BBC pundit West Ham reject Gianluca Scamacca scored a brace and Mario Pasalic made up for the Kelleher save as they made it 3-0 in the first-leg of the quarter-final.The loss is a massive dent in Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of winning a treble to sign off as Liverpool manager this season. More
