Showing posts with label Philippe Coutinho. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philippe Coutinho. Show all posts

Wednesday, 18 May 2016

Liverpool v Sevilla - Preview


Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson could make his first start since early April in the Europa League final against Spanish side Sevilla.

The England midfielder, 25, returned from a knee injury in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw at West Brom.

Striker Divock Origi could also feature in Basel, Switzerland after returning to training following an ankle injury.

Defender Mamadou Sakho is still banned after failing a drugs test as the Reds chase their 12th European trophy.

"I don't expect to start," said Henderson. "I know I've been out a long time and I've only played 25-30 minutes.

"When I've been injured the team has done very well and played in some big games to get to the final.

"I'm ready to play as long or as little as the manager wants me to."

Sevilla - who have won the trophy for the past two seasons - have no new injury worries, with Denmark midfielder Michael Krohn-Dehli out with a long-term knee injury.

Liverpool know winning Europe's secondary club competition will earn them a place in next season's Champions League group stage. But defeat would leave the Reds without European football - for the second time in three seasons - after they finished eighth in the Premier League.

"Everyone wants to play in the Champions League but if you look back on a career with no trophies and six seasons in the Champions League, it's not the same," said midfielder James Milner.

"It's all about winning trophies and to win any European trophy is a massive achievement."

Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool manager
I came here because I was really convinced of the quality of these players. At the start I was the only person, but now a few more people know. To see how they deserve this final makes me feel really good. I am happy that they could show how strong they are. This is a big chance to take a big step.

The longer you don't win anything, the harder you try. We already know about the desire of our supporters. We know how much they want to win this cup. They showed us in an impressive way, home and away, travelling around Europe. We would really love to be the team that makes these dreams come true. I can promise that we will try everything. The problem is, Sevilla will do the same!

We have to be organised, prepared, take control of moments – be patient to pass for long enough to create that chance. In a final you need to be ready to make mistakes when the whole world is watching. Football doesn't work without mistakes. It's about finding the next solution.

Unai Emery, Sevilla coach
Every time football gives you a chance you have to take it. What we have achieved in recent years is wonderful but you can't stop there; you have to relive it, you have to experience it again. The Sevilla fans know this: they look upon the club as their second wife or second girlfriend.

Liverpool are among the best ten teams in the world. They have a great history – they have won the European Cup five times, the UEFA Cup, English league titles. The team have changed under the new coach, they are a happy team. They're like Athletic Bilbao the way they press and give 100%.

All my players have special characteristics and we need the best of them against Liverpool; we need everything they have. We want to grow. We can change history and have our names recorded in the history of the competition. We must find a balance, though, to keep our emotions in check so we can be fully focused. We'll need it.


Tuesday, 22 September 2015

Premier Faces Champions Cut


The Premier League is in danger of losing a fourth Champions League spot in the 2017-18 season if poor European performances continue this season. English teams have not reached the Champions League quarter-finals in two of the past three seasons.

New co-efficient rankings, calculated over a five-year period, show England are third, behind Spain and Germany. Italy are fourth, four points behind England. 

The top three ranked countries receive four Champions League places.

Performances in both Uefa competitions - Champions League and Europa League - are taken into consideration for the rankings with more points awarded in the elite competition (see tables at bottom of this page).

Points are awarded for qualifying for the group stages and then for each knockout round negotiated.

Four English teams have qualified for the group stages of this season's Champions League, against just two from Italy, thus earning more bonus points.

However, if last season's results were repeated - Juventus reached the Champions League final with Napoli and Fiorentina reaching the Europa league semi-finals - then Italy would jump ahead of England.

There are two English teams in the Europa League and three from Italy.

The 2017-18 season will be the first where the 2010-11 season drops out of the reckoning.

That season saw Manchester United reach the Champions League final, where they were beaten by Barcelona in Rome, while Tottenham and Chelsea made the quarter-finals.
How the points are calculated

Champions League
First qualifying round elimination - 0.5 points
Second qualifying round elimination - 1 point

Group stage participation - 4 points
Group stage win - 2 points
Group stage draw - 1 point
Round of 16 participation - 4 points

Clubs are awarded an additional point if they reach the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals or final.

Europa League
First qualifying round elimination - 0.25 points
Second qualifying round elimination - 0.5 points
Third qualifying round elimination - 1 point
Play-off elimination - 1.5 points

Group stage win - 2 points
Group stage draw - 1 point

Clubs are guaranteed a minimum of two points if they reach the group stage and are awarded an additional point if they get to the quarter-finals, semi-finals or final.


Tuesday, 15 September 2015

Benitez Rejects Gerrard Claims

Rafa Benitez has claimed that Steven Gerrard's criticism of him is just an attempt to sell more books.

Gerrard's latest tome My Story is being serialised in the Daily Mail, and the former Liverpool captain suggested Benitez didn't like him when they worked together at Anfield.

"I have read the quotes and I believe he is wrong," Benitez said on Spanish television.

"Out of the respect that I have for Stevie and for the value and appreciation I have for him, and for Liverpool and the supporters, I think it's best to just let it pass.

"He has brought out a book and now I'm the Real Madrid manager, that sells."

In the new book Gerrard reveals that when he first met Benitez, the Spaniard bluntly asked his mother, "Does Stevie like money?".

Gerrard was unimpressed and reveals in the book that: "I can pick up the phone and speak to all of my previous Liverpool managers. Except for Rafa."

The serialisation includes numerous revelations, including that Spurs were in for Gerrard when he left Liverpool last season, and the former Anfield skipper suggesting Philippe Coutinho will be tapped up by Real Madrid or Barcelona.