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      European Super League LIVE: Premier League release statement after ruling as Man Utd amongst clubs to reject tournament

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      THE European Super League is back on the table following a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice.The court has today determined Fifa and Uefa acted against competition law when they blocked the formation of a European Super League in 2021.
      Twelve of Europe’s biggest clubs proposed the formation of a European Super League two years ago, but the proposal was met with a wave of fan backlash and the proposal was shut down.
      Now, the tournament could be revived but English football fans may not need to be concerned as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his government have promised to stop clubs from joining new competitions that would kill off the domestic game.
      Many European footballing giants, including Man Utd, have reaffirmed that they have no interest in joining the Super League.
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      Inter becomes the next European giant to reject new European Super League
      Inter Milan has joined a growing list of European clubs to reject the idea of a new Super League.
      The Italian side reaffirmed its commitment to the current structure of European football today.
      A statement read: “FC Internazionale Milano reiterates its position that European football’s future well-being can only be secured by clubs working together through the ECA, in partnership and collaboration with UEFA and FIFA.
      “As a Club, we remain committed to the values that underpin the European Sports Model and to working through the ECA alongside our fellow clubs to uphold those values”.
      Credit: REUTERS
      Feyenoord denies involvement in new European Super League
      Dutch champions Feyenoord have denied claims they are set to take part in the new European Super League.
      A statement said: “Feyenoord has taken note of the European Court’s ruling that UEFA and FIFA cannot ban clubs from starting a competition such as the Super League. 
      “Feyenoord insists it has made no commitments, nor has it ever spoken to the people behind the possible Super League, as some foreign publications suggest.
      “With what the club knows so far, it has doubts whether this initiative is a good idea for most clubs and for the national leagues. Through the ECA, the club will continue to think about the future, improvements within European football and strengthening the position of Dutch football”.
      AS Monaco joins PSG in rejecting new Super League
      Another French side has expressed full commitment to Uefa’s competitions and rejected the latest attempt to create a European Super League.
      AS Monaco said: “AS Monaco would like to express its full commitment to the principle of sporting merit which governs UEFA competitions and the French championship.
      “AS Monaco will continue to work with the Ligue 1 clubs within the Ligue de Football Professionnel, and with other clubs through the ECA, in order to participate progressively and collectively in the development of football”.
      Uefa president mocks new European Super League
      Uefa’s president has taken the opportunity to make today’s new Super League proposal.
      Aleksander Čeferin said: “I’ve seen the press leads of English supporters calling it like… The Zombie League.
      “It’s close to Christmas, they saw a box under the tree and started to celebrate, but then when they opened the box they realised there was not much inside”.
      Another football giant rejects the Super League
      PSG has become the latest team to turn down A22’s new European Super League proposal.
      The French giant said it “utterly rejects” the new plan.
      A statement read: “Paris Saint-Germain totally and utterly rejects any plans for a so-called Super League, which has been the case from day one and will always remain the case”.
      “As a proud European institution, PSG supports the principles of the European sporting model, the values of open competition and inclusion, and works with all recognised stakeholders in European football – above all with the fans and players, who are at the heart of the game”.
      ‘The European football family does not want the Super League’
      Atletico Madrid has rejected today’s proposal for a New European Super League.
      A statement said: “The European football family does not want the European Super League”. “Germany, France, England, Italy, Spain (except for Real Madrid and Barcelona), etc. do not want the Super League”.
      “We are in favor of protecting the European football family, safeguarding domestic leagues, and ensuring that qualification for European competitions is achieved through on-field performance every season”.
      Premier League slams new Super League proposal
      The Premier League has rejected today’s proposal for a new European Super League.
      A statement read: “The Premier League notes today’s judgment in the European Court of Justice case involving the “European Superleague Company”, FIFA and UEFA.  This is a significant ruling and we will now fully examine its implications for the game.
      “The ruling does not endorse the so-called “European Super League” and the Premier League continues to reject any such concept. Supporters are of vital importance to the game and they have time and again made clear their opposition to a “breakaway” competition that severs the link between domestic and European football.
      “The Premier League reiterates its commitment to the clear principles of open competition that underpin the success of domestic and international club competitions.
      “Football thrives on the competitiveness created by promotion and relegation, the annual merit-based qualification from domestic leagues and cups to international club competitions and the longstanding rivalries and rituals that come with weekends being reserved for domestic football.”
      Are the Premier League teams involved?
      As it stands, no the Premier League top six are not involved in this current iteration of the European Super League.
      During the last ill-advised proposal, six of the Premier League’s biggest teams received huge backlash for attempting to break away from Uefa.
      It seems like this time, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City will not be getting involved.
      How will the new Super League work?
      Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22, has confirmed the format of the “new” Super League, following the ECJ’s ruling this morning.
      The new European Super League proposal features 64 teams, each in one of three tiers: Star, Gold and Blue. 
      Annual promotion and relegation will happen between each tier, this seemingly aims to address complaints of a lack of sporting fairness in previous proposals.
      Clubs will play only 14 matches per season, with the star and gold tiers consisting of 16 teams each.
      Each season will end with a knockout-style competition to determine which teams are promoted and relegated.
      Manchester United rejects new Super League
      Manchester United have rejected the latest Super League proposal.
      The club said: “Our position has NOT changed.
      “We remain fully committed to participation in UEFA competitions, and to positive cooperation with UEFA, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game”.
      Bayern Munich reject the new Super League
      German giants Bayern Munich have rejected A22’s latest bid to launch the European Super League.
      “It’s very clear: the door for the Super League at FC Bayern remains closed.
      “Such a competition would represent an attack on the importance of domestic leagues and the statics of European football”, club CEO Dreesen says, reports Fabrizio Romano.
      🚨🔴 FC Bayern reject the Super League.“It’s very clear: the door for the Super League at FC Bayern remains closed”.“Such a competition would represent an attack on the importance of domestic leagues and the statics of European football”, club CEO Dreesen says. pic.twitter.com/j5ZLzLDVhM— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 21, 2023

      What have the courts said?
      The European Court of Justice today ruled Uefa and Fifa’s action regarding the European Super League “unlawful.”
      The Court said: “The Fifa and Uefa rules making any new interclub football project subject to their prior approval, such as the Super League, and prohibiting clubs and players from playing in those competitions are unlawful.
      “There is no framework for the Fifa and Uefa rules ensuring that they are transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate.
      “Similarly the rules giving Fifa and Uefa exclusive control over the commercial exploitation of the rights related to those competitions are such as to restrict competition, given their importance for the media, consumers and television viewers in the European Union.
      “The Court observes that the organisation of interclub football competitions and the exploitation of the media rights are quite evidently economic activities.
      “They must therefore comply with the competition rules and respect the freedoms of movement, even though the economic pursuit of sport has certain specific characteristics, such as the existence of associations having certain regulatory and control powers and the power to impose sanctions.”
      Real Madrid chief responds to new European Super League
      Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has welcomed today’s decision and the return of the European Super League.
      He said: “From Real Madrid we welcome with great satisfaction the decision taken by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which is responsible for guaranteeing our principles, values and freedoms. In the coming days we will carefully study the scope of this resolution, but I do anticipate two conclusions of great historical significance.
      “First of all, that European club football is not and will never be a monopoly again. And secondly, that from today the clubs will be the owners of their destiny. Clubs see fully recognized our right to propose and promote European competitions that modernize our sport and attract fans from all over the world. In short, today the Europe of freedoms has triumphed again and today soccer and its fans have also triumphed.
      “Faced with the pressures we have received for more than two years, law, reason and freedom are imposed today. And for this reason, Real Madrid will continue to work for the sake of football.
      “Just as almost seventy years ago we took a fundamental step in the history of soccer with the creation of the European Cup, today we again have the duty and responsibility to give European football the new impetus it needs so much. And for this, we will continue to defend a modern project, fully compatible with national competitions, open to all, based on sporting merit and that will effectively impose respect for financial fair play. A project that will bring economic sustainability for all clubs and that above all will protect the players and excite fans around the world.
      “We will do it despite the campaigns we have suffered and that, without a doubt, will intensify from today. But no one said that ending a monopoly after so many decades was simple.
      “We are facing the great opportunity to improve European club football. A football at the height of the 21st century, with a transparent governance, that knows how to live with new technologies and that once again provokes the passion and emotion that fans really need.
      “Let me tell the European clubs that we are facing the beginning of a new time in which we can work in freedom from constructive dialogue, without threats, without acting against anything or anyone and with the aim of innovating and modernizing football to continue nurturing the passion of the fans.
      “From today, the present and future of European football are finally in the hands of clubs, players and their fans. Our destiny belongs to us and we have a great responsibility before us.
      “This day will mark a before and after. It is a great day for the history of football and for the history of sport”.
      New ESL will be free to watch
      According to A22, the new European Super League would be free for fans to watch.
      A22 said: “The proposal also includes innovative plans to launch the world’s leading direct-to-fan sports streaming platform [called Unify], where billions of fans would be able to watch live all Super League matches for free”.
      No clubs confirmed to be taking part
      When asked which clubs are interested in the proposal, Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22, refused to comment.
      Outside of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, no clubs have indicated they would be willing to join A22’s proposed Super League.
      This could imply that, unlike last time, the Premier League top six could stay well clear of the new European Super League.
      Fans slam new proposal
      Fans have taken to X/Twitter to express their anger at today’s ruling.
      One supporter reacted to the court ruling saying: “RIP football as we know it 😭”
      Another added: “Football is about to be ruined then…”
      A third wrote: “We the fans still don’t want that shoddy league.”
      What is the difference between the new European Super League and the Champions League?
      A22 has been keen to differentiate its new European Super League from the updated Champions League set to launch in 2024.
      The organisation has released an image of the differences between the two tournaments:
      Credit: A22
      Football Supporters Association slams new Super League proposal
      The FSA has slammed today’s news that the European Super League will be making a return.
      You can read its full statement below:

      Barcelona release statement
      FC Barcelona have welcomed today’s decision to deem Uefa and Fifa’s actions “unlawful”.
      A statement from the club said: “FC Barcelona wishes to express its satisfaction with the sentence of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) assessing the Super League project as proposed by A22 Sports.
      “As one of the clubs driving the Super League project, FC Barcelona feels that the sentence paves the way for a new elite level football competition in Europe by opposing the monopoly over the football world, and wishes to initiate new discussions as to the path that European competitions should take in the future.
      “Since it was founded in 1899, FC Barcelona has always been a pioneering club in the world of sport, leading the drive towards more professionalised structures both on a domestic and international scale, with regard to both men’s and women’s competitions, in a variety of sports and from different social concerns.
      “Hence, as it has been maintaining in recent years, the club feels that the medium-term sustainability of European football entails the need create a concept along the lines of the Super League proposed by A22. A system of competition that will address such issues as fixture overload and the excessive number of games between national teams, that will work towards regulation of financial fair play among participating teams, and that will put local and international players and supporters at the centre.
      “This system must respect the functions and sustainability of domestic competitions and should be a meritocracy that is primarily based on results on the pitch.
      “In a year when the club is celebrating its 125th anniversary, Barça wishes to continue to offer its experience and knowledge of different sports to propose solutions for current issues in elite sport.
      “That is why it is declaring its support for the Super League promoted by A22 and encourages constructive debate among both domestic and international football bodies, which have now been endorsed by today’s sentence by the Court of Justice of the European Union. The foregoing is all subject to a complete reading of the sentence.”
      New Super League format confirmed
      Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22, has confirmed the format of the “new” Super League, following the ECJ’s ruling this morning.
      The new European Super League proposal features 64 teams, each in one of three tiers: Star, Gold and Blue. 
      Annual promotion and relegation will happen between each tier, this seemingly aims to address complaints of a lack of sporting fairness in previous proposals.
      Clubs will play only 14 matches per season, with the star and gold tiers consisting of 16 teams each.
      Each season will end with a knockout-style competition to determine which teams are promoted and relegated.
      UEFA and Fifa lose Super League ruling
      Following a landmark European Court of Justice ruling, the so-called European Super League could be back.
      It was ruled that Uefa and Fifa acted “unlawfully” when they blocked the tournament in 2021.
      Following the decision, new plans for an updated Super League were released. More

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      Crystal Palace vs Brighton LIVE SCORE: Premier League latest as Seagulls look to bounce back against Eagles

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      BRIGHTON face their second London outing in a week as they face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park – and they’ll be hoping for better result this time round.The Seagulls were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Arsenal last weekend but it could have easily been more.
      While Michael Olise’s last-gasp penalty saw Manchester City drop two more points in the title race.

      Kick-off time: 8pm GMT
      Live stream: NOW TV
      TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League

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      Carabao Cup semi-final draw LIVE: Chelsea and Liverpool separated as huge draw made – latest reaction

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      LIVERPOOL and Chelsea could meet in a mouthwatering Carabao Cup final after the big semi-final draw was made.The Blues take on Championship Middlesbrough while Liverpool face Fulham in the two-legged ties.
      Then all eyes will be on Wembley for the February 25 final.
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      Previous winners
      Who will join the list of previous League Cup winners when the final takes place in February?

      22/23 – Manchester United
      21/22 – Liverpool
      20/21 – Manchester City
      19/20 – Manchester City
      18/19 – Manchester City
      17/18 – Manchester City
      16/17 – Manchester United
      15/16 – Manchester City
      14/15 – Chelsea
      13/14 – Manchester City

      Read more on the draw
      Read our article for some more information on the draw and how everyone earned their place in the semi-finals.

      When will the semi-finals be held?
      The first leg of the semi-final ties will be played week commencing 8 January, 2024, with second leg fixtures taking place week commencing 22 January, 2024.
      The final will then take place at Wembley on February 25, 2024.
      Chelsea fans delighted
      Chelsea fans will be pleased to hear they have been handed a draw against Middlesbrough.
      Boro have done superb to get to the semi-finals, but as the only team from outside the Premier League, the Blues will be seen as clear favourites for a slot a Wembley.
      Draw in full
      Middlesbrough vs Chelsea
      Liverpool vs Fulham
      Draw complete
      And just like that the draw is complete.
      Middlesbrough and Liverpool will play host in the first leg of the fixtures before Fulham and Chelsea return the favour for the second leg.
      SEMI-FINAL NUMBER TWO
      LIVERPOOL vs FULHAM
      SEMI-FINAL NUMBER ONE
      MIDDLESBROUGH vs CHELSEA
      Here we go!
      We’re finally about to get underway for the short but important draw for the Carabao Cup semi-finals after a delay.
      Father and son duo Harry and Jamie Redknapp are present to pull the names out of the pot!
      One last reminder
      Before the teams are pulled from the hat here is one last reminder of the four sides that have made it in to the the semi-finals and their ball numbers.

      Chelsea
      Fulham
      Middlesbrough
      Liverpool

      Middlesbrough’s run
      Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough side are the only team left in the tournament from outside of the Premier League.
      The Championship outfit have put together a splendid run to earn themselves a spot in the semi-finals.
      Boro have beaten Huddersfield, Bolton, Bradford City, Exeter and Port Vale so far.
      Who will they take on next?
      Credit: Alamy
      Not far off now
      The draw is set to take place at around 10:15pm.
      Follow all of the action and reaction here.
      LIVERPOOL ENTER THE DRAW
      Liverpool have beaten West Ham 5-1 to secure their place in the semi-final draw.
      The final list of teams in the pot are as follows:

      Fulham
      Chelsea
      Middlesbrough
      Liverpool

      Moments away
      We’re now just moments away from the draw with the Liverpool vs West Ham game heading into injury time.
      It looks as if Liverpool are in the hat, but who will they face?
      All but over
      Just when West Ham looked to have a glimmer of hope of making a comeback, Liverpool have punished them.
      The Merseyside outfit have added another two goals to make the score 5-1 and look like they will inevitably be joining the others in the semi-final draw this evening.
      Ball numbers
      The ball numbers for tonight’s draw are as follows…

      Chelsea
      Fulham
      Middlesbrough
      Liverpool or West Ham

      Credit: Getty
      Hope for the Hammers
      It could be too little too late, but West Ham have pulled one back at Anfield.
      Jarrod Bowen has made it 3-1 to try and force his team through to the next round, but there’s not long left for David Moyes’ side.
      GOAL – Liverpool cruising to the semi-finals
      It looks like Liverpool will almost certainly be joining Fulham, Middlesbrough and Chelsea in the Semi’s now.
      The Red have bagged a third through Cody Gakpo and now lead West Ham 3-0.
      It’s heartbreak for the Hammers with just over 15 minutes left to play at Anfield.
      How did the teams earn their spot in the semi’s?
      Fulham, Middlesbrough and Chelsea all booked their places in the semi finals last night.
      The two Premier League clubs needed penalties to secure their way in to the next round while Boro comfortably saw off Port Vale.

      Everton 1-1 Fulham (PEN 6-7 )
      Port Vale 0-3 Middlesbrough
      Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle (PEN 4-2)
      Liverpool vs West Ham (ongoing)

      Credit: Getty
      LIVERPOOL BAG ANOTHER
      Liverpool are now 2-0 up and edging closer to securing their spot in the draw!
      It’s Curtis Jones who has netted this time and the Reds look to be brushing aside West Ham at Anfield.
      Credit: Reuters
      Liverpool on track for the semi-finals
      As things stand it will be Liverpool that join the other three teams in the pot for the semi-final draw.
      The Reds currently lead West Ham 1-0 at Anfield thanks to a Dominik Szoboszlai goal.
      Who’s in the pot?
      All but one of the teams has been decided with just four sides heading in to the semi-final pot.
      The last team will be decided when we have a winner between Liverpool and West Ham tonight.

      Fulham
      Middlesbrough
      Chelsea
      Liverpool/West Ham

      CARABAO CUP SEMI-FINAL DRAW
      We are right round the corner from this year’s Carabao Cup semi-final draw as we eagerly await to see who will face who.
      The draw will take place after Liverpool’s clash with West Ham with the pair fighting it out for a place in the pot. More

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      Liverpool 5-1 West Ham LIVE SCORE: Jones on the double after Salah strike as Reds cruise into Carabao Cup semi-final

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      LIVERPOOL have sailed into the Carabao Cup semi-final after thrashing West Ham 5-1.Curtis Jones was on the double as Jurgen Klopp’s much-changed Reds battered the Hammers.
      Sub Mo Salah also scored as Klopp looks ahead to the huge visit of Premier League leaders Arsenal this weekend.

      Result: Liverpool 5 West Ham 1
      Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Gomez, Quansah, Virgil, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, Endo, Jones, Elliott, Nunez, Gakpo
      West Ham XI: Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Johnson, Alvarez, Soucek, Fornals, Kudus, Benrahma, Bowen
      Carabao Cup semi-final draw latest updates

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      Confidence sky-high for crunch clash
      Liverpool now head into their huge clash with Arsenal at Anfield on the weekend full of confidence.
      In their last two games, The Reds have had 63 shots, which is an insane stat.
      Mikel Arteta will know his side will certainly have their title credentials tested Saturday evening.
      Carabao Cup semi-final draw
      Middlesbrough vs Chelsea
      Liverpool vs Fulham
      Opportunity missed for West Ham
      With the chance to get into the last four of a domestic trophy, The Hammers really failed to turn up today.
      David Moyes rotated his side and they were left wanting.
      It will disappoint the manager as he would have seen this as a chance to cause an upset at Anfield this evening.
      Boss pleased with team performance
      After the disappointment of the draw on the weekend, you can guarantee that Jurgen Klopp set his players the challenge of proving their worth this evening.
      He will have wanted a response from them, to show everyone that the Man Utd result was just a bad day at the office.
      They listened to their manager’s thoughts and went out and put in a display against West Ham tonight.
      Credit: Getty
      Credit: AFP
      Reds book place in semi-finals
      Liverpool will now go into the draw for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, which will take place soon.
      The final four will consist of Jurgen Klopp’s side along with Chelsea, Fulham and Middlesbrough.
      In the next round there will be two legs to be played.
      The Reds go into the draw as favourites to win the trophy with the bookies.
      Curtis brings the gifts to Anfield
      Liverpool-born Curtis Jones put in one of his best performances for the club in this quarter-final this evening.
      From start to finish, he put in a polished display and looked to get forward and score goals whenever the chance presented itself.
      He showed the wider footballing world why the manager rates him so highly.

      FT: Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
      After that goalless draw with Man Utd, that will be just what the doctor ordered for Liverpool.
      Klopp’s side were dominant from start to finish.
      West Ham just could not handle them today.

      FT: Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
      The referee brings the game to a close.
      It will be a long trip home for the West Ham fans.
      Liverpool have been dominant today and deserve their victory.
      Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
      90+2. Curtis Jones has been awarded man of the match today.
      The Reds pass the ball around, looking to create another opening.
      Salah tries to cross but it is deflected wide for a corner.
      Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
      90. This has been a great team performance by Liverpool.
      You cannot pick out a player who has not played well really.
      Nunez is shown a yellow card as he catches the West Ham defender in the face as he tries to flick the ball.
      We are going to have four minutes added.
      Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
      88. Liverpool do not seem done with this scoreline.
      They are continuing to pile forward, looking to punish the visitors every time they attack.
      David Moyes does not look happy with what he is seeing from his team.
      Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
      86. It seems crazy to think West Ham were back in this now.
      Curtis Jones weaves his way through The Hammers defence and slots the ball into the bottom corner.
      What a performance it has been by the local lad.
      Credit: Getty
      Goal – Curtis Jones (West Ham)
      Liverpool 4-1 West Ham
      84. As West Ham are attacking, Alexander-Arnold clears the ball to set Salah clear through on goal.
      He holds off the defenders and slots the ball past Areola.
      That puts the game to bed for Jurgen Klopp’s side now surely.
      Goal – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
      Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
      82. As Liverpool come forward, looking to find a goal to kill the game off, Nunez lets fly from outside the box.
      His shot rattles the inside of the post with Areola at full stretch.
      Somehow, Salah fails to knock the rebound into an empty net as it just goes wide.
      In all fairness, it did come at him rather sharply.
      Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
      80. Liverpool have brought Luis Diaz on for a run out.
      Another goal for the visitors and this could be a nervy finish.
      As we saw in yesterday’s ties, late goals have completely changed some of these quarter-final results.
      Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
      78. We may have a game on our hands after all.
      The ball is played up to Bowen, he squares Quansah up and cuts onto his right foot.
      Bowen unleashes a bending right-footed shot into the top corner.
      Great strike.
      Goal – Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)
      Liverpool 3-0 West Ham
      76. The Reds force another corner.
      West Ham win the initial header but fail to clear their lines.
      As a result, they have to resort to hacking clear.
      Liverpool regain possession and come forward once again.
      Credit: Getty
      Liverpool 3-0 West Ham
      74. West Ham have both Paqueta and Ward-Prowse on now.
      It is a big ask of them to repair the damage that has already been done.
      Liverpool are continuing to pile on the pressure, looking for more goals.
      Liverpool 3-0 West Ham
      72. Just after Kudus narrowly sends one over the bar with their first attempt on goal of the game, Liverpool offer the ultimate sucker punch.
      Konate picks the ball up and runs through the middle of the park, the visitors just watching him.
      The defender feeds it to Gakpo, who steadies himself before burying his shot in the bottom corner of the goal from outside the box.
      Game over for The Hammers.
      Goal – Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
      Liverpool 2-0 West Ham
      70. Not a bad first touch from Bradley as he cushions it into the path of Salah in the box.
      He allows it to bounce and it just gets away from him slightly as he stretches to shoot.
      As a result he does not trouble the West Ham keeper.
      Liverpool 2-0 West Ham
      68. The travelling fans will be disappointed with this performance.
      It begs the question whether their side have failed to turn up or Liverpool have just not allowed them to get into their groove.
      Either way, time is running down and they need to find goals.
      Bradley is coming on for Tsimikas for The Reds.
      Credit: Getty More

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      Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle (4-2 pens) LIVE RESULT: Trippier’s nightmare match sees Blues seal Carabao Cup semi on penalties

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      CHELSEA have beaten Newcastle on penalties to book their spot in the Carabao Cup semifinal – and for Kieran Tripper, it was a night to forget.Callum Wilson initially put the Toon ahead following Benoit Badioshile’s woeful defending.
      But Kieran Trippier’s mistake led to Mykhailo Mudryk scoring a stoppage-time equaliser.
      And Tripper was one of the two Newcastle players to miss a penalty in the shootout that saw the Blues go through.

      RESULT: Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle (4-2 pens)
      Live stream: NOW TV
      TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
      Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Disasi, Silva, Badiashile, Colwill; Caicedo, Gallagher, Fernandez; Sterling, Jackson, Palmer
      Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Krafth, Lascelles, Botman, Livramento; Guimaraes, Longstaff, Miley; Almiron, Wilson, Gordon

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      Massive result for new Chelsea boss
      This win could prove season-defining for Mauricio Pochettino.
      Had they gone out of the Carabao Cup this evening, even more questions would have been asked about the Argentine manager.
      Now, they have a semi-final draw to look forward to, knowing they are one win away from Wembley.
      Credit: AFP
      Magpies dealt devastating blow in capital
      Eddie Howe will have to try and pick his side up after this.
      They have suffered two confidence-denting exits in the space of a week.
      Newcastle need to dust themselves off and bounce back from this or risk letting it derail their season.
      Credit: Getty
      Credit: Alamy
      Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle (4-2 on penalties)
      Absolute drama at Stamford Bridge this evening.
      After 90 minutes of this game, Newcastle were heading into the semi-finals, with a chance of making another final.
      Now, they are heading out of the competition with Chelsea taking their place in the last four along with Middlesbrough and Fulham.
      Credit: Reuters
      Credit: Getty
      Credit: Getty
      Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle (4-2 on penalties)
      The curse of Kieran Trippier strikes at Stamford Bridge.
      He gifted Chelsea their equaliser, deep into added time, to take the game to penalties.
      Then the England full-back sent his own penalty wide of the target to give The Blues the edge in the shooutout.
      With Mauricio Pochettino’s side not missing a single spot-kick, they booked their place in the semi-finals when Petrovic saved Ritchie’s penalty.
      The stadium is rocking in West London.
      Credit: Getty
      Chelsea beat Newcastle 4-2 on penalties
      Chelsea 4-2 Newcastle
      Penalty missed – Matt Ritchie (Newcastle)
      Chelsea 4-2 Newcastle
      Penalty scored – Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea)
      Chelsea 3-2 Newcastle
      Penalty scored – Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle)
      Chelsea 3-1 Newcastle
      Penalty scored – Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea)
      Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle
      Penalty missed – Kieran Trippier (Newcastle)
      Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle
      Penalty scored – Conor Gallagher (Chelsea)
      Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle
      Penalty scored – Callum Wilson (Newcastle)
      Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle
      Penalty scored – Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
      Penalty shootout
      The penalties will be taken in front of the Newcastle fans.
      Chelsea opt to take the first spot kick.
      Moment of truth time now.
      FT: Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle
      Eddie Howe’s side will be devastated by that Mudryk goal.
      The usually dependable Trippier makes the error that has cost Newcastle their place in the semi-finals.
      If they are going to get there now, their penalty shootout game has to be on point.

      FT: Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle
      Chelsea finally get their equaliser, very late on.
      This one is going to have itself a penalty shootout.
      Guimaraes got a booking in the final stages, meaning he would miss a first leg of the semi final, should Newcastle get there.
      Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle
      90+4. A speculative ball is played in towards the back post.
      It reaches Trippier who looks to head it back to his keeper but it is well short and Mudryk runs onto it.
      He sidefoots it past Dubravka for a late equaliser.
      Absolute scenes at Stamford Bridge. More

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      Arsenal news transfer LIVE: Gunners tracking Jobe Bellingham, Ivan Toney deal falls through, Thomas Partey injury latest

      by

      ARSENAL are reportedly one of three clubs tracking teenage sensation Jobe Bellingham.Jude’s younger brother Jobe, 18, has impressed at Sunderland this season and Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all sent scouts to watch him over the weekend.
      Meanwhile, the Gunners are also said to be considering a move for £51million-rated Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke – if a deal for Ivan Toney can’t be done.
      And Mikel Arteta has revealed that Thomas Partey is making ‘good’ progress on his injury as he edges closer to a return.
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      Follow ALL the latest news from the Emirates with our live blog below…
      Khayon Edwards nets brace in Arsenal U21 win
      Khayon Edwards, 20, netted a brace as Arsenal came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 in last night’s PL2 Division 1 clash.
      Two goals after the break handed the young Gunners the win to leave them in fourth going into the Christmas break.
      They are currently seven points behind league leaders Tottenham, who have won all nine of their games this season but are yet to play Arsenal.
      Sagna reveals condition for Arsenal to win the Premier League
      Former Arsenal and Man City right-back Bacary Sagna has revealed the one condition for the Gunners to win their first Premier League title in 20 years; staying injury-free.
      Speaking to Paddy Power ahead of Arsenal’s table-topping clash with Liverpool, he said: “Arsenal have another chance this season to fight for the title.
      “They have a good chance with Manchester City and Liverpool dropping points so if they manage to be consistent, and stay injury-free, they can win the league.
      “They’ve showed some consistency and quality offensively and they have great control of every game they play. They are smart and when they have to win ugly, they can do that too.
      “They have the quality, the players, the coach and the structure to allow them to perform, and they are performing at the moment.
      “But it’s the consistency, the most consistent team will win the league because other teams will drop points. But at some point in the season, there are so many games in lots of competitions and that can be tiring.
      “We also saw Arsenal tire towards the end of the last season, and when it mattered most last year, they struggled to meet their potential and they let Manchester City back into it.
      “I can’t rule City out yet, they had an amazing season last year and surely, they’re going to get back to their best at some point.”
      Arsenal boost in Toney transfer race after Brentford chief admission
      Brentford have hinted that may be resigned to losing Ivan Toney after technical director Lee Dykes admitted it could soon be time to move him on from the Bees.
      Speaking to Brentford club media in a deep-dive interview about the club’s recruitment process, he said: “Yes, there will be lots of interest in Ivan in January. Naturally, there should be.
      “He was the third-highest Premier League goalscorer last season – one of them [Harry Kane] has gone to Germany now, so he’s up there as one of the best strikers in the division. He is in the top five in the world, in my opinion.
      “So there should be interest, and maybe the time comes very shortly that Ivan moves on to another club.
      “But they will have to pay a decent transfer fee to acquire his services because he is some talent.”
      Credit: Getty
      ‘Only Arteta wanted me to stay at Arsenal’- Xhaka
      Granit Xhaka has opened on how he felt Arsenal gave him “little respect” after he was stripped of the club captaincy under Unai Emery before Mikel Arteta stepped in to save his Gunners career.
      Speaking to The Athletic, he said: “The club showed me little respect even though I was the captain. It was clear they wanted to get rid of me as quickly as possible, apart from one person: Mikel Arteta.
      “When I met him for the first time, my bags were already packed and I was about to hop on a plane. With my heart and soul, I had already left the club. I said to him, ‘The solution is for me to go’.
      “Mikel told me he wanted me to stay. But I wasn’t sure. I remember speaking to my dad at the time. He told me, ‘Let’s go’. For the first time ever, he told me to run away. He said there was no future for me at Arsenal.’”
      Xhaka of course stayed at the club until summer 2023, repairing his reputation and helping the club return to the Champions League.
      He added: “I could not imagine myself playing for Arsenal again. I said to him, ‘I just want to be somewhere where the fans don’t boo me’. But he was so convincing.
      “For the first time in my life, I took a decision without talking to my family first. I got up and said, ‘OK, I’ll stay’.
      “We embraced and, from that day on, I returned to training and it was like nothing ever happened.”
      Check out our Arsenal WhatsApp page
      Read more Arsenal stories on our amazing WhatsApp Channel.
      Wright reveals why he quit MOTD
      Ian Wright has revealed the heartwarming reason why he is quitting Match of the Day at the end of the season.
      Speaking on his Wrighty’s House podcast, he said: “I’m going to actually watch more football. I’m going to watch my grand-daughter.
      “I’m going to watch a lot more women’s games. I’m going to watch a lot more Arsenal games, just to be there with fans.
      “Go with my son and his missus, be amongst it, just to celebrate when we win or when we lose.
      “It’s been a bit of a realisation that I want to give quality time to them. So that’s what I want. To watch games, spend time with people.”
      Credit: PA
      Arsenal one of three clubs targeting Jobe Bellingham
      Reports claim Arsenal are one of three English clubs tracking Jude Bellingham’s brother Jobe.
      The 18-year-old has impressed with Sunderland this season and has consequently attracted interest from some high-profile suitors.
      And Ekrem Konur reported the Gunners, Liverpool and Chelsea all sent scouts to watch him play against Bristol City over the weekend, though he was only introduced in the 63rd minute.
      Arsenal told not to sign £100m target
      Emmanuel Petit has told Arsenal in no uncertain terms to not sign Douglas Luiz after reports suggested he could cost as much as £100m.
      Speaking about a potential transfer to compare.bet, he said: “£100m is a lot of money, I really like Douglas Luiz but is he worth £100m?
      “It’s crazy money. I’m not sure it’s a good idea for Arsenal to go straight on the market and buy Luiz for that much. I think he’s injured too much and the way that Aston Villa are playing, he probably doesn’t want to leave.
      “If I was Douglas Luiz I’d be very excited to have an offer from Arsenal, but I’d think straight away, I’d look at my current teammates and say, ‘We are second place in the table and only one point off Arsenal. What happens if we do something very special.’
      “We can imagine Aston Villa playing in the Champions League now. When you leave in the middle of a season, you have to be very careful.
      “When you’re playing at the best level with your current club, it’s a very big risk to change and go to another club.
      “I can understand it’s very exciting to join Arsenal, but the timing, I don’t think it’s good for him.”
      Classy Saka makes charitable donation to earthquake victims
      Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has helped to build a container village for earthquake victims in Morocco.
      The England winger, 22, has funded 50 containers for a village in the Taroudant region where 255 will be able to have somewhere to live.
      Almost 3000 people died when the earthquake struck in early September.
      In the village Saka is helping 42 people were killed, but the winger is stepping in to help those who survived, working alongside charity BigShoe.
      He said: “I was shocked when I heard about the terrible earthquake in Morocco.
      “But in the moment I knew that I really want to help and we started to look at what we can do to help the displaced families.
      “We found a way to help relatively quickly and we were able to put a roof over their head and give them some comfort and hope to those who have lost everything through no fault of their own.
      “I hope that the 84 families and, above all, the 89 children in the containers can regain a piece of their everyday lives.”

      Arsenal sign Real Madrid scout
      Arsenal have signed former Real Madrid scout Paulo Xavier.
      The Athletic report Xavier left his post in Spain – which he had held since 2017 – in order to join the Gunners.
      In his role with the North London outfit, he will operate in South America with two others.
      Rice is making £100m look like a bargain, says Shearer
      Alan Shearer has said heaped praise on Declan Rice while speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast.
      He said: “By the way, I know we keep mentioning him, but oh my god, Declan Rice again yesterday (against Brighton).
      “Honestly, he was just…in everything he did, whether he was protecting the back-four, whether he was bursting forward with the ball, having efforts at goal, he was fantastic.
      “Wright said it last night, he’s making a £100m look like a bargain.”
      Gary Lineker replied: “That’s quite a statement.”
      Shearer added: “He was that good honestly.”
      Check out our Arsenal WhatsApp page
      Read more Arsenal stories on our amazing WhatsApp Channel.
      Ramsdale to Chelsea could be good to both parties – Gallas
      William Gallas believes an Aaron Ramsdale transfer to Chelsea might be the best move for all parties after the England goalkeeper lost his No1 place between the sticks to David Raya.
      Speaking to Lord Ping, Gallas said: “I don’t know but there’s definitely a good connection between Arsenal and Chelsea. The door between the clubs has been open for almost ten to 15 years.
      “I did it and it was not an easy move and I wanted to stay in London, but the fans can get mad and I understand that.
      “I don’t know if Ramsdale to Chelsea will happen but he’s not playing for Arsenal and he will certainly be very frustrated, especially after the season he had last season, so I’m not sure if his agent is in contact, but it could be a great move for Chelsea and him.
      “He has to play but I don’t know if Arsenal will let him go there.
      “Being a goalkeeper is not an easy position and if Ramdale moved to Chelsea, you’d have to question who’d be number one when Sanchez returned.
      “That’s the problem and when you are a player you have to pray not to get injured as you know someone could take your position and you may have to wait.”
      Pennant names Rice as key difference-maker in Arsenal title bid
      Jermaine Pennant believes the addition of Declan Rice in midfield has been instrumental in Arsenal’s strong start to the season.
      Speaking to Genting Casino, he said: “The signing of Declan Rice has made a big difference.
      “We’ve already seen what he gives Arsenal – every game he is a 7 or an 8 out of 10 minimum – he offers Arsenal so much protection in front of that back four and he has also chipped in with some late winners.
      “The win against Luton (where Rice scored the winner with the last kick of the game) could be absolutely massive at the end of the season.”
      Arsenal have learned from mistakes of last season, says Pennant
      Arsenal’s 2024 title bid has been better informed from the crushing defeat they felt last season when losing the title late on, ex-Gunners star Jermaine Pennant has claimed.
      Speaking to Genting Casino, he said: “Arsenal look better equipped to mount a title challenge this season.
      “They would have learned a lot after what happened to them last season and I think that experience will help them this time around.
      “They know from their own experience last season that they can’t slip-up. They know that Manchester City are capable of winning the last ten games of a season on the bounce.
      “That knowledge and experience would have paid dividends to everyone connected to the club.
      “If Arsenal find themselves in that situation again, leading the table on the home stretch, they will be able to handle the pressure much better.”
      Raya insists he has ‘made Ramsdale better’
      David Raya says his battle with Aaron Ramsdale has made them both better goalkeepers.
      The Spanish shot-stopper, 28, believes Arsenal’s goalkeeper conundrum has turned into iron sharpening iron at the club’s Colney training base.
      Raya has made several mistakes since joining the North London club, with three of them leading to goals. But Arteta has stuck with him in goal, including the 2- 0 win over Brighton last time out.
      When asked if the battle with Ramsdale has made him better, Raya replied: “Of course, and I think I have made him a better goalkeeper, just pushing each other in training, trying to help each other.
      “If we see when we are training that we can help each other, that’s how we are and that’s how we do.
      “That’s the goalkeeper union from the outside that you see.”

      Arteta on Champions League progress
      Mikel Arteta has hailed Arsenal’s “positive” Champions League campaign after the club drew Porto in the round of 16.
      The manager said: “Overall, I think, very positive.
      “Having not been in the competition for six or seven years and having a team that hasn’t got that much experience, I think we’ve competed really well.
      “I really liked the approach of the team in every single game, the way we’ve tried to play. We had some big results and big experiences, like the one we had in Seville or Lens, or even today looking at how the team can act and how fair it is to give certain players that exposure when you make so many changes.
      “Overall finishing first with a game to play we have to be really happy. Now we have to now close that chapter until February and make sure that when that chapter opens up again that we’re in the best place to compete against another top side.”
      Check out our Arsenal WhatsApp page
      Read more Arsenal stories on our amazing WhatsApp Channel.
      Edu reacts to Champions League draw
      Arsenal sporting director Edu has reacted to Arsenal’s Champions League draw, which saw the Gunners draw Porto.
      He said: “We are going to play against a club that is very used to playing in the competition because they play in it every single year and they have a lot of players as well with big experience.
      “We have to understand how are we going to play and respect them as much as we can. We will play our game and see if we can go through this stage.
      “We can see how they are playing, how organised they are, and the players that they have. Porto is a club that you have to be really prepared to play against or we’ll have problems, so what we have to concentrate on is maintaining our levels and the way we are playing.”
      Arsenal to sign centre-back in January
      Arsenal are set to trigger Goncalo Inacio’s release clause in January, according to the Mirror.
      The Sporting centre-back is available for £51million.
      He is known for his ability to pass the ball out from the back and has previously attracted interest from Tottenham.
      Credit: Getty
      Arsenal snag Real scout
      Arsenal have added Real Madrid’s South American scout to their coaching staff.
      Paulo Xavier has left his role as Real Madrid’s Latin America scout to join Arsenal.
      In his new role at Arsenal, which has already begun, he will work in South America with two other scouts.
      He is the man responsible for bringing Rodrygo to Real Madrid.
      Ian Wright teases career change
      Ian Wright has teased a career change after he stepped down from his punditry work on Match of the Day.
      The Arsenal legend will act in a new Netflix film called The Kitchen which is directed by Daniel Kaluuya.
      It also stars Top Boy actor Kano.

      Edu reacts to Champions League draw
      Arsenal sporting director Edu has reacted to Arsenal’s Champions League draw, which saw the Gunners draw Porto.
      He said: “We are going to play against a club that is very used to playing in the competition because they play in it every single year and they have a lot of players as well with big experience.
      “We have to understand how are we going to play and respect them as much as we can. We will play our game and see if we can go through this stage.
      “We can see how they are playing, how organised they are, and the players that they have. Porto is a club that you have to be really prepared to play against or we’ll have problems, so what we have to concentrate on is maintaining our levels and the way we are playing.”
      Wrighty’s tattoo ordeal
      Ian Wright has revealed that his wife “takes the p***” out of his tattoo but it has a sweet meaning.
      The tat is a tribute to his friendship with Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker and how the three did Match of The Day together.
      Wrighty announced today that he will be stepping away from the show at the end of the seasin.

      Former Gunners in attendance
      Former Gunners Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs were in attendance for Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Brighton.
      The win put them top of the Premier League table by one point. More

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      Chelsea vs Newcastle preview: Blues take on Eddie Howe’s side in huge Carabao Cup quarter-final clash – team news, info

      by

      CHELSEA take on Newcastle in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday at 8pm.The Blues will look to build on Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Sheffield United following a spell of patchy form.
      Chelsea and Newcastle will battle it out for a place in the semi-finalCredit: Alamy
      Cole Palmer shone again for Chelsea as he continues to become the talisman of Mauricio Pochettino’s team – notching a goal and an assist in the game.
      Nicolas Jackson also notched his seventh goal of the season following a barren spell at the start of the season.
      Newcastle meanwhile swept Fulham aside 3-0 at St. James’ Park following Raul Jimenez’s early dismissal.
      Lewis Miley, 17, got his first goal for Newcastle as he made the most of the opportunity made to him following the club’s littany of injuries and suspensions.

      But injuries again continued to mount as Fabian Schar and Joelinton were both forced off through injury.
      The Carabao Cup represents an excellent chance for both teams to land some silverware this year.
      Newcastle were devastated not to win the competition last year, after they lost to Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United in their first final since the 1999 FA Cup – which they also lost to United.
      Meanwhile Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping the competition will allow him to win his first piece of silverware in England – having failed to do so with Tottenham Hotspur.
      Most read in Football
      The manager has come under pressure in recent weeks due to Chelsea’s consistently inconsistent nature.
      But with owner Todd Boehly having spent over £1billion since taking over the Blues there will be pressure to create success this season.
      What is their form like?
      Chelsea won last time out against Sheffield United but that is not much to write home about these days.
      That followed on from a disappointing 2-1 loss to a struggling Manchester United side, victory against Brighton, and a thrashing against Newcastle – so it’s patchy at best.
      Newcastle meanwhile beat in-form Fulham 3-0 after losing 4-1 to Spurs before that.
      Eddie Howe is having to navigate an injury crisis but managing to find solutions now with the likes of Lewis Miley getting his first goal for the club.
      Team news
      Both Fabian Schar and Joelinton were forced off against Fulham with muscular injuries.
      Both injuries are not as bad as first feared but this game will come too soon for them.
      Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Joe Willock, Elliot Anderson, Javier Manquillo and Matt Targett all remain out.
      Trippier and Isak are slight doubts.
      Chelsea are hoping to have Christopher Nkunku back soon and he was fit enough to make the bench on the weekend.
      Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Robert Sanchez, Ben Chilwell, Romeo Lavia, Trevoh Chalobah, Lesley Ugochukwu and Carney Chukwuemeka all remain sidelined.
      Who will be the star men?
      Cole Palmer shone again for Chelsea on the weekend – registering a goal and an assist.
      He’s undoubtedly been Chelsea’s main man since signing this summer and is one of the rare instances where Todd Boehly’s wild transfer speculation has paid off.
      For Newcastle, their main threat will be through Anthony Gordon, who has been a revelation this year.
      He registered another assist at the weekend as he continues his fine form but will need a rest at some point.
      Gordon has been Newcastle’s danger manCredit: The Sun
      Palmer has been a worthwhile gamble for ChelseaCredit: The Sun
      What have the managers said?
      Eddie Howe has said that last year’s Carabao cup run has given his side confidence that they can go one better this year.
      He said: “It’s given us a bond with the competition. We’ve seen the rewards you can get from it. The build up to the final was a brilliant thing to be part of.
      “The final itself was a disappointment but it was incredible to see how many fans we took to London. It’s helped us this year.”
      Mauricio Pochettino meanwhile has pleaded for patience from the fans on the return of Christopher Nkunku.
      He said: “My worry is putting too much pressure on him and saying now he has arrived, this guy is going to make us win every single game and change everything. I don’t believe it will be like this because he now needs time to recover his feeling.
      “I hope that starts tomorrow. Maybe [he can] play and score three goals and then be consistent. The most important thing is not to create too much pressure on him. He needs to find himself, find the competition and then adapt to a team that was competing without him for the last four or five months.
      “We need to be careful. He has not made his debut in the Premier League, and you know how tough the Premier League is for players who arrive from outside of England.”
      Poch has asked for patience with NkunkuCredit: PA
      SunSport Prediction
      With Newcastle struggling with injuries and away from home this is a tough one to call.
      Chelsea are equally inconsistent so this could go either way.
      1-1 is a plausible outcome with one of the sides winning the tie on penalties.
      When is Chelsea vs Newcastle?

      Chelsea’s clash with Newcastle will take place on Tuesday, December 19.
      Chelsea vs Newcastle will kick off at 8pm GMT.
      The game will be held at Stamford Bridge in London.

      What channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

      Chelsea’s clash with Newcastle will be shown live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sport’s Main Event.
      You can live stream the action from the Sky Go and NOW TV apps, both of which are available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.

      Read more on The Sun
      Odds

      Chelsea – 5/6
      Draw – 13/5
      Newcastle – 16/5

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication. More

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      Champions League draw LIVE: Latest reaction as English giants Arsenal land former winners while Man City get dream tie

      by

      THE draw for the last-16 of the Champions League has concluded at the Uefa headquarters in Switzerland.Premier League giants Arsenal will face a tough trip to former winners Porto while Manchester City will take on Copenhagen.
      Jude Bellingham and Champions League kings Real Madrid will play German side RB Leipzig.

      TV channel: TNT Sports 1
      FREE live stream: Uefa’s official website/app

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      Follow our live blog below…
      Madrid blow
      Real Madrid will likely be without David Alaba for their clash against Lazio.
      Madrid confirmed Alaba had suffered a torn ACL in a statement.
      It read: “Following tests carried out on our player David Alaba, he has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
      “He will undergo surgery in the coming days.”
      Credit: Getty
      ‘Let’s go’
      Thomas Muller has taken to social media following the Champions League draw.
      He said: “Rome we are coming, let’s go FCB!”
      Credit: Twitter
      Vieira homecoming
      Fabio Vieira will face some familiar faces when Arsenal take on Porto.
      The midfielder joined the Gunners from the Portuguese giants in 2022.
      Credit: Getty
      Inzaghi reacts to draw
      Simone Inzaghi has reacted to seeing Inter Milan be drawn against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
      He will come face to face with Diego Simeone who he used to be team-mates with at Lazio.
      It will be a great round of 16 clash, with two top teams in two beautiful stadiums in front of packed houses.
      We are happy because we continue to take part in big European games consistently.
      Atletico have played two finals in the last ten years and have a great history in this competition, our club is no different and we want to try to dream again to give our fans further joy.
      The Atletico boss is Diego Simeone, a great coach who I have an excellent relationship with. I won a lot with him, including a league title with Lazio.
      Now it’s time to focus on the upcoming month, though: we have some big league matches as well as the Coppa Italia Italian Super Cup.
      After that, we will start to think about preparing for these two big games: they will be two battles, we’ll have to work hard to be ready.Simone Inzaghi
      Deco on Barcelona draw
      Deco has reacted to Barcelona’s round of 16 draw against Napoli.
      He said: “There is still time to go but they are league champions, like we are, and I believe we will see two tough games.
      “There is no luck in the Champions League.
      “We are talking about Napoli, league champions, and they have quality players.
      “In football talking about luck does not make sense.” 
      Bayern react to draw
      Bayern Munich stars Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller have reacted to the round of 16 draw against Lazio.
      Neuer said: “It’s an Italian team, who are always set up well tactically. We’ve already got positive experiences against Lazio.
      “We go into the games as favourites but can’t underestimate them. I have very positive memories of the stadium.
      “The fans in Italy are always very loud. Everyone’s looking forward to the matches. We’ll try to win both games.”
      Muller added: “I’m excited about the draw. It’s an exciting city. Lazio as a club are always interesting.
      “When you’re through to the round of 16, you’ve done a good job. It’s an old, famous stadium that’s seen so many battles in the past.
      “We’re focusing on the job. It’s a nice one to face.”
      Credit: Getty
      Terry backing Madrid
      John Terry has backed Real Madrid to win the Champions League title.
      Following the draw, he said: “I think team-wise you have to look at Real Madrid.
      “For me, I think they have been fantastic, probably for the last seven or eight years in the competition and are always there.
      “I think Bellingham has been incredible as an individual and they obviously have a fantastic manager in Carlo who I worked alongside for many years at Chelsea.
      “He’s a great man manager, so the players love him, great tactically and I think they will go a long way.”
      Credit: AP
      Recap of the draw
      Here is the draw in full…
      Porto v Arsenal
      Napoli v Barcelona
      PSG v Real Sociedad
      Inter Milan v Atletico Madrid
      PSV v Borussia Dortmund
      Lazio v Bayern Munich
      Copenhagen v Man City
      RB Leipzig v Real Madrid
      More from Edu
      Edu has also insisted that Arsenal need to “maintain” the performances in order to progress in the competition.
      He added: “The most important thing for us is to maintain our performances and the way we are playing.
      “That’s our focus, that’s where we want to be and want to keep growing, so let’s see how far we can go in the competition.
      “We want to try and go as far as possible, but we are very much concentrating on playing well, performing well and playing the best football we can, and then we’ll see how far we go.”
      More from Begiristain
      Txiki Begiristain has also insisted that Man City “know” how to win the Champions League.
      He added: “We know what it takes now to win this Champions League and we want to do it again,”
      “We finished top of the group, and we have played well in Europe.
      “Once we are in the knockout rounds, we have to understand why we are. The respect for all the contenders is huge.
      “But, of course, all the opponents will be difficult and the first one we have to work on is Copenhagen.”
      Credit: PA:Press Association
      City need to be ‘careful’
      Director of football Txiki Begiristain has also reacted to Manchester City’s round of 16 draw against Copenhagen.
      He said: “In the group phase they played against Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Manchester United and they went through. They were the second-best team in the group so it means a lot.
      “They have been better than Manchester United and Galatasaray, two clubs with a much more experience in the Champions League than them. So we have to be careful.
      “We have to take it seriously and respect what they have done. They have something very good.
      “We have already played Copenhagen (in the Champions League last season) so we go back to Copenhagen which is a wonderful place to visit.
      “They played very well at home but what happened two years ago means nothing.”
      Europa Conference League draw

      Sturm Graz vs Slovan Bratislava
      Servette vs Ludogorets
      Union Saint-Gilloise vs Eintracht Frankfurt
      Real Betis vs Dinamo Zagreb
      Olympiacos vs Ferencvaros
      Ajax vs Bodo/Glimt
      Molde vs Legia Warsaw
      Maccabi Haifa vs Gent

      Aston Villa will head straight into the round of 16.
      Edu reacts to draw
      Edu has reacted to Arsenal’s draw against Porto in the Champions League round of 16.
      Speaking after the draw, he said: “We are going to play against a club that is very used to playing in the competition because they play in it every single year and they have a lot of players as well with big experience.
      “We have to understand how are we going to play and respect them as much as we can. We will play our game and see if we can go through this stage.
      “We can see how they are playing, how organized they are, and the players that they have. Porto is a club that you have to be really prepared to play against or we’ll have problems, so what we have to concentrate on is maintaining our levels and the way we are playing.”
      Credit: Sunday Times
      Champions League top scorers
      Despite not making it past the group stages, Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojund is among the Champions League top scorers.
      The Danish striker netted five times in the groups, equal to Alvaro Morata, Antoine Griezmann and Erling Haaland.
      Who will finish the campaign with the most goals?

      Supercomputer prediction

      A supercomputer has predicted Arsenal to win the Champions League.
      The Gunners returned to the competition this season for the first time since 2016/17.
      But it is like Mikel Arteta’s side have never been away as they picked up four wins from their six group matches.
      They even qualified with a game to spare after thrashing Ligue Un side Lens last month.
      Now a supercomputer devised by OLBG has predicted the Gunners to win the Champions League after compiling data from all group stage results ahead of the round of 16.

      Top assister
      Bukayo Saka has impressed in his debut campaign of the Champions League.
      The Arsenal star has assisted the most amount of goals [4] in the competition.
      Will he impress in the knockout stages?

      Jesus’ Champions League dream

      Gabriel Jesus has previously admitted that he wants to win the Champions League with Kai Havertz, having lost out on the cup to the German in 2021.
      He said: ”A lot, we are always joking that he [Havertz] won the Champions League against me and I always say I want to win one with him!”
      ”We always joke [about it], but now I want to win with him and Jorginho as well. He is an amazing player and the way he plays he is so strong and tall, with his quality as well he helps us a lot.
      ‘Quietly like me, he is always fighting and helping the team and the way this guy has arrived is massive. We are very happy we have him.”

      Europa League preliminary round draw
      Here is the complete draw for the Europa League preliminary round.

      Shakhtar v Marseille
      Galatasaray v Sparta Prague
      Braga v Qarabag
      Benfica v Toulouse
      Young Boys v Sporting Lisbon
      Lens v Freiburg
      Milan v Rennes
      Feyenoord v Roma

      The winners could face the likes of Liverpool, West Ham and Brighton in the following round.
      When will the draw be confirmed?
      Uefa have confirmed that the exact date and times of the round of 16 matches will be announced this evening.
      Credit: Reuters
      Full story of the draw
      Check out SunSports’ full story on the Champions League draw.

      Vieira homecoming
      Fabio Vieira will face some familiar faces when Arsenal take on Porto.
      The midfielder joined the Gunners from the Portuguese giants in 2022.
      Credit: Getty
      More fan reaction
      Football fans have been left fuming after the Champions League draw for the Last 16 was picked this morning.
      Supporters suggested that the random draw was “rigged” after Manchester City were picked against the “easiest” team in the pot and Arsenal were handed a tough tie.
      The Cityzens were drawn against Copenhagen, while Arsenal will face Porto who won the competition back in 2004.
      Copenhagen are ranked as the 37th best team in Europe according to Uefa’s own club coefficient.
      While Manchester City are considered the best team in Europe off the back of their Champions League success last season.

      Man City record vs Copenhagen
      Manchester City face Copenhagen in the Champions League round of 16.
      City beat the Danish side once in the group stages last season 5-0, drawing the other game 0-0.
      City also beat Copenhagen in the Uefa Cup 4-3 on aggregate back in 2009.
      Credit: Rex
      More on Porto’s CL history
      The Portuguese giants have won the Champions League twice in the club’s history.
      Porto first won the tournament in 1987 and again in 2004.
      The second victory was when the club was managed by Jose Mourinho.
      Credit: Getty
      Arsenal fans react to draw
      Arsenal fans have been reacting to their Champions League draw against Porto on social media
      One fan posted: “One of those teams that are exceptionally fiddly to eliminate but you’d make Arsenal strong favourites.”
      A second wrote: “Lol we are winning this comfortably at home.”
      Another added: “They’ve got some decent players. Good keeper. Won’t be easy.”
      Credit: AP More