Liverpool v Villarreal - Preview

The Kop 

Liverpool midfielder Emre Can will return to the Reds squad for the Europa League semi-final second leg against Villarreal at Anfield.

The Germany international, 22, has missed the past five matches after injuring an ankle in the quarter-final win over Dortmund. 

Liverpool must overturn a 1-0 deficit to reach their first European final in almost a decade.

The Reds, who lost to AC Milan in the 2007 Champions League final, are attempting to win silverware in Jurgen Klopp's first season as manager. Since replacing Brendan Rodgers in early October, the 48-year-old German has named strong line-ups during their Europa League run.

Former Dortmund manager Klopp's side were installed as favourites to win Europe's secondary club competition - which would earn qualification for next season's Champions League - after their thrilling win against his old club.

But Villarreal substitute Adrian Lopez's injury-time winner last week gave the Spanish side a slender advantage in the fight to reach the 18 May final.

"If we play our best then we can go to the final," said Klopp. "These players gave me a lot of positive signs about their qualities.

"We are ready. All we did since October was to be perfectly prepared for a game like this. We are not expecting a guarantee to go to the final. We are expecting everything and see what we get for it."

Villarreal have a fully fit squad to choose from, with defender Eric Bailly and forward Leo Baptistao recovered from injuries.

The winners will face either Spanish holders Sevilla or Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, who drew 2-2 in their first leg, in the Swiss city of Basel.

"We come here full of hope," said Villarreal manager Marcelino. "We are going to give everything we have got and enjoy ourselves. We feel we have the capabilities to make it through to the final."

Three years after being promoted back to La Liga, Villarreal have reached a European semi-final for the fourth time, but have never made it to a final.

In contrast, Liverpool have won five European Cups and lifted the Uefa Cup three times before it was rebranded as the Europa League.

However, while Liverpool need to win the Europa League to qualify for next season's Champions League, Villarreal are already assured of a place in Europe's top club competition after securing a fourth-place finish in La Liga.

"Liverpool as a club have an extraordinary squad of footballers when you consider Benteke cost the whole turnover as Villarreal as a club," said Marcelino.

"But this group of players needs to be proud of what they have achieved as we are already qualified for the Champions League. This is an occasion to be celebrated."

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Benteke Not Load of Klopp - Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers has defended the signing of Christian Benteke by claiming his successor at Liverpool, Jürgen Klopp, tried to buy the striker when he was in charge of Borussia Dortmund.

“I took him to Liverpool in the summer because we were really short on goals and the one thing he does give you is goals, but obviously it’s going to take him time to get up to the way the team wants to play and Jürgen wants to press,” Rodgers told Talksport.

“I think Jürgen will take his time with him,” he added. “In this country, now, everything is very ‘short-termism’, isn’t it? People look at it like, you’ve got to come in, get 20 goals in your first season or you might be deemed a failure.

“I don’t think Jürgen’s looking at it as that. He tried to sign him for Dortmund. He knows he’s a good player. He met the boy, he met the agent, he met them in Germany, so he knows he’s a good player.”

The Belgian striker cost Liverpool £32.5m from Aston Villa in July in what appeared to be a panic buy by Rodgers but has largely been kept on the bench since Klopp took over in October.

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What Next for Mourinho Box Office

Chelsea have sacked manager Jose Mourinho seven months after he led them to the Premier League title.

The 52-year-old Portuguese had been in his second spell at the club, taking charge in June 2013.

Chelsea finished eight points clear last season and won the League Cup, but have lost nine of their 16 league games so far and are 16th in the table, one point above the relegation places.

Mourinho's final match was Monday's 2-1 defeat at leaders Leicester City.

Guus Hiddink, Brendan Rodgers, Diego Simeone and Juande Ramos have all been touted as possible successors. However it is likely that Hiddink will step in once again as interim manager given his relationship with Abramovich.

With Pep Guardiola to announce his plans next week - after Bayern Munich - the media will no doubt now view him as the natural successor at Stamford Bridge. Despite the fact that Manchester City appear to have been the favourites up to this moment. 

Estimates this week suggested that club owner, Roman Abramovich, will be forced to pay Mourinho more than £40million if he was fired and perhaps the reason behind the slowness of the announcement ad the Chelsea management team of Bruce Buck, Marina Granovskaia, Eugene Tenenbaum and Michael Emenalo discussed the options at the club's Cobham base on Wednesday.

The huge severance and a strong relationship with worlds super agent, Jorge Mendes, on his side Mourinho will no doubt have some longer terms plans after some well earned time out of football. Something that would offer the limelight he craves in other media circles.

After establishing a number of records in the game at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid there appears little for Mourinho to achieve in football in the short term.

What is indisputable is that every move Jose makes has an alterior motive or objective. So his well heralded departure from Stamford Bridge ensures a financial windfall that leaves him with no need to ever work again. Allowing him enjoy the game from the stands or in the TV studios.

With Gary Neville gone to Spain Mourinho would be box office for Sky Sports, BT Sport or others. All willing to get out their cheque books no doubt as the news broke.

© OSMedia

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What Next for Mourinho Box Office

Chelsea have sacked manager Jose Mourinho seven months after he led them to the Premier League title.

The 52-year-old Portuguese had been in his second spell at the club, taking charge in June 2013.

Chelsea finished eight points clear last season and won the League Cup, but have lost nine of their 16 league games so far and are 16th in the table, one point above the relegation places.

Mourinho's final match was Monday's 2-1 defeat at leaders Leicester City.

Guus Hiddink, Brendan Rodgers, Diego Simeone and Juande Ramos have all been touted as possible successors. However it is likely that Hiddink will step in once again as interim manager given his relationship with Abramovich.

With Pep Guardiola to announce his plans next week - after Bayern Munich - the media will no doubt now view him as the natural successor at Stamford Bridge. Despite the fact that Manchester City appear to have been the favourites up to this moment. 

Estimates this week suggested that club owner, Roman Abramovich, will be forced to pay Mourinho more than £40million if he was fired and perhaps the reason behind the slowness of the announcement ad the Chelsea management team of Bruce Buck, Marina Granovskaia, Eugene Tenenbaum and Michael Emenalo discussed the options at the club's Cobham base on Wednesday.

The huge severance and a strong relationship with worlds super agent, Jorge Mendes, on his side Mourinho will no doubt have some longer terms plans after some well earned time out of football. Something that would offer the limelight he craves in other media circles.

After establishing a number of records in the game at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid there appears little for Mourinho to achieve in football in the short term.

What is indisputable is that every move Jose makes has an alterior motive or objective. So his well heralded departure from Stamford Bridge ensures a financial windfall that leaves him with no need to ever work again. Allowing him enjoy the game from the stands or in the TV studios.

With Gary Neville gone to Spain Mourinho would be box office for Sky Sports, BT Sport or others. All willing to get out their cheque books no doubt as the news broke.

© OSMedia

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Sports Quotes - Bob Paisley

“If you’re in the penalty area and don’t know what to do with the ball, put it in the net and we’ll discuss the options later.”

Bob Paisley, Liverpool FC

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Cheryshev Gives Rafa Real Headache

Real Madrid could face disqualification from the Copa del Rey after appearing to field an ineligible player in their 3-1 fourth-round victory over Cadiz on Wednesday night.

Denis Cheryshev had given Rafael Benítez’s side the lead at the Ramón de Carranza but the Russia international had a one-game ban hanging over his head.

The 24-year-old had picked up three yellow cards during the competition with former club Villarreal last season and this was the first opportunity the winger had to serve the accompanying ban.

But, with Benítez making a host of changes, Cheryshev’s ban was overlooked as he started against the third-tier side.

Cheryshev, who scored after three minutes against Cadiz, was taken off just after half-time by Benítez after the Cadiz fans had spent much of the first half chanting “Benítez, look at your Twitter,” and “Cheryshev can’t play”.

“We had no idea that Cheryshev was ineligible to play,” said the manager after the game. “No one informed us of this situation. As soon as we were aware we took him off.”

A double from Isco secured victory for the 19-times Copa del Rey winners, with Kike Márquez scoring a late reply for the hosts.

Cadiz would have to report the situation to the Spanish Football Federation on Thursday and the club’s Twitter feed, Cadiz-CF, said during the game: “The Board of Directors of Cadiz-CF will meet at the end of the match.”

Last season Osasuna were kicked out of the tournament for playing an ineligible player as Unai García was selected in the win over Mirandes despite being sent off the previous year.

Benítez was manager of Valencia when they were disqualified from the Copa del Rey having played too many non-EU players during a tie against Novelda in 2001.

Benítez saw his side take the lead in the third minute on Wednesday as Cheryshev arrowed home a left-footed drive after a smart pass from James Rodríguez.

Lolo Pla and Wilson Cuero came close to equalisers for the third-tier team as they looked to hit back quickly.

Cheryshev then passed up the chance to add a second with Rodríguez unable to turn home Alvaro Arbeloa’s pass as Madrid went in one ahead at the interval.

Mateo Kovacic then came on for Cheryshev just after the start of the second-half but the inclusion of the player in the starting line-up could result in Real’s expulsion from the competition.

Madrid made sure of victory on the night as Isco struck twice, grabbing his first with a well-taken effort on 65 minutes and putting the visitors further ahead nine minutes later after more smart work from Rodríguez.

The substitute Márquez reduced the arrears with two minutes remaining but it remains unclear who will advance into the fifth round.

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Howard Kendall 1946 - 2015

Former Everton manager Howard Kendall has died at the age of 69.

Kendall played for the Toffees and managed them on three occasions, with his first spell in charge being the most successful in the club's history.

He led the side to two First Division titles, as well as an FA Cup triumph and European Cup Winners' Cup win.

In a managerial career of more than 700 games, Kendall also took charge of Blackburn, Manchester City, Notts County and Sheffield United.

Born in County Durham, Kendall played over 100 times for his first club Preston North End, becoming the youngest player to play in a Wembley FA Cup final aged 17 years and 345 days in 1964.

He joined Everton in 1967, losing another FA Cup final in 1968, before the Toffees won the First Division title two seasons later.

He made more than 200 appearances for the club, who described him as "one of the greatest players to pull on the Everton jersey". He also played for Birmingham, Stoke and Blackburn.

Kendall's first managerial job was at Ewood Park, before moving to Everton in 1981.

He led the Merseyside club to the league title in 1985 and 1987, plus FA Cup victory in 1984. The club also won the European Cup Winners' Cup the following season.

"Everton won't be the same without Howard," former Toffees midfielder Peter Reid told BBC Radio 5 live.

"His dressing room was lively, when you were winning and even more when you were losing.

"A great person. Very astute and a great man-manager, and just a fantastic man. I'm devastated - he was my friend as well as my boss."

Former Everton and England striker Gary Lineker said: "Brilliantly managed the best club side I ever played for at Everton. Great bloke."

After Everton, Kendall went to Spain to manage Athletic Bilbao, before returning to England at Manchester City, followed by his second stint at Goodison Park.

He had short spells at Notts County and Sheffield United, before his final time at Everton between 1997 and 1998, his last managerial job.

In a statement, Everton said Kendall passed away in hospital in Southport, surrounded by loved ones.

Shadow Home Secretary, MP for Leigh and Everton fan Andy Burnham: "Struggling with awful news that the finest manager in our history, the great Howard Kendall, has passed on. Thanks for the memories, Howard."

Former Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall: "A great manager an even greater man. What ever I did was solely down to him. Gentleman, friend, mentor. Will miss him. Gutted."

Former Everton midfielder Kevin Sheedy: "So privileged to have played for Everton's most successful manager. Absolutely devastated at this sad news. RIP boss."

Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher: "RIP Howard Kendall the greatest Everton manager there has been. He gave me some of my best football memories especially in the 84/85 season."

Former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish: "Very, very sad news about Howard Kendall. Total respect for him as a player manager and person. Fantastic character. Be sadly missed. A legend."

Former Manchester City player Paul Lake: "A sad day. Howard Kendall was a hugely intelligent and inspirational man who had a knack of bringing people together. He'll be sorely missed."

"Howard Kendall's greatness stretched across Everton's generations - as part of the midfield 'Holy Trinity' with Alan Ball and Colin Harvey in the 1969/70 title-winning side to his status as the club's most successful manager," said BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty.

"Kendall presided over a remarkable transformation in Everton's fortunes, taking a club on its knees at the end of 1983 to the finest in Europe only 18 months later after winning the FA Cup in 1984 and the title and European Cup Winners' Cup in 1985.

"He was admired by both Everton and Liverpool fans alike as a man who lived life to the full and the emotions on show at Goodison Park on Saturday will be testimony to his stature."

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