Premier League

JURGEN KLOPP revealed he would “drive a player himself” should they wish to leave Liverpool after they missed out on the top four.The Reds were consigned to Europa League football next season after Manchester United’s 4-1 win over Chelsea on Thursday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side missed out on Champions League qualificationCredit: Getty
Mo Salah admitted to being “totally devastated” after missing out on a Champions League spot – saying it is the “bare minimum” for Liverpool and that there is “no excuse”.
Boss Klopp subsequently played down the Egyptian’s comments, but said that he would not stand in any player’s way if they wanted to leave in order to play in the Champions League.
Asked if he was concerned that Salah could leave, ahead of tomorrow’s final day clash with Southampton, the German said: “No worries – no.
“I only heard what he said, I couldn’t read anything that could lead in that direction.
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“Mo loves being here and Mo was part of, he said, apologies for what ‘we’ did – not apologies for ‘what the other guys did.’
“It is all fine. If ever a player would come to me and said: ‘Oh, we didn’t qualify for the Champions League, I have to leave!’ I would drive him to the other club myself.
“I would take the key and say: ‘Come in the car! Where do you want to go? I drive you.’
“That would be something I never could understand – ‘Oh we didn’t qualify for the Champions League! I need to work in the Champions League, so I go!’ I am responsible for this mess, so you cannot go in these moments. It is not the case with Mo, not at all.
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Mo Salah is ‘totally devastated’ to have missed out on the top fourCredit: Reuters
“And nobody else told me – they ask if they can have a longer holiday or whatever – but nobody asks me if after holiday they have to come back. So that was not in our conversation.”
Liverpool have reached three of the last five Champions League finals, and won the competition for a sixth time in 2019.
The Reds banked £80million for reaching last year’s final, while winning the Europa League would be worth just a quarter of that.
Quizzed if playing in Europe’s second-tier competition would be a “booby prize” for his side, Klopp, 55, said: “What is a booby?! I needed to become fifth to learn that word.
“No, not for me. I understand where you are coming from, football is like that, on the level we usually perform it is about Champions League because of the money, because of the opponents and all this.
“And it is not that I follow in the last four years group stage games of the Europa League a lot.
“When you are in the CL you have a lot of other things to do but I love European competitions. And for me that’s no difference. I know when you play there’s no difference.
“There will be difficult opponents, different countries probably and in the end a massive prize to win.
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“Not that I say now we will do that but we will try it, definitely. People may think ‘Ah, it’s just the Europa League’ but I am 100 per cent sure that come the first whistle, Thursday night, whoever is the opponent, Anfield will be rocking. And that is all I need.
“If somebody wants to go through the whole year and think ‘ah but it’s not Champions League!’ then I cannot help that person. I don’t know how you can help them.”
Klopp was not concerned by Salah’s commentsCredit: PA More

IT MAY look like a regular Nando’s and Lidl, but this retail park was once the home of one of the Premier League’s top clubs.And it was even the scene of David Beckham’s professional debut for Manchester United way back in 1992.
This retail park was once a football stadium for a Premier League clubCredit: DAVID COURTNADGE
The ground hosted the team for 95 years until 1997Credit: Getty
David Beckham came on for his Manchester United debut in 1992
There is a DFS and a Lidl at the retail parkCredit: DAVID COURTNADGE
But just five years later, the old stadium was demolished in 1997 with the club at risk of being washed away.
Now the South Coast side are revelling in their new ground and preparing for the dizzying heights of European football.
And their former stomping ground still gets plenty of visitors every Saturday afternoon… as shoppers head to the likes of TX Maxx, Pets at Home and DFS.
The stadium in question is the Goldstone Ground – home of Brighton & Hove Albion for 95 years.
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Originally part of a farm, Hove FC played on the local pitch for the first time in 1901 before Albion moved in soon after.
The ground expanded with the stands built after World War II up to its record attendance of 36,747 in 1958.
The Goldstone was used for the 1948 Olympics, hosting Luxembourg’s 6-0 thrashing of Afghanistan in the preliminary round.
And Brighton fans celebrated various promotions and cup runs – including securing top-flight status for the first time in 1979.
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Then in September 1992, the future England captain Becks would make his first appearance in senior football.
Beckham replaced Andrei Kanchelskis in a 1-1 draw in the League Cup second round – before the Red Devils won the second leg at Old Trafford.
However, Brighton’s board controversially decided to sell the ground in an attempt to clear the club’s debt.
And amid furious fan backlash, including pitch invasions and demonstrations, the final Seagulls game took place at the Goldstone in 1997 with a crucial 1-0 win over Doncaster.
The following week, Brighton earned a 1-1 draw away at Hereford on the final day of the season to stay in the EFL – and send their opponents down on goals scored.
The Goldstone sale prompted a two-year ground share at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium until 1999, when Brighton rented the Withdean Athletics Stadium – formerly a zoo – until eventually getting the keys for their impressive new stadium, the Amex, in 2011.
Now fans are delighting in the glory days of a five-year stint in the Premier League – and another campaign and European tour to come in 2022-23… with both the Amex and their old Hove home the sites of plenty of brilliant bargain buys.
It is a far cry from the pitch and stands of yesteryearCredit: DAVID COURTNADGE
Fans invaded the pitch after the controversial final game at the GoldstoneCredit: Alamy
The Seagulls first moved into the ground in 1902Credit: Getty
The stands were built up after World War IICredit: Alamy
The Goldstone Ground in Hove was once a farmCredit: Alamy
Brighton’s old home staged Olympic football in 1948Credit: Getty More

A CHELSEA fan has concocted a bizarre theory that they will win the Premier League next season… because of Juan Mata.The Blues have endured a dismal campaign this time around and sit a lowly 12th going into tomorrow’s final day.
Juan Mata left Chelsea for Manchester United in January 2014Credit: Getty – Contributor
It’s not all doom and gloom for one supporter, however, after they spotted a similarity with a previous campaign that is providing room for optimism.
Their theory concerns the possible sale of Mason Mount, with the two-time Chelsea Player of the Year reportedly “leaning” towards a summer move to Manchester United.
Mata made the same switch in January 2014, moving from Stamford Bridge to Old Trafford in a £37million deal.
Citing similarities between the situations, the Chelsea fan wrote on Twitter: “In 2014 we sold Mata to United, a two time Chelsea POTY who got an assist in a CL final win, and missed a penalty in a final shootout. We won the league the following year.
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“Mount, a two time POTY who assisted in a UCL final & has missed a cup final penalty could be off to United?”
Mata, now 35, set up Didier Drogba’s equaliser in the 2012 Champions League final triumph over Bayern Munich.
While Mount assisted Kai Havertz’s winner in the 2021 victory over Manchester City.
The Blues have endured a dreadful campaign, although fans may be heartened by reports that Todd Boehly is set to “step back” from football operations.
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Mason Mount is reportedly ‘leaning’ towards a move to Man UnitedCredit: Getty
Frank Lampard has overseen a terrible stint as caretaker boss – winning just one of his ten matches in charge and losing eight.
He is set to be replaced on a full-time basis by Mauricio Pochettino ahead of next season.
Asked if he has a message for his successor, Lampard said: “I wish the new manager well. It’s his problem, I guess.”
On how attractive the position remains, he added: “I think it’s a fantastic job because it’s the Chelsea job.
“When I took it, the first time I came, I probably got the job because a lot of top managers didn’t want the job.
“I know that for a fact, it was a big part of it, but I enjoy the process and I enjoy coming in.”
Lampard, 44, will take charge for the final time tomorrow, when the Blues take on Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.
Frank Lampard will take charge of his final match as Chelsea caretaker boss on SundayCredit: PA More

CHELSEA owner Todd Boehly is set to miss the club’s final match of the season, according to reports. The Blues have embarked on their worst-ever Premier League season, trumping even their 1993/94 campaign which saw them notch 51 points as they finished 14th.
Todd Boehly has had a tough start to life as Chelsea ownerCredit: Alamy
He is set to miss the Premier League’s traditional ‘lap of appreciation’ at Stamford BridgeCredit: PA
Fast forward to now, and the most points Chelsea can get this season is 46, and they could yet drop down to 14th place if results go against them on the final day.
Boehly, who also owns the LA Lakers and LA Dodgers, is in America on other business, according to The Telegraph.
As a result, Boehly, 49, is set to miss the final game at Stamford Bridge and the traditional “lap of appreciation” held at the end of the season by all Prem clubs.
Although this time around, it will more likely be a “walk of shame” – as dubbed by The Telegraph.
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Despite Boehly’s expected absence, it is not believed to be directly related to his reported scaling back of duties.
Indeed, the plan has always been to hand more control to sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley and chief executive Chris Jurasek for the day-to-day running of the club.
Co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali meanwhile, is set to attend despite missing the 4-1 defeat against Manchester United through illness.
However, the report adds Boehly could change his plans and make a late dash for the Newcastle clash if he wanted to.
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Co-owner Behdad Eghbali is set to attendCredit: Getty
The Chelsea faithful have already let their discontent with Boehly’s running of the club known.
Fans were involved in a heated row with the American during the 2-1 defeat to Brighton in April.
The dire season has come despite a £600million splurge on new players, though many have proven to either be not good enough or not yet ready to lead the club’s development.
Managerial decisions have been questionable too.
The sacking of fan-favourite Thomas Tuchel was far from popular.
But when replacement and supposed long-term boss Graham Potter was sacked and replaced by Frank Lampard in the interim there was bewilderment.
And just five league wins since the World Cup have signified how difficult a year it has been for the Blues. More

WE know who’s won the crown, but who’s going down?A supercomputer reckons Leicester and Leeds will be relegated alongside Southampton in Sunday’s Premier League finale, meaning Everton survive.
Sean Dyche is tipped to keep Everton up after taking over in JanuaryCredit: PA
Most of the key action n Sunday will be in the bottom four of the table and here’s the verdict on how it will all end up
But Sean Dyche’s Toffees will surely still need a reboot next season even if they do stay up.
And whatever the computer says, it will be a mega fright this weekend for all three clubs battling to avoid joining the Saints in the Championship.
Everton are two points clear of the drop zone on 33 as they face sixth-bottom Bournemouth at Goodison Park.
Leicester and Leeds are locked on 31 points and both are also at home.
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The Foxes take on West Ham while Leeds entertain wobbly Tottenham.
At the other end of the table, most of the interest centres on the two-horse race for third place as Arsenal are well clear in second behind champions Manchester City.
Erik ten Hag’s United will hope home advantage against Fulham extends their two-point lead over Newcastle to an uncatchable margin of five.
But Eddie Howe’s Magpies can keep up the pressure as they visit demoralised Chelsea – and have a goal difference of PLUS 19 better than the Red Devils.
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However, supporters in the North East might feel the supercomputer needs a Toon up – as it’s predicting United to retain third position.
The machine also believes Aston Villa will hold onto seventh place – earning a spot in the Europa Conference League.
That would be another big blow for Spurs and especially their main man Harry Kane – with Brentford also just missing out.
Villa host Brighton with a one-point cushion from Tottenham and two from Brentford.
But no matter what the rights or wrongs of the supercomputer’s predictions, Sunday is going to be a data remember! More