LIVERPOOL face a tough battle to reach the Champions League knockout stages, with elimination from all competitions a possibility.
The Reds welcome Group C leaders Napoli, with victory essential to their hopes of making the Last 16.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Liverpool 1-0 Napoli LIVE SCORE: Group C live table, commentary and updates in the Champions League
Friday, August 16, 2019
Lothar Matthaus: Jose Mourinhos team selection doesnt suit his Manchester United system as Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez fail to gel
LOTHAR Matthaus is SunSports European football expert.
Today the Germany great assesses the tensions at the heart of the Manchester United team ahead of their clash with Sevilla.
Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez are both fine players but it is clear that something is not working with them together at Manchester United.
Normally you would expect players of this quality to understand each other but the balance in the team is not right.
Jose Mourinhos problem is picking the players who fit the system but at the moment I dont have a feeling when I watch United that anybody is comfortable or that this team works.
Pogba should be able to play in a team with Sanchez but it seems they should not be on the same side of the pitch.
Jose Mourinho plays down Manchester Uniteds chances of winning the Champions League ahead of Sevilla testNeither of them is working back for the defence.
I wonder if theyre having the same problem as Edinson Cavani and Neymar are at PSG - the two of them playing for themselves and not the team. In the highest level games, that costs you.
'ALEXIS WANTED TO' Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho cannot resist another dig at Arsenal over Alexis Sanchez transfer
Each player has to give up something from his personality and ego for the good of the team.
You have to play Pogba in a 4-3-3 - but he should play on the other side to Sanchez.
When they are on the same flank there is a defensive problem - Pogba leaves that side open.
The shape should be more compact, with one holder, two more advanced midfielders, men wide and one striker.
That means no No 10 but it would be better for United and the combinations. Thats a decision for Mourinho to make, to decide which players can work with each other.
I expected more from United. They have invested a lot of money on good players but they are not playing anywhere near as well as City, Liverpool or Tottenham.
It is down to the coach to find the small details that will be best for the team.
Not whats best for Sanchez and Pogba, but what makes the team better.
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Will a midfielder be Manchester United's next big buy?
Then, if you get that balance, they have the individual qualities that can make the difference.
Good players have to work together. They have to find a way and think for the team, not about themselves.
If they cannot get it right, it may be difficult. Spanish teams are good tactically and Sevilla have a real pedigree in Europe.
They will be well organised in defence and attack although United have more quality.
Chris Smalling and Phil Jones have made too many mistakes recently.
You cannot afford to do that at this level and if they keep on making them they will concede goals.
If United play to their maximum, they will get past Sevilla. Over the two games I think they will have enough but it will be tight and I would not be surprised if the first leg ended up as a draw.
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Why do Man City fans boo the Uefa Champions League anthem and when are they playing Lyon?
MANCHESTER CITY will host Lyon at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday in their Champions League opener.
And there will also likely be a return of the booing by the City fans for the European competition's anthem. But why?
Why do Man City fans boo the Champions League anthem?
This is not something that happened overnight, rather several decisions that has built a dislike in a majority of the club's supporters towards Uefa.
It started during their 2011-12 Europa League campaign, when Porto were fined just 20,000 euros when their fans racially abused former City striker Mario Balotelli.
This is despite the Citizens receiving a 30,000 euro fine just a month later for returning to the pitch 30 seconds late for the second half in their fixture against Sporting Lisbon.
Their dislike continued in 2014 when Uefa hit them with a 49m fine for falling foul of the Financial Fair Play rules, along with transfer spending and squad size restrictions.
Tensions reached its peak later that year, when City fans had pre-booked flights and hotel rooms for their match with CSKA Moscow, only to learn the Russian club had a stadium ban.
While understandable after their fans' racial abuse and behaviour, some City supporters still attempted to get in, only to be stopped - yet hundreds of CSKA fans were inside, in front of Uefa delegates.
No sanctions or consequences for it - but the Moscow outfit had their ban reduced on appeal.
Assistant coach Mikel Arteta praises Man City squad but concedes Real Madrid are Champions League favouritesWhat time is kick-off?
This fixture takes place on Wednesday, September 19.
It will be held at the Ethiad Stadium.
Kick-off is at 8pm.
Which channel is it on and can I live stream it?
This game will be shown on BT Sports 3 and exclusively on 4UKHD.
Coverage starts at 7.15pm.
Lyon star Memphis Depay has cheeky swipe at Manchester City and says the city is still red ahead of Champions League clashUefa looking to scrap away goal rule in Champions League after Wenger and Mourinho complaints
UEFA could scrap the away goals rule in a major shake-up to the Champions League.
The governing body has listened to advise from managers including Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho, who has been vocal in his criticism.
And Kickerclaims their executive committee will discuss making the change when they meet in Rome today.
In the 1960s, home advantage was more of a significant factor with longer travel times and non-standardised balls.
And footie chiefs responded by introducing the concept of a two-legged tie being settled by which team scored the most away goals in 1965.
But the policy is seen as out of date in today's era, with advances in technology and governance levelling the playing field.
In September, a number of top coaches - including Wenger, Mourinho, Unai Emery, Max Allegri, Carlo Ancelotti, Paulo Fonseca, Julen Lopetegui and Thomas Tuchel - met to discuss away goals.
And following the chat,Uefa competition director Giorgio Marchetti said: They think that achieving away goals is not as difficult as in the past.
Watch the best Premier League goals from Saturday, Sunday and Monday"So they think the rule should be reviewed and thats what we will do."
Any changes are unlikely to be confirmed this afternoon, with European competitions returning next week.
Watch Frenkie De Jong glide past Ballon dOr winner Modric during incredible Ajax win against Real Madrid
FRENKIE DE JONG has been heralded as one of football's brightest talents - and he proved it on Tuesday night.
The 21-year-old midfielder shone for Ajax as they sensationally battered Real Madrid 4-1 in their own backyard.
That saw the Dutch giants progress into the Champions League quarter-finals and in the process dump out the reigning champs.
De Jong had some formidable opposition at the Bernabeu during the game - not least Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric.
But as this clip shows, it was definitely the Ajax man that won the battle in the middle of the park.
In fact, he even managed to leave Modric flat on his backside as he glided past the Croatian star.
The victory was extra sweet for De Jong, as he will join Real Madrid's great rivals Barcelona on the summer.
SunSport even reported how the Dutch international was urged to dethrone the European champs when he signed his pre-contract agreement to join Barca.
Asked if Barca had advised him over how to deal with the Bernabeu crowd, he toldDe Telegraaf: "No not yet. Only during my contract signing, they said: try to knock out Real.
"That would also be great for Barca, of course."
De Jong was excellent, but Dusan Tadic stole the show for the Dutch side as the 13-time winners dream of claiming four crowns in a row were spectacularly obliterated at the Bernabeu.
The formerSouthamptonstar set up Hakim Ziyech and then David Neres to fire Ajax into a 2-0 lead after just 18 minutes before finding the top corner after the break.
Marco Asensio pulled one back but Lasse Schones outrageous free-kick completed the humiliation.
Netherlands internationalDe Jong will move to the Nou Camp for 75million in the summer.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Napoli vs PSG: Live stream, TV channel, team news, kick-off time
NAPOLI host Paris Saint-Germain in a crunch Champions League match this evening, as both sides vie to stay in touch with Liverpool in Group C.
When the teams met in Paris on matchday 3 two weeks ago, a stoppage-time stunner from Angel Di Maria salvaged a draw for PSG to keep them within one point of Carlo Ancelotti's men.
What time does Napoli vs PSG kick off?
This game takes place on Tuesday, November 6.
It will be held at the Stadio San Paolo.
Kick-off is at 8.00pm.
What TV channel is Napoli vs PSGon and can I live stream it?
The match is being shown in the UK onBT Sport 3 and BT Sport Extra 3.
You can keep up-to-date with all the latest action on the SunSport LIVE BLOG.
What is the team news?
Algerian full-back Faouzi Ghoulam has returned to the Inter squad after long-term injury woes, but is unlikely to be risked - likewise winger Amin Younes.Simone Verdi and Vlad Chiriches remain sidelined.
For PSG,Edinson Cavani should return to the squad but Layvin Kurzawa, Dani Alves and Colin Dagba are yet to reach full fitness.
The Champions League is back and its live on BT SportThe bizarre reason why Young Boys believe they can beat Manchester United
SWISS minnows Young Boys believe they have a fighting chance against Manchester United because their big-name opponents are only human and take a "p*** first thing in the morning" just like them.
The Bern club host Jose Mourinho's men in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Skipper Steve Von Bergen, 35, insisted: "They have plenty of quality, but their players are no different to ours.
"They too go for a p*ss first thing when they get up in the morning.
"We have to put fear, complexes and awe to one side when we play Manchester United.
"We have been discussing the scenario of what happens if we take the lead against them."
Young Boys won the Super League in May to end a 32-year drought and have never gone this far in European football.
Defender Von Bergen played against Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez for Palermo and saw Romelu Lukaku score a hat-trick for Everton against Bern in 2015.
Striker Christian Fassnacht said: "It will be special to see players of United's calibre on Wednesday when we go into the dressing-rooms.
"But we have nothing to lose - and we expect to get points in our home matches.
"Motivation is not a problem for us."
Keeper David von Ballmoos added: "There is no point in us casting aside everything that has taken us this far, just because we are playing in the Champions League.
"We haven't come this far just to rest on our laurels. We could have more to offer than people think."
Watford 1-2 Manchester United: Romelu Lukaku and Chris Smalling strikes send Hornets to first defeat of the season
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