Rizzoli heads Euro 2016 referees

Trent Alexander-Arnold s ability to step into midfield was never in doubt, says Jurgen Klopp, but the Liverpool boss has warned his new hybrid role cannot solve all the Reds problems.

Alexander-Arnold produced an impressive display in Monday s 6-1 rout of Leeds United at Elland Road, drifting infield from his right-back position to register two assists.

By teeing up goals for Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez, Alexander-Arnold reached 50 Premier League assists – only Kevin De Bruyne (84), Andrew Robertson (53) and Mohamed Salah (53) have managed more in the competition since his December 2016 debut.

Alexander-Arnold s position has been the subject of much debate this term, with his defensive shortcomings being criticised amid a poor campaign for Liverpool.

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Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not know how much money he will have at his disposal in the transfer market amid the coronavirus pandemic.

United have been linked with big money moves for the likes of Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho, Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish and Birmingham City sensation Jude Bellingham among others.

The Red Devils – without a Premier League crown since 2013 – are expected to be active buyers in the market after watching bitter rivals Liverpool claim their first league title since 1990.

However, Solskjaer warned United s plans could be impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, which forced the 2019-20 season to be postponed in March before it returned earlier this month.

Turning up the heat in training

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Mauricio Pochettino insists Jurgen Klopp should be praised for having reached three Champions League finals, not criticised for losing the previous two.

Pochettino s Tottenham take on Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday in the first all-English showdown in the final of Europe s elite competition since Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties in 2008.

Klopp s side reached the final last season, losing 3-1 to Real Madrid, with the German also having been beaten when he guided Borussia Dortmund to European club football s biggest game of the 2012-13 campaign.

Klopp also lost the Europa League final to Sevilla in his first term in charge of the Reds, but Pochettino thinks his opposite number deserves far more credit for simply reaching this stage.

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Jurgen Klopp hailed Liverpool s reaction to the concession of an early goal after they came from behind to beat Manchester United 4-2 at Old Trafford.

The Reds looked set for another disappointing visit to the home of their bitter rivals when Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring after just 10 minutes on Thursday evening.

But goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah either side of a Roberto Firmino brace rendered a further Marcus Rashford effort irrelevant and handed Liverpool their first Old Trafford win since 2014.

And it was the mental strength shown in the aftermath of the early setback that most pleased Klopp.

He told Sky Sports: We reacted really well on their goal, it was unlucky in that moment but it was a bit like we started the game to be honest. <…

Lionel Messi not winning the World Cup with Argentina would be unfair, according to goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.

Messi has won everything on offer during his time as a Barcelona player – the Champions League, LaLiga, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana.

However, the six-time Ballon d Or winner is yet to taste senior success in an Argentina jersey following a runners-up finish at the 2014 World Cup, having also reached back-to-back Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016.

A two-time Argentina international, Pachuca goalkeeper Ustari warned against doubting captain Messi – the country s all-time leading goalscorer.

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Three games, three losses. Real Madrid s season was ended in a week.

As if a pair of Clasico defeats to Barcelona were not enough, the LaLiga giants crashed out of the Champions League to Ajax on Tuesday.

After a win over Levante on February 24, Madrid could not have imagined a week as bad as this.

The Santiago Bernabeu has seen four consecutive Madrid losses for just the third time ever and first since May 2004, and Santiago Solari s position as head coach is surely hanging by a thread.

It was a week that could not have gone any worse.

Wednesday, February 27 – Copa hopes dashed

After a 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, Madrid had hope heading back home.

They looked on track aft…

Switzerland s remarkable run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 has captivated fans at the grounds and at home.

Still, there is only one member of Vladimir Petkovic s squad who consistently has his own song belted out in stands and living rooms.

Striker Breel Embolo epitomises the golden generation of Swiss players to have emerged in the last decade: talented, spirited, and with a story to tell. He is captivating as a player and person, so much so that his name is sung with gusto at every international match to the tune of The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Oh Embolo, oh Embolo

There s no denying his popularity, but where Embolo has so far fallen short is in matching early expectations. He made his Basel debut in March 2014 and scored minutes after coming on as a substit…

Benfica have parted company with head coach Jorge Jesus by mutual consent.

The decision follows a 3-0 defeat against rivals Porto in the Taca de Portugal round of 16, with a league clash against the same opponents coming up on Thursday.

Jesus rejoined Benfica in August 2020 but could only guide them to a third-place finish in his first season, with the club failing to secure any silverware for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign.

The team s performance in Europe was particularly disappointing, crashing out of the Champions League in qualifying and then going out of the Europa League in the round of 32.

Jesus leaves with Benfica third once more after 15 games of this season, having won 12, drawn one and lost two to sit four points behind leaders Por…

Antoine Griezmann looks set to be at the heart of 2019 s major transfer saga, having announced his intention to leave Atletico Madrid.

Griezmann has been Atletico s leading light since he joined from Real Sociedad five years ago, but he confirmed on Tuesday he will leave the Wanda Metropolitano at the end of the season, with Barcelona reportedly his preferred destination.

Atletico can reflect on a period of success for the club with Griezmann playing a key role, the France forward firing them to Europa League glory last year before winning the World Cup with his country.

Replacing Griezmann will prove a major challenge for Diego Simeone as the striker has scored 133 of their 463 goals in all competitions since 2014-15, 28.7 per cent of the club s total.