The legacy of every England football manager "tends to hang on a single moment or personality trait that sticks in the popular imagination".

For Sven-Göran Eriksson, who died yesterday aged 76 after suffering from pancreatic cancer, "it's hard not to think of him as a professional seducer who stumbled into football management by mistake", said Michael Lee for PlanetFootball.

But while the tabloids were keen to play up his reputation as an unlikely lothario during his time in England, Eriksson also enjoyed a "hugely successful" managerial career, said the Daily Mail. He won 18 trophies over four decades coaching the likes of Benfica, Roma, Lazio, Sampdoria and Manchester City.

On football

He is perhaps best remembered as the first foreign manager to take charge of the England men's team, and the so-called 'golden generation' of players in the early 2000s that included David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.

Back then, 23 years ago, it was a "different environment when arguably his biggest task was convincing the nay-sayers as much as doing the job", said The Mirror's chief football writer John Cross, "but then he quickly won over the England fans".

His stock phrase "First half good, second half not so good" entered the public consciousness and continues to be used to describe England's performances to this day. It perfectly "summed [up] England under Sven", said Cross: "halfway to being a really good football team".

While he couldn't translate the undoubted talent at his disposal into tournament success for England, he was still highly regarded in the UK and abroad, most notably in Italy. Having achieved a career high by guiding Lazio to the Serie A title in the 1990s, the Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport hailed him as "the master of football".

He was also gracious in defeat, no more so than when he was facing the sack at Manchester City. "Even if you know you're going to be sacked," he said, "you still have to be professional until the end, and then I can say I have done my job and my work. That's important."

On life

Eriksson was never far away from the headlines during his time in England, where his private life was a "seemingly endless source of fascination for newspapers", said Indy100. They ran stories on high-profile affairs with the likes of Nancy Dell'Olio and Ulrika Jonsson, labelling him an unlikely Swedish playboy, but that "never appeared to dampen his spirits and he always maintained a positive outlook on life".

One story that epitomises this comes from former Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann's book "The Didi Man", and took place during a post-season tour of Thailand in 2008, just days before Eriksson was let go by the club.

"One morning I was on a sun lounger by the pool when I saw Sven walking towards me carrying a silver tray with a bottle of champagne and two glasses on it," Hamman wrote. "It was still only ten o'clock in the morning… Sven came over and put the champagne on the table next to me, then placed one glass in front of me and the other by his lounger.

"I looked up and said, 'Boss, what are we celebrating?'… He turned to me and smiled that gentle smile of his and took on the air of a Buddhist philosopher as he said, 'Life, Kaiser.' Then after pausing for dramatic effect, 'We are celebrating… life.'"

Eriksson deserves to be remembered as a "terrific" football manager, said Cross, but it is this "sense of fun, the twinkle in his eye, which really defines him as one of the game's greatest characters".

"Don't be sorry, smile" was Cross's favourite Eriksson quote "among many". "That sums him up. And it fits perfectly into today because, looking back on his life, he had an absolute blast."

On death

Eriksson revealed his cancer diagnosis to Swedish radio station P1 earlier this year, saying that while he most likely had less than 12 months to live, he was trying to maintain a positive mindset.

"You can trick your brain. See the positive in things, don't wallow in adversity, because this is the biggest adversity of course, but make something good out of it."

In an Amazon Prime documentary about his life released last week, Eriksson gave an emotional farewell to his fans with some final words of wisdom.

"I think we are all scared of the day when we die, but life is about death as well," he said. "You have to learn to accept it for what it is."

And he hoped people "will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do".

A football season marked by off-field controversies may conclude with one of the Premier League's "better boardroom decisions".

On Monday, 16 of the 20 top-tier English clubs backed a proposal for a new "anchoring" system, said Miguel Delaney, chief football writer at The Independent. This is essentially a spending cap, limiting the amount a club could invest to a multiple (likely to be about 4.5 to 5) of what the lowest-earning club receives from centralised broadcasting deals. It would prevent the wealthiest clubs from accumulating more revenue to allow them to spend more, "as has been the case for most of the last 40 years". 

Manchester United, Manchester City and Aston Villa voted against the proposal, and Chelsea abstained, but only 14 votes in favour were needed for it to pass. The proposal will now be put to the clubs at the annual general meeting in June for a vote, and introduced for the 2025-26 season.

'Punish them for their success'

This is a "significant step" towards a hard salary cap, said the Financial Times sports editor Josh Noble. It's part of a broader push across European football to halt the "spiralling wage and transfer costs" that have led to "years of losses" for clubs. The financial restraint is being driven by more professional investors and weakening broadcaster demand for live TV rights. 

The Premier League is the richest domestic competition in the world, and boasts six of 10 highest-income clubs in Europe, but they have "largely failed to translate increased revenue into profits". Last season, only three out of the 20 Premier League clubs recorded an annual profit. The competition is exploring new measures to end "the cycle of overspending".

But some executives fear linking spending to income will effectively "lock in the financial advantages of the biggest clubs", said Noble, and harm the competitiveness of the Premier League. Players' unions have warned that salary caps could go against European competition law. 

The Professional Footballers' Association said it would "wait to see further details" of the proposals. But the union would "oppose any measure that would place a 'hard' cap on player wages". 

Manchester United believe the proposal would "slow down" attempts to improve playing fortunes at Old Trafford, which will "cost a lot of money", said The Athletic. Limiting spending would undermine the club's ability to compete at the highest level in European tournaments, and "punish them for their success" in generating such significant revenues year after year.

'A more equitable rule'

It's "no surprise" that Manchester City are opposing the spending cap, said Ian Herbert in the Daily Mail. City are owned by Sheikh Mansour – a member of Abu Dhabi's royal family and the current vice-president and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. When a Gulf state owns a club, state-owned companies suddenly become interested in "paying top dollar" to sponsor that club. Gulf sovereign wealth funds are "shredding" any notion of financial parity in the competition.

City also have "myriad" other ways of bringing in extra cash, like selling players' image rights to companies they have a financial interest in or "intellectual property" to other clubs they own, or similar "acts of accounting gymnastics". 

The club is facing 115 charges of breaching financial sustainability rules (which it denies). A new system of spending controls, rooted in the "mundane, transparently calculable figure of the lowest club's income", would be a "profound relief" to those living in the real world, said Herbert.

This is a "more equitable rule", said Delaney in The Independent, one that would "encourage sustainability" and help suppress the "maddening" wage race that has led to punishment for overspending and ticket price increases. 

Something that is "often overlooked", he said, is that football's product isn't stars or super-squads, but competitive games. They drive interest because they create "drama", which creates a narrative. And competition balance doesn't happen organically; it requires "heavy regulation" to prevent wealthier clubs from "sailing away". That's why this proposal is being described as "future-proofing". It won't be perfect, but it is "the right step".

After three successive Premier League titles, and five out of the last six, Manchester City once again go into a new campaign as the team to beat.

Pep Guardiola’s treble winners are aiming to become the “first club in English top-division history to win the title four seasons in a row”, said Paul Harrison on Sky Sports. With Erling Haaland leading the attack, the “odds-on favourites” have “few flaws”.

Following promotion from the EFL Championship, Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town join the upper echelons of English football. Have they “added enough to their squads” to avoid a relegation battle, or even “challenge higher up the table”?

Ahead of the opening weekend of the 2023-2024 Premier League season, we look at the pundit predictions and betting odds for the title, relegation candidates and golden boot winner.

Who will be crowned champions?

It will be “very hard for any club” to stop Man City after last season’s “superb Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League treble”, said Ian Darke on ESPN.com. And despite the “potentially damaging losses” of Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez, City’s squad “still oozes quality”. Mateo Kovacic will “fit in nicely” while the “already impressive” defence is now “bolstered” by new arrival Josko Gvardiol.

In a poll of 27 BBC Sport TV and radio pundits, 26 have predicted that City will lift the trophy, with only Ellen White tipping Arsenal. Guardiola’s team have now been the BBC pundits’ pre-season favourites in “seven of the eight seasons” since the Spaniard took charge in 2016, but they have “never been backed to this extent before”.

There is “plenty of intrigue” surrounding Arsenal and whether they will be able to “push the champions again”, said The Independent, especially after their “lucrative spending” and the addition of Declan Rice from West Ham. Nine of the paper’s writers back City to defend their title, while Michael Jones picks the Gunners. Arteta’s side have “proven they can challenge so I’ll go with them”, he said. Arsenal have “strengthened” and the “next step in their development” will be to win a “big trophy”. Why not the Premier League?

“No, everyone hasn’t said Man City,” said Mark Jones in The Mirror’s predictions. “Obviously”, City feature “quite heavily” when it comes to predicting the champions, with 11 Mirror writers backing them. But six have tipped Arsenal and four have gone for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

Title winner betting odds

• Manchester City: 5/6
• Arsenal: 5/1
• Liverpool: 8/1
• Manchester United: 12/1
• Chelsea: 20/1
• Newcastle United: 25/1
• Prices according to Oddschecker (as of 11 August)

Who will finish in the top four?

And what about the top four, asked Football365. It’s a prediction which “nobody ever gets right”. As we all know by now “this question is f***ing impossible”, said Dave Tickner, who predicts City will win the title ahead of Arsenal and Manchester United. Then it’s “any one of four or five teams” for that fourth spot.

Top four finish betting odds

• Manchester City: 1/16
• Arsenal: 4/9
• Liverpool: 4/7
• Manchester United: 4/5
• Chelsea: 7/4
• Newcastle United: 15/8
• Tottenham Hotspur: 5/1
• Brighton & Hove Albion: 15/2
• Aston Villa: 8/1
• Prices according to Oddschecker (as of 11 August)

Relegation battle: who will go down?

Luton and Sheffield United are “surely doomed before a ball is kicked”, said Sarah Winterburn on Football365. The third is “far more difficult”, but “I will opt for Wolves”. Agreeing, Ian Watson said he “can’t make a case” for Sheffield United staying up and Luton “will be the new Blackpool”, spending the season being “patronised all the way back to the Championship”. Wolves will follow them.

Relegation will be a “close call”, but Everton’s “lack of goals will tell”, said Jones in The Mirror, who sees the Toffees being “sucked into it” along with Luton and Sheffield United. You can “take your pick” from “eight or nine teams” to join newly-promoted Luton and Sheffield United in the bottom three, said Liam Prenderville in same paper. Wolves, Everton, Palace, Burnley and Bournemouth “will all be down there”, but “I think Forest will make the drop”.

Relegation betting odds

• Luton Town: 2/5
• Sheffield United: 4/6
• Nottingham Forest: 5/2
• Wolves: 11/4
• AFC Bournemouth: 3/1
• Everton: 3/1
• Fulham: 4/1
• Burnley: 9/2
• Crystal Palace: 8/1
• Prices according to Oddschecker (as of 11 August)

Golden boot: who will top the scoring charts?

Norway striker Erling Haaland scored a “record 36 goals in 35 league games” to win the golden boot last season, said Emlyn Begley on BBC Sport, and netted 52 goals, a record for a Manchester City player, in 53 games in all competitions.

If he “stays fit for the majority of the campaign”, said Greg Lea on talkSPORT, it is “hard to see” the 23-year-old finishing “anywhere other than top of the scoring charts”. Harry Kane would usually be the “likeliest challenger”, but the main doubt is “whether he will even be competing in England’s top flight this season”. Bayern Munich have had a bid accepted for Tottenham’s “talisman” and it’s likely that the England skipper will be moving to Germany.

Top scorer betting odds

• Erling Haaland (Manchester City): 4/6
• Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): 9/1
• Darwin Nunez (Liverpool): 18/1
• Marcus Rashford (Manchester United): 22/1
• Son-Heung Min (Tottenham): 33/1
• Rasmus Højlund (Manchester United): 33/1
• Alexander Isak (Newcastle United): 35/1
• Prices according to Oddschecker (as of 11 August)

He attended the Champions League final in Istanbul on Saturday, but prior to that Manchester City’s “mysterious benefactor” had only ever watched his team play once, said Sam Wallace in The Sunday Telegraph. Sheikh Mansour, a member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, must have been delighted he made the effort: he got to witness history being made. By beating Internazionale 1-0, City not only gained their first Champions League title, but became only the second English club, after Manchester United, to claim “the treble” (the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in a single season).

The match was a nervy affair, said Daniel Boffey in The Observer, with few signs of the “seemingly effortless grace that has been the hallmark of Pep Guardiola’s team this season”. But with games like this, the result is all that matters – and Rodri’s calmly taken 68th-minute goal ensured that the night ended in triumph for City.

So Guardiola has done it again, said Oliver Brown in The Daily Telegraph. He has racked up an extraordinary amount of silverware over his career: now he has trebles in two different European leagues to his name (he achieved the first with Barcelona in 2009). It’s a distinction that “almost defies belief” – one that entitles the Spaniard to be considered the greatest club manager of all time. True, he has never coached at a club with modest resources: he actually began his managerial career at Barcelona, before moving to Bayern Munich in 2013, and then on to City in 2016. But while it undoubtedly helps to be at a club that spends “north of £2bn during your seven years in charge”, it would be wholly wrong to see Guardiola as merely a “figurehead for some colossal corporate vanity project”. The 52-year-old is a genuine visionary, who has elevated football to the status of art – and who has fashioned City into “arguably the most elegant side English football has seen”.

What makes Guardiola so special is how he has “changed what is considered possible in football”, said Jonathan Wilson in The Guardian. When he arrived at Barcelona in 2008, the sport was in a period of “astringency”. Defensively minded managers such as José Mourinho and Rafa Benítez dominated the game. There was little emphasis on creativity. But Guardiola saw that technical improvements in boot, ball and pitch quality – combined with the crackdown on challenges from behind – were creating opportunities for teams to play with more freedom and more flair. He saw that football could be less about physical dominance, more about the “manipulation of space”. That has made the sport more attacking and exciting, with a higher number of goals per game. All football fans have a lot to thank him for.

Two trophies down, one to go. After winning this season’s Premier League title and FA Cup, Manchester City will head to Istanbul for tomorrow night’s Uefa Champions League final looking to complete the treble. Standing in their way at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium are Italian side Inter, who have won the Champions League three times in their history.

If Pep Guardiola’s men finally claim European club football’s biggest prize they will match the achievement of rivals Manchester United, who in 1999 became the first and only English club to have won the Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League treble. Should the dream become a reality for City, their status as one of the best sides in history will at that point be beyond dispute.

City secured their place in the final after beating holders Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the two-legged semi-final. Inter defeated city rivals AC Milan 3-0 on aggregate to progress to the Istanbul showpiece.

The ‘Holy Grail’ for City

The Citizens have “dominated” English football under Guardiola, but the European Cup has “continued to elude them”, said Joe Brophy on talkSPORT. They will make “one last push for glory” in Istanbul and “few will bet against them finally claiming their Holy Grail”, said Phil McNulty on BBC Sport. The “big question” is do the Nerazzurri have enough to stop City emulating United’s treble of 1999?

Since the Abu Dhabi United Investment Group acquired Man City in 2008, the club has been “transformed” from “mid-table mediocracy” to a “global footballing powerhouse”, said Felix Richter on Statista. However, City’s success has “always been eyed with suspicion”, as it “wouldn’t have been possible without the financial muscle of its Emirati owners”. The success has also come at a “high price”. Despite a net transfer spend of a “whopping” €1.45bn since 2008, the club has only reached one Champions League final – in 2021 where they lost 1-0 to Premier League rivals Chelsea.

City will go to Istanbul as big favourites to win the game. But until they actually get their hands on the trophy can they be ranked as a giant of European football. Speaking after the FA Cup final, Guardiola admitted that “now is the first time we can talk about the treble”. He said: “We have done incredible, five Premier Leagues, two FA Cups and Carabaos but we have to win the Champions League to be recognised how the team deserves to be. It has been amazing, been fun, but we have to win it.” City’s Spanish midfielder Rodri added: “I think Pep said that you will not be ‘big, big’ if you don’t win in Europe. It’s the exam we have to pass.”

Champions League final key details

• Who: Manchester City (Eng) vs. Inter (Ita)
• When: Saturday 10 June 2023
• Where: Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey
• Time: 8pm kick-off (BST)
• Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)

Live TV and radio coverage

The Champions League final will kick-off at 8pm (BST) on Saturday 10 June. In the UK, BT Sport will show exclusive live coverage on its 1HD and Ultimate channels and the broadcaster will also show the match free-to-air via its mobile and TV app, online at btsport.com/final, on Virgin and its YouTube channel. BT Sport’s build-up to the final will begin at 6pm. BBC Radio 5 Live Sport will have live radio commentary from the Atatürk Olympic Stadium.

The stadium

This is the second Champions League final to be played at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium. Located in the Başakşehir area of Istanbul, west of the Bosphorus, the stadium boasts a seated capacity of more than 75,000. The Atatürk previously hosted the classic final between Liverpool and AC Milan in 2005. Dubbed the “miracle of Istanbul”, Liverpool came back from 3-0 down at half-time to draw 3-3 before going on to lift the trophy after a penalty shoot-out.

Pundit predictions

According to FiveThirtyEight’s Soccer Power Index (SPI) ratings, City have a 75% chance of winning the final compared to Inter’s 25%. “Ultimately”, however, the final “isn’t a lock” for City by any means even if they are the favourites, said Paul Kasabian on Bleacher Report. Inter could come out and “play the game of their lives”, or City could “struggle mightily”. Anything can happen in a single match. On paper, the guess is that City will win “comfortably” as they are “simply too good everywhere on the pitch”. The pick is for City to win 3-1, said Kasabian.

“Everything – literally everything – is pointing towards a Manchester City win here,” said Opta Analyst. The “only hope” for Inter is that their opponents “aren’t quite at their best, and get some key decisions wrong when the ball is in dangerous areas of the pitch”. The Opta “supercomputer” gives City a “64.6% probability” of winning in 90 minutes, compared to “just 16.4%” for Inter. Overall on the night, City are given a 74.1% chance of lifting the trophy. “It will take something special for Inter to deny City the treble they are chasing.”

Will City make up for their loss in the final two years ago and “finally become champions of Europe”, or will Inter “beat the odds” and claim the continental crown for the fourth time in their history, asked ESPN. City “will win”, and “relatively comfortably”, 3-0, said Rob Dawson. There’s “no pretending” that City are “anything but overwhelming favourites”, said Gab Marcotti. “So I’m going for a 2-0 City win.” No way City are letting this one go, said Julien Laurens. Expect a “tough game against a low Inter block”, but a “moment of magic” from Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland or Bernardo Silva will “win it 1-0 for City”.

Guardiola’s team will “surely never have a better chance” of winning the Champions League, and in turn a famous treble, said Alex Young in the London Evening Standard. “That is not to say that Inter are pushovers.” Guardiola “infamously tinkered too much” when City lost to Chelsea in the final two years ago, “so there is always that danger”. But you would think “any selection should overpower Inter” tomorrow night. “Man City to win 2-0.”

I would back Manchester City, but I’ve seen this “too many times” in the past – “people expected them to turn up against Chelsea two years ago”, said Paul Merson on SportsKeeda. Inter “absolutely demolished” AC in the derby and “if they pull off a similar start”, they “have a chance”. The “only thing that could trip City up is nerves”. Merson predicts a 3-1 win for the English club.

It’s not just the pundits and data experts who have had their say on Saturday’s final – but also players from rival clubs. At last weekend’s Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold both “revealed their predictions”, The Sun reported. Mbappe believes the final will be a “great game” and he thinks that City “are going to win”. Alexander-Arnold “appeared to agree” and told Sky Sports: “I think Man City are always the favourites for everything!”

Betting odds

According to Oddschecker, City are the heavy favourites to lift the Champions League trophy tomorrow night. The English side are priced at 10/21 to win, Inter are 13/2 and the draw is 4/1. With 52 goals in his debut season at City, including 12 in the Champions League, Erling Haaland is priced at 12/5 to score the first goal in the final. The prolific Norwegian striker is also 14/1 to net a hat-trick. All prices as of 9 June.

At the start of this year, Manchester City had a “rough” few weeks, said Sam Lee on The Athletic. Their Premier League campaign was stuttering (at one point in January they were eight points adrift of Arsenal), and on 11 January they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by relegation-bound Southampton. Even more concerning for manager Pep Guardiola was that “word of disharmony in the Manchester City camp had spread far and wide”. He himself acknowledged this, referring in interviews to the poor “body language” and “mood of his players”. How things have turned around since then. Last weekend, having won their previous 12 Premier League matches, City were crowned champions for the third year in succession. And with the FA Cup final against Manchester United on 3 June and the Champions League final against Inter on 10 June, their season has every chance of getting better still. Should City claim both titles, they will become only the second English club after Man Utd to win a treble. Their status as “one of the best sides in history” will at that point be beyond dispute.

If you want an explanation for City’s current dominance of English football, you have to start with the fact of their vast resources, said James Ducker in The Daily Telegraph. This was laid bare on Sunday, when City began their title coronation match against Chelsea with “£484m worth of talent on the bench”. The starting line-up Guardiola chose to field contained only two players – Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji – who had started City’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid the previous week. The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva were all rested. And yet this “second string” still enjoyed 65% possession as they easily overcame Chelsea, a team that itself has “had lavished more than £550m on players in eight months”. It was a display which suggested that Leeds manager Sam Allardyce “may have been on to something” when he said City “have the best two teams in the Premier League”.

Yes, City’s success has much to do with the spending power of owner Sheikh Mansour, said Jamie Carragher in The Daily Telegraph, but you can’t attribute it solely to that. Were money all that mattered, Manchester United (who’ve spent more than City on players in the last decade) wouldn’t be so far behind; “Paris Saint-Germain would be delivering similar standard performances”. What sets City apart is the fact that they have, in Guardiola, the most visionary manager of modern times.

City certainly wouldn’t have lifted the Premier League trophy in five of the past six seasons had it not been for the Catalan’s manic work rate and superb motivational skills, said Paul Hirst in The Times. But another of his qualities is perhaps even more important – and that’s his commitment to changing his tactics. No other manager has grasped as fully as Guardiola that the key to maintaining supremacy in football is to avoid the trap of becoming predictable. “Every year he tries something new, whether it be a tweak in formation or the redeployment of a player in a new position.” This season’s innovation has come at the back, with his adoption of the inverted full-back – a requirement that one of the back four (usually John Stones) moves to what is effectively a midfield role whenever City have possession. Stones has been a revelation in this role: witness the way he “was running rings around Real Madrid’s midfield” during last week’s 4-0 victory in the Champions League semi-final second leg.

Some claim that City’s current dominance is worrying for the future of English football, said Martin Samuel in The Times. They predict that it will “turn the Premier League into a dull, predictable battle for second place” – the equivalent of Germany’s Bundesliga, long dominated by Bayern Munich. Such arguments, however, overlook the fact that “sporting success is about individuals, not institutions”. City wouldn’t have won what they have in recent years had it not been for Guardiola – in the same way that Manchester United’s success during the 1990s and 2000s owed everything to Alex Ferguson. Guardiola will “eventually leave”, and at that point things are likely to change. “City didn’t dominate before he arrived, and chances are they won’t after he has left, either.”

After three successive draws against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton, Arsenal’s Premier League title bid has stuttered. Up next for Mikel Arteta’s side is the showdown away at reigning champions Manchester City, who come into the big match five points behind the leaders and with two games in hand.

Tonight’s clash at the Etihad Stadium (8pm kick-off BST) has been described as a “final” by Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal’s Brazilian striker who signed from Man City last summer. If the Gunners are to be champions this season then “we will have to go there and win the game, that is all”.

However, Arsenal boss Arteta, also formerly of City as an assistant coach, does not believe the fixture will decide the title. “It will be difficult, but will it decide the season? No,” he said. “We really want it and we are again going to show it [on Wednesday night]. But it has to be perfect because that is what is demanded at this time in the season.”

In pursuit of the ‘greatest accomplishment’

City are in “relentless” form as they pursue an “incredible treble” and have 12 games left to achieve the “greatest accomplishment of all”, said the Daily Mail. A victory over Arsenal would see them “move into the driving seat in the title race”, while they also face rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final and are set to face Real Madrid in “a rematch” of last season’s Champions League semi-finals. “Can anyone derail Pep Guardiola’s bullet train?”

This title showdown “justifies weeks of hype”, said Nick Ames in The Guardian. But if Arsenal are to “stretch their lead” at the top then they must “find a way to subdue” City’s goal machine Erling Haaland and the “greatly improved” Jack Grealish.

Things could ‘get ugly’ for the Gunners

With City “really turning up the style” in recent fixtures, it is looking “increasingly difficult” for Arsenal to hang on to top spot, said Planet Sport. Both teams go into the “potential Premier League title decider” on long unbeaten runs, but with “momentum perhaps swinging towards City”.

The absence of defender William Saliba for this “top-of-the-table spectacular” means things “could get ugly” for the Gunners, said Ben Knapton on SportsMole. This is a Man City side who “just cannot stop scoring – or winning – at home” and they should stroll to a “comfortable victory” – 3-1 – to take a “giant step towards dethroning their capital counterparts”.

After going three games without victory, Arsenal can approach this as “if the pressure is off”, said Chris Sutton on BBC Sport. But that run of draws was “so damaging”, and you can see that “doubt” has kicked in. “If the Gunners can win, it would be an incredible turnaround after what has happened to them in recent weeks.” However, Sutton is “very confident” with his prediction for the game – 3-1 to City – the only thing he “wasn’t sure about” was whether Arsenal would score.

City have “come into their own” since the turn of the year and are “unlikely to relent towards the end of the season”, said Aditya Hosangadi on SportsKeeda. Arsenal cannot afford “another slip-up” in this game, but “better team” City “hold the upper hand”. Hosangadi predicts a 2-1 win for the home side.

Arsenal’s “problems at the back” are “too great to ignore”, said the Evening Standard’s Marc Mayo, who predicts a 4-2 win for City. It is “all too easy” to imagine Haaland and Co “exploiting space left in behind to secure a suckerpunch, knockout blow of Arsenal’s title dream”.

The Premier League title “isn’t quite on the line just yet”, but “in the eyes of most people it is”, said Mark Jones in The Mirror. The pundits from the Mirror Football team believe that the Etihad clash is “only going one way”. All predicting wins for City, Mike Walters, Alex Richards and Simon Mullock say 3-1; Tom Victor, Darren Lewis and John Cross say 3-0; Andy Dunn says 4-1; and Sam Meade says 2-0.

City have already beaten Arsenal twice this season and “it’ll be a surprise if they don’t make it three out of three”, said Rob Dawson on ESPN. Haaland looks “unstoppable”, which means Arsenal will “have to score at least twice” to win the game. “Arsenal’s confidence is fragile and it could be a heavy 4-0 win for City.”

How anyone could “bet staunchly” against Man City in any match in world football right now is “beyond me”, said Michael Potts on RadioTimes.com. However, “completely rule out Arsenal at your peril”. Pressure does “funny things” to football teams and while City boast “resilience and know-how to see out the title war”, they could find themselves “held up by this battle”. Potts predicts a 2-2 draw between the title rivals.

What the statisticians say

Our “trusty” AI-powered supercomputer “doesn’t like to overblow things”, said Graham Bell on Opta Analyst. But even it believes this could be “one of the most pivotal” midweeks in Premier League history. At the summit, the supercomputer puts Man City as favourites to win against Arsenal, with a 62.6% chance of doing so.

Despite coming back to draw 3-3, the result against Southampton means that Arsenal’s chance of winning this season’s Premier League is down from 32% to 19.3%, according to the Euro Club Index. Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis at data analyst Nielsen’s Gracenote, told the BBC that City’s probability of a third successive league title has increased to 80.7% with Arsenal “dropping points for the third match in a row”. Gracenote gives Arsenal a 16% chance of winning at the Etihad, while City have a 62% chance.

What the bookies say

Man City are favourites to win the title, according to Oddschecker.co.uk. Guardiola’s team are 1/4 to lift the Premier League trophy for the third successive season, while Arsenal are 10/3 to win the league for the first time since 2004. For tonight’s match, City are priced at 3/5 to win the encounter. A draw is priced at 15/4 while Arsenal are 5/1 to take three points at the Etihad.

Manchester City vs. Arsenal kicks off at 8pm (BST) and is live on BT Sport

Manchester City bosses have said the club are “surprised” by the financial charges brought against them by the Premier League. Following a four-year investigation, the club have been referred to an independent commission over a number of alleged breaches of league rules.

The reigning champions have been charged with “breaking financial fair play rules around 100 times over a nine-year period”, said Kaveh Solhekol on Sky Sports. The alleged financial breaches cover a period from 2009-10 to 2017-18 “inclusive”, the Premier League confirmed.

In a statement Man City said it “welcomes” the review by an independent commission to “impartially consider” the “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” that exists in support of the club’s position. “As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”

‘Biggest moneymakers in world football’

The Premier League’s financial fair play (FFP) rules are “designed to ensure clubs pretty much spend what they earn”, Solhekol added. “You can get around that potentially by inflating how much you’re earning or hiding how much you are spending.”

According to the Premier League statement, City breached rules requiring them to provide “accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position”, Katie Falkingham reported on BBC Sport. This information “covered club revenue, which includes sponsorship income and operating costs”. Further alleged breaches “relate to rules requiring full details of manager remuneration” – from the 2009-10 to 2012-13 seasons, when Roberto Mancini was in charge – and “player remuneration” between 2010-11 and 2015-16.

Since 2008, City “have been bankrolled” by Sheikh Mansour, the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and a member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, said Chris Burton on Goal. The investigation extends “right across what has been a glittering era” for the club since the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.

City have become the “biggest moneymakers in world football”, said Rob Harris on Sky News. The club brought in “more than £600m in revenue” last year – “fuelled by sponsorships from Abu Dhabi”. Now sponsoring City has “significant value” as one of Europe’s most successful teams with stars like “scoring sensation” Erling Haaland and head coach Pep Guardiola in the dugout.

‘Day of reckoning’

In 2020 European football’s governing body Uefa ruled that City had committed “serious breaches” of FFP regulations between 2012 and 2016, said Falkingham on the BBC. However, a two-year ban from European competitions was “overturned” by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

City “always knew there would be a day of reckoning” with the Premier League over their finances, said Simon Mullock in the Mirror. And they are “already primed for a battle” they believe will “finally clear them from allegations of cheating”.

It was “the timing” of the announcement rather than “the confirmation” of the allegations that “took City by surprise”, said Mullock. The “defiant message” is that the commission will give them the opportunity to “rid the club of the stench of suspicion” that has “lingered over them” in the two-and-a-half years since the Cas verdict.

What happens next?

If proven, the financial rule breaches would be the “greatest offences” committed by a club in the history of the Premier League, said Paul MacInnes in The Guardian. The independent commission “could recommend that City be expelled from the competition, suspended or docked points if it finds the club guilty”.

Findings of “wrongdoing” would not only be “reputationally damaging” for Man City, said Sky News, but also for the UAE and its “showpiece sports – and soft power – investment project”. While they appealed to Cas in their case against Uefa, City are “unable to do that this time”, said Mitchell Wilks on Goal. The club will now await the outcome of the Premier League’s investigation.

The proceedings before the commission will be “confidential and heard in private”, the Premier League said in its statement. The commission’s “final” decision will be published on the Premier League’s website and the league will be “making no further comment in respect of this matter until further notice”.

So “here we go again”, said Barney Ronay in The Guardian. Chapter two in the “slow-burn but undeniably gripping story of Manchester City and the case of the financial regulations”. Expect another “lawyered-up deep dive into undeclared payments, Football Leaks and the leftovers of a befuddled Uefa legal process.

“Make no mistake, though. This is serious, an array of new charges that threatens, if proven, to undermine the entire edifice of English football’s dominant power of the last decade, not to mention call into question the entire basis and motivation of the nation-state club ownership model.”

Three years ago, Manchester United came close to agreeing terms with FC Salzburg for the young Norwegian striker Erling Haaland. Although Ole Gunnar Solskjær, United’s then manager, believed he had a deal, the club’s owners blocked the move, and instead the 19-year-old went to Borussia Dortmund.

It was a decision that always seemed likely to “come back to haunt United”, said Mark Ogden on ESPN. And at the Etihad last Sunday, “it certainly did”. Playing his first derby for Manchester City – the club he joined over the summer – Haaland rampaged through United’s defence “like a teenager playing against nine-year-olds”. He scored a hat-trick and created two other goals as City thrashed their rivals 6-3 – a scoreline that flattered Erik ten Hag’s side. Combining raw power and pace with “fantastic movement”, Haaland demonstrated – not for the first time this season – why he is the “best player in the world” right now.

Already smashing Premier League records

Haaland’s numbers are swelling at a “frightening rate”, said James Ducker in The Daily Telegraph, and even if he has a sticky patch at some point, the records look likely to go on falling. In eight Premier League appearances for City, he has scored 14 goals – a strike rate of 1.75 goals per game. Maintaining that ratio, it will take him just 19 games to eclipse Mohamed Salah’s 32 goals for Liverpool in 2017-18, the highest ever haul in a 38-match campaign.

No less astonishing is the fact that Sunday’s hat-trick was the third Haaland has scored for City, said Colin Millar in the Daily Mirror. It took Michael Owen – previously the fastest player to three PL hat-tricks – 48 games to reach that milestone. Cristiano Ronaldo, the game’s greatest ever goalscorer (who was watch­ing from the bench on Sunday), has bagged just three hat-tricks for United in 232 appearances.

‘Intoxicating’ football

What makes Haaland so uniquely dangerous is that he combines the traditional virtues of the centre forward – explosiveness, muscularity and a predatory goalscoring instinct – with the pace of a world-class sprinter, said Pol Ballus on The Athletic. Playing for Dortmund in 2020, he came close to breaking the world record for 60m, when he covered the distance in 6.64 seconds. As a result of this blistering pace, Haaland can “avoid being caught offside while still managing to find positions from which he can finish first time”.

Already ridiculously good before Haaland’s arrival, City are now an “even better, more exciting” team, said Henry Winter in The Times. “Rarely has English football witnessed such intoxicating football.” It’s true that Arsenal have a one-point lead in the league, but on the evidence of this performance, it is City who “play the best football” and who are firm favourites to retain their title.

When Manchester City signed Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund this summer there were some critics who believed that the young Norwegian may struggle with the rigours of English football. Four games into his debut Premier League season the 22-year-old has already hit six goals, including his first City hat-trick in the 4-2 victory over Crystal Palace at the weekend.

After City triggered the £51m release clause in his Dortmund contract, Haaland has “loudly gone about silencing those who questioned his move to the Etihad Stadium”, said Alex Brotherton in the Manchester Evening News. With sceptics insisting that the “club and player were not a good fit”, you “don’t have to be a football expert” to know that there are “quite a few people out there with egg on their faces”.

Ian Wright, the former Arsenal and England striker, went as far to say that Pep Guardiola and City now have a “goalscoring monster” leading their attack. “He’s a monster – he’s a goalscoring monster,” Wright said on BBC’s Match of the Day. “For somebody that we were so excited to see, in a team like City he’s going to score loads of goals.”

With his 19-minute hat-trick against Palace, Haaland has now scored 161 times in his past 148 starts for club and country.

He’s like an ‘alien’

After making his professional debut in 2017 as a 15-year-old for hometown club Bryne in Norway, Haaland then went to play for Molde, Red Bull Salzburg and Dortmund. Everywhere he’s played, including international football, he’s been a “goal machine and record breaker”, said the AFP news agency.

At Molde in Norway he scored 20 goals in 50 games then in Austria for Salzburg he netted 29 in 27, including a hat-trick on his European debut. Signing for German giants Dortmund in a €20m deal in December 2019, he tallied 86 goals in 88 matches and was the youngest player to chalk up 50 Bundesliga goals, reaching the milestone in just 50 games. At senior international level he has also excelled, scoring 20 goals in 21 appearances for Norway.

These staggering numbers made him the world’s “most-wanted centre-forward”, said Chris Wright on ESPN. The stats also show that “neither Guardiola nor the Premier League have had a player quite like City’s new striker”, said Adam Bate on Sky Sports. “And that is a problem for everyone else.”

City boss Guardiola has “already fallen in love with him”, said Luke Edwards in The Telegraph. However, it’s the reaction “across the other 19 dugouts” where managers have been “calling each other to sound out ways to stop him”. After City fell two down against Palace on Saturday, Haaland delivered “a monstrous performance” which was both “brutal and beautiful”. The “lethal” centre-forward is “spooking Premier League opponents” and one rival boss has described him as “like an alien... stronger, taller, faster than anything we have seen before”.

The final piece in the City jigsaw?

Since taking over as manager in 2016, Guardiola has led City to four Premier League titles, an FA Cup and four league cups. Despite spending more than €1bn on players, the Spaniard has yet to add the Champions League trophy – the Holy Grail – to the club’s silverware collection.

Having reached three quarter-finals, the semi-finals and one final in the past five seasons, could Haaland be the “final piece in the jigsaw” for City in their Champions League quest, asked Steve Sutcliffe on the BBC.

Former Newcastle and England striker Alan Shearer believes that Haaland should be looking to score “30, 35, 40” goals a season because of the amount of chances that City create. “For so long, City had been playing without that focal striker,” Shearer told BBC Sport. “There is no doubt he is seen as the final piece in the jigsaw to take them over the line in the Champions League.”

In this season’s Champions League, City have been drawn in group G with Spanish side Sevilla and Danish club FC Copenhagen. They will also face Dortmund, said Sky Sports, with Haaland set to get “a speedy reunion” with his former club.

The Premier League campaign isn’t yet over, but Manchester City have already started their planning for next season by announcing an “agreement in principle” with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of Erling Haaland.

In a statement released on Tuesday, City confirmed that a deal had been reached for the 21-year-old to join on 1 July, which remains “subject to the club finalising terms with the player”.

Haaland passed a medical this week and the deal ends Pep Guardiola’s search for a “long-term successor” to City’s record goalscorer Sergio Agüero, said Will Unwin in The Guardian. The striker’s €60m (£51.5m) buyout clause has been met and it’s understood that he will earn £375,000 a week, plus bonuses.

A ‘homecoming’ for Haaland Junior

This is a “homecoming of sorts” for the Norwegian, said Chris Wright on ESPN. Alf-Inge Haaland, the player’s father and now agent, played for City between 2000 and 2003.

It’s certainly a “fantastic story” for Haaland Junior, who has “obviously grown up with a real affection” for the club, said Ben Ransom on Sky Sports News. “I’m sure everyone has seen the photos of him as a kid in a Man City shirt.”

Haaland was born in Leeds in the summer his dad joined City from Leeds United, The Daily Telegraph reported. He has attended “several games down the years” and he told City that he wanted to join them for “emotional and football reasons only”.

‘Goal machine’

After making his professional debut in 2017 as a 15-year-old for hometown club Bryne in Norway, Haaland has since played for Molde, Red Bull Salzburg and Dortmund.

He scored 27 goals in 29 games for Austrian side Salzburg, including a hat-trick on his European debut, and this put him “on the radar” of Dortmund, who signed him for €20m in December 2019, said AFP. In Germany the “goal machine and record breaker” has scored 85 times in 88 matches and is the youngest player to chalk up 50 Bundesliga goals, reaching the milestone in just 50 matches.

At international level he has also excelled, scoring 15 goals in 17 appearances for Norway. These staggering numbers have made him the world’s “most-wanted centre-forward”, said Wright on ESPN. And his move to City will be “the next phase of his meteoric career”.

‘A galactico signing’

Established as one of Europe’s “most ruthless goalscorers”, Haaland is 6ft 4in with broad shoulders and can “overpower centre-backs with his strength, outrun them with his speed and outwit them with his skills”, said Adam Bate on Sky Sports. Turning 22 in July, “he might be the next best player in the world”.

For the City players, ��this will feel like a galactico signing”, said former Scotland midfielder Don Hutchison on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast. “It is amazing that Haaland is coming to the Premier League.”

For City’s rivals though, the signing of Haaland may not be such an amazing prospect. The “worried reaction” by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp “speaks volumes”, said Jake Polden in the Daily Mirror. Klopp, whose side are currently level on points with City at the top of the Premier League table, said Haaland is a “real beast” and “unfortunately, he’s a really good signing”.

Can he help City finally win the Champions League?

In April last year – at 20 years and 231 days old – Haaland became the fastest and youngest player to reach 20 Champions League goals. Since making his Champions League debut in 2019 for Red Bull Salzburg, Haaland has netted 23 times in the competition and it’s “a record bettered only by Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema”, said Giacomo Pisa in The Sun.

Spaniard Guardiola has won ten trophies with City since his appointment in 2016. He is, however, still without a Champions League win with the Etihad club. Will Haaland be the man to finally deliver the Champions League title for Man City, Pisa asked. “Well if his stats in the competition are anything to go by, you wouldn’t bet against Guardiola’s side lifting the trophy in Istanbul in 12 months time.”

Real Madrid may have lost 4-3 to Manchester City in the first leg of the Uefa Champions League semi-finals, but their hopes of winning the competition for a record 14th time have been kept alive once again by the exploits of Karim Benzema.

The French striker, 34, scored two goals in a classic at the Etihad Stadium. He netted his first on 33 minutes after sweeping home Ferland Mendy’s cross. His second, a brilliant “Panenka” penalty, ensured a grandstand second leg next Wednesday in Spain.

‘Ice cold, this guy’

Showing “nerves of steel” with eight minutes remaining, Real captain Benzema “dinked” his spot-kick over City keeper Ederson to make it 4-3 on the night, said BBC Sport. The “nonchalance summed up a sensational match” between two of Europe’s heavyweights.

Speaking on BT Sport, former England defender Rio Ferdinand praised the forward’s confidence for the vital spot kick. He’s “ice cold, this guy”, Ferdinand said of the four-time Champions League winner. “Even if it was in the last minute, he would’ve still executed it.”

With context, the “audacious” Panenka is “even more breathtaking” when you consider that he has missed three out of his last four penalties, including two in the same game against Osasuna last week, said Daniel Davis in the Daily Mail.

Benzema said it was “mental confidence, that’s all” on his Panenka. “I have a lot of confidence in myself so I do it and it turns out well.” He also revealed that he changed his technique after being studied by opposition goalkeepers. Even he admitted that his penalty was “cold blooded”.

One of the world’s great strikers

Death, taxes, Benzema scoring in the Champions League. “Some things are just certainties in life,” said Anish Dogra on talkSPORT. After his brace in Manchester, he has now netted 14 goals in the competition this season, surpassing Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski.

Benzema netted five times in the group stages, but it’s been in the knockouts where he has really made the headlines. In the round of 16 he netted a second-leg hat-trick as Real came back to beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 on aggregate. Then in the quarter-finals against Chelsea he scored another hat-trick in the first leg at Stamford Bridge and a 96th-minute extra-time header at the Bernabéu to send Real through to the semi-finals 5-4 on aggregate.

With Benzema in their attack, Real will “always have hope”, said Phil McNulty on the BBC. The Frenchman deserves his place in the “upper echelons of the great strikers in world football”.

Favourite to win the Ballon d’Or?

After 66 goals in 148 games for Lyon, Benzema left the French club for Madrid in 2009. He has now racked up 600 appearances for the Spanish giants and scored 320 goals. This makes him the club’s third-highest goalscorer of all-time behind former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo (450) and Raúl (323). He has also won an impressive 20 trophies during his time at the Bernabéu: four Champions Leagues, four Club World Cups, three Uefa Super Cups, three La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys and four Spanish Super Cups.

With his milestone appearance at the Etihad, Benzema has equalled Paco Gento for the number of games in a Real shirt, Marca reported. He has “undoubtedly” been the “most decisive player” in the Champions League this season, but with 41 goals in 41 games for Real across all competitions this also makes him “favourite to win the Ballon d’Or”.

Ahead of the first leg, Man City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan said Benzema has “everything it takes” to win the Ballon d’Or. And his chances of scooping the award in 2022 might have been improved by a “change of criteria which means players will now be judged over the course of a typical club season rather than a calendar year”, said James Walker-Roberts on Eurosport.

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has regularly praised the skipper for his leadership and for setting an example to the rest of the squad. “He has so much personality,” Ancelotti said after Real’s win at Chelsea earlier this month. “He knows he’s a very important player here. Karim improves every day like a fine wine.”

This season’s Premier League title race looks set to go to the wire. With seven fixtures remaining, just one point separates the division’s top two teams. In the blue corner you have defending champions Manchester City, who are top with 74 points from 31 games. In the red corner is Liverpool, who are second with 73 points from the same number of matches played.

In Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash at the Etihad Stadium, the title rivals played out a “classic” 2-2 draw, said Phil McNulty on the BBC. The meeting between “the country’s two outstanding sides” lived up to its pre-match billing and “in the end there was nothing to separate them, with the destination of the title still hanging in the balance”.

City and Liverpool have been “involved in some epic battles” in recent seasons, in particular in 2018-19 when City pipped their rivals to the title by a single point, said AFP. Expect another thrilling end to this season’s main club competitions. The next instalment comes on Saturday in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. “This time they know there cannot be a draw, with Liverpool’s bid for an unprecedented quadruple and City’s treble chase on the line.”

There could even be the possibility of a Uefa Champions League final featuring the two teams. “For many, such a match-up would merely confirm what we already know – they are the best two sides not only in England but also in Europe.

What Guardiola and Klopp said after the 2-2 draw

Praising his opponents as “a joy to watch”, City head coach Pep Guardiola said his side have given Liverpool “a life” in the title race, The Guardian reported. The Spaniard believes City will need to win all of their remaining matches if they are to retain the championship.

“We know now that one game and a dropped result, then we will not be champions,” he said. “Will it be easy? Absolutely not but it will be difficult for them too. Seven games in the Premier League is a lot [to win] – they are tough games and they have tough games.”

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insisted his team would “not stop chasing” the champions and compared the rivalry to two heavyweight boxers. “We can describe it like a boxing fight,” the German said. “Both arms down for a second and you get a massive knock. You can shake it off a bit and then the next knock is coming from the other team. Now it is seven games to go for both teams. We will not stop chasing now. That is clear.”

Pundit predictions: who will win the title?

Before the start of the season, City, Chelsea and Liverpool were the favourites to win the Premier League. Now it’s a two-horse race. Here we look at the pundit predictions for the title with seven matches remaining.

The “enthralling” 2-2 draw leaves the title race “finely poised as we enter the final six weeks of the campaign”, said the Daily Mail. The paper’s Sportsmail team has “looked into its crystal ball” to predict the outcome of each side’s remaining fixtures. They tip Man City to get six wins and one draw from their seven matches to finish with 93 points. However, the Mail predicts that it will be Liverpool who end up as champions, winning their remaining seven games and finishing with 94 points – just one more than City.

In a manner “neither of these formidable teams are likely to”, “we’ve bottled it a bit”, said Dom Farrell on The Sporting News, which has also predicted the results of the key fixtures. “We have each of City and Liverpool winning six and drawing one of the remaining games and Guardiola claiming his fourth title in five seasons by the solitary point advantage in place today.”

It should be a title race that will “go down in top-flight folklore”, said Matt Whiley on Planet Sport. After looking at the fixtures and “using some good old-fashioned stats”, he predicts Liverpool to pip Manchester City to the title by two points.

There are “five key games” that will decide who becomes champions, said the i news site. The key clashes will be Liverpool’s home fixtures against Manchester United and Tottenham and City’s away matches at Leeds and West Ham and their home game against Aston Villa.

According to Oddschecker.com, the bookies have Man City as 4/9 favourites to win the Premier League while Liverpool are priced at 15/8.

Premier League run-in: which fixtures are left?

The rest of Man City’s league fixtures – four at home and three away – “seems favourable in comparison to Liverpool’s”, said Jeorge Bird on The Sporting News. However, in their final three matches City come up against “complicated” opponents: Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa. Liverpool “clearly have a tougher run-in than City” and it “certainly won’t be easy” for Klopp’s team. They still have to play Man Utd, Spurs and Merseyside rivals Everton.

Man City’s remaining Premier League fixtures

Liverpool’s remaining Premier League fixtures

It’s only “half-time” in their round of 16 tie against Sporting CP, but Manchester City already have one foot in the Uefa Champions League quarter-finals after a stunning 5-0 win in Lisbon.

Pep Guardiola’s side strolled to victory against the Portuguese champions on Tuesday night with Bernardo Silva (two), Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling on the scoresheet. Silva, in particular, was “brilliant”, said the BBC, with the former Benfica man “silencing the boos that greeted every touch” the Lisbon-born player made.

Billed as a “potentially tricky tie” for City, the beleaguered hosts “could only watch in despair” as the Premier League champions scored four goals in the first half, Sky Sports reported. This “statement” result – the joint-biggest victory by any side in the history of the Champions League knockout stages – has “further underlined why City are considered favourites to lift the trophy”.

‘Desperate to win in Europe’

Since Sheikh Mansour bought them in 2008, City have been England’s most successful club with 13 trophies in that time, talkSPORT reported. But despite their massive success domestically – and £1.8bn spent on transfers – they have still not won European football’s top club competition. The closest they have come is last year when they reached the final, but lost 1-0 to English rivals Chelsea.

City have been favourites to win the Champions League before, said Luke Edwards in The Telegraph. They were “equally impressive” on their way to the final last season, but the “ultimate prize, the club’s Holy Grail”, slipped through their fingers at the last moment. Guardiola and City’s owners are “desperate to win in Europe”, Edwards added. Could this be their moment? They will “never get a better chance”.

The Citizens’s display in Portugal has “only strengthened their case” for Champions League success this season, said the Liverpool Echo. And former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves believes they are the team to beat.

“They’re favourites to win this competition,” Hargreaves said on BT Sport. “I think these players have delivered time and time again. The margins are fine, we’ve seen that in the Champions League, but I think he [Guardiola] backs his players to get the job done this season."

Pep: ‘We can do better’

City were “sensational” against Sporting and were “seemingly playing a different version of the sport to anybody else in Europe”, said Sarah Winterburn on Football365.

Sporting will be “dismissed as sacrificial lambs” but Real Madrid would not have done this in Lisbon, she added. “Nor would Chelsea nor Bayern Munich nor PSG. Liverpool might, but the truth is that this season’s Liverpool do not look quite as devastating as this City.”

Guardiola declared City’s 5-0 demolition of Sporting as the “dream result”, The Guardian reported. But the Spaniard believes “we can do better” in terms of performance. “I am absolutely more than delighted,” he said. “We were so clinical when we arrived to the goal. We have a duty as a manager and team to analyse.”

City will welcome Sporting to the Etihad Stadium for the return leg on 9 March. Even though they have the five-goal cushion, first-leg hero Silva has urged his team-mates to “keep going”. He told mancity.com: “There’s still a job to do in Manchester, we can’t relax. In the Champions League you cannot relax.”

Just one month ago the Premier League title race looked like it would be one of the most exciting in years, with four or five teams challenging for first place. Roll on a few weeks, there’s one club who have started to sprint away from the pack.

After beating Everton 3-1 on Wednesday night Manchester City have built a ten-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. Pep Guardiola’s side have now won 12 league games in a row and 17 in all competitions.

As well as the Premier League, City also remain in the hunt for the Champions League, FA Cup and the League Cup, where they face Tottenham in the final at Wembley on 25 April.

‘It is a procession’

Carlo Ancelotti, manager of Everton, believes it’s “almost impossible” to compete against Guardiola’s side and predicts City will go on to win their third Premier League title in four seasons.

“I think so, it is really difficult to say another name,” said the Italian. “At the moment they are the best team, they have quality, power, belief. It is very difficult to compete with them.”

At Goodison Park City put on “another exhibition of their vast superiority”, said The Guardian’s Andy Hunter. “There is no title race at present. It is a procession.”

42 points to fight for

Since losing 2-0 at Tottenham in November City have gone on to take 44 points from a possible 48. Speaking after the 3-0 win against Spurs last weekend Guardiola said “nobody is champion” in February or March and he has again played down the title talk.

“There are 42 points still to fight for, we are in the middle of February,” he said after the Everton victory. “Now we rest for a few days, there are so many games.”

Klopp concedes title but United will fight on

While City are sprinting away from the pack, their rivals are faltering. Last weekend defending champions Liverpool lost 3-1 at fellow challengers Leicester City and Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion.

Liverpool currently sit in sixth place, 16 points behind City. Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp admits that his side’s title defence is all but over. He said: “I don’t think we can close the gap. We are not worrying about the title, we are not silly.”

Man Utd are second in the league with 46 points from 24 games - the same as third-placed Leicester. Man City’s form looks unstoppable but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says United will fight until the end.

“Let’s just build momentum and win games,” the United boss told BBC Sport. “They [City] are in good form. Us and Leicester have to put up a fight.”

In an interview with Sky Sports, Solskjaer added: “I said we shouldn’t be talked about [in the title race]. A compliment for the boys we got into the position we are now. We won’t let them [Manchester City] run away with it - we’re playing them soon. We’re not giving it away early - no we’re not.”

After watching his side concede five goals at home against Leicester on Sunday, it was inevitable that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola would dip into the transfer market to seek more defensive reinforcements.

Going into the new season City had already completed the transfer of Dutch defender Nathan Ake in a £41m deal from Bournemouth.

It was hoped that the 25-year-old, who signed a five-year contract, would help shore up a frail City defence which has been overly reliant on Aymeric Laporte in recent years, says FourFourTwo.

However, the defensive display against Leicester showed that the cracks are still there.

With Laporte’s pre-season disrupted after testing positive for Covid-19, the Frenchman was only fit enough to take his place on the bench at the weekend.

Ake lined up alongside Spanish 19-year-old Eric Garcia in the centre of City’s defence, but they were torn to shreds by Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, who scored a hat-trick in what The Guardian described as a “scintillating exhibition”.

City seal deal for Dias

Sunday’s heavy loss against Leicester was the first time in 438 home games that City have shipped five goals. It was also “unchartered territory” for boss Guardiola, says the BBC, as it was the first time in his 686-game managerial career that one of his sides had conceded five goals.

Just two days after the humbling defeat by Leicester, City have gone out and made a major defensive signing. It was confirmed last night that Portuguese international Ruben Dias had completed a £65m move from Benfica, with Nicolas Otamendi moving the other way.

The 23-year-old centre-back, who has signed a six-year contract, has been capped 19 times by Portugal. Dias said moving to City was an opportunity that he “couldn’t turn down”.

Speaking to mancity.com, he added: “I believe I can improve here, at a club whose ambitions match my own and I will give everything to be successful and win titles.”

A new leader to replace Kompany?

Since Vincent Kompany’s departure in May 2019, there’s been a “significant void” in City’s defence, says the BBC. Kompany was not just City’s defensive lynchpin but also the dressing room leader as club captain.

There’s no doubt that Laporte is a world-class player, but injuries have restricted him to just 15 appearances since August 2019.

With John Stones and Otamendi struggling for form, Guardiola has been forced to use midfielder Fernandinho as a central defender on a number of occasions.

However, with Ake’s summer arrival and now the signing of Dias, have City fixed their defensive problems? And have they also finally found a replacement for club legend Kompany?

Portuguese coach Carlos Carvalhal, who managed Swansea in the Premier League, believes his compatriot will be a “great” signing for City.

Describing Dias as a “leader”, Carvalhal told BBC World Service: “I think he will be great at Manchester City. Comparing the qualities and age of the boy, I think he is one of the best centre-backs at the moment.”

‘All the attributes’

Leadership was also a key theme for Man City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain when talking about the club’s £65m signing.

“Ruben is a player we have admired for some time and we have been impressed with how he has progressed at Benfica,” Begiristain said. “He has developed into a real leader and as a defender, he has all the attributes we are looking for.

“He is strong in the air, good in one vs. one situations and technically, he is very good, so we are confident he can thrive in our system.

“He is young, but has experience playing for a top European club in Benfica and we’re really pleased we’ve been able to sign him. He is another talented addition to the squad and someone who is only going to get better working under Pep.”

Hit the ground running

Last season Liverpool won the Premier League finishing 18 points clear of second-placed City. The champions have started the new league campaign with three wins out of three, while in their two games City have lost one and won one.

It’s still early days though and City head coach Guardiola will hope that Dias can bring some defensive steel to the team as they look to wrestle back the title and compete for the Uefa Champions League.

Pundit Chris Sutton says Dias has to “come and prove himself and hit the ground running”.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sutton added: “It’s going to be difficult for him because the scrutiny on him will be unbelievable.

“For his sake - and Manchester City’s sake - you have to really hope that they’ve really done their due diligence on him and he’s going to play well from the start - because you can imagine, if he misplaces a pass or someone dribbles past him, someone will say he’s a waste of money.

“City have put themselves under pressure with the manner of their defeat against Leicester. There will be scrutiny and people will be looking and comparing and asking how City are going to touch Liverpool this season. If City want to win the league they must keep clean sheets, defend strongly and do it quickly.”

Main image: Man City/Twitter

The world of football is in shock after Lionel Messi handed in a transfer request at FC Barcelona.

According to BBC Sport, the Argentine sent a fax to the Spanish club requesting his right to exercise a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave for free with immediate effect.

Barcelona do not agree that the clause is still active, Sky Sports reports: it is said to have expired on 10 June. However, Messi and his team believe the clause should be extended to reflect the prolonged season.

His current deal expires in 2021 and he has a buy-out clause set at a whopping €700m (£631.7m). The BBC says a legal battle is set to follow between the club and player.

Sources have told ESPN that Manchester City are “crunching the numbers” to see if they can afford the six-time Ballon d’Or winner without breaching Financial Fair Play rules.

The Daily Mail reports that Messi has “already contacted Pep Guardiola over a sensational move to Manchester City”. But Barcelona believe Manchester United have started negotiations with the player’s agent.

Barca in crisis

Messi’s future has been the subject of rumour following a torrid season for Barcelona in which they failed to win a trophy.

Since the turn of the year the Catalans have sacked two head coaches, lost the La Liga title to Real Madrid and suffered a humiliating 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Uefa Champions League quarter-final.

In February Messi was also involved in a “row” with sporting director Eric Abidal following the sacking of Ernesto Valverde - which had already put Man City on “red alert”.

After Quique Setién’s firing last week, Ronald Koeman was appointed as the new head coach at Barca and Messi is regarded as a key “pillar” in the rebuild of the Camp Nou squad.

Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu says Messi is not for sale, but The Sun reports that City are willing to pay “whatever it takes” to clinch a deal for the world’s best footballer.

Do City really need Messi?

Man City head coach Guardiola would surely welcome Messi to the Etihad Stadium having previously managed the forward when he was Barcelona boss.

The pair won the Champions League together with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011, but Guardiola and City are still to add Europe’s top club trophy to their cabinet.

The potential arrival of Messi would signal City’s intention to win back the Premier League title from Liverpool and try again to become champions of Europe.

However, is it in attack where City really need reinforcements?

Argentinian 32-year-old striker Sergio Agüero, City’s all-time record goalscorer, will need replacing in the next season or two, but is a 33-year-old Argentine (Messi) the right player to come in?

During Guardiola’s time at the Etihad, City have not exactly lacked goals. In the 2018-19 domestic treble-winning season City scored 169 goals as they lifted the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup. And in 2019-20 they scored 149 goals with five players - Raheem Sterling (31), Gabriel Jesus (23), Agüero (17), Kevin De Bruyne (16) and Riyad Mahrez (13) - all reaching double figures.

But after finishing second in the Premier League, 18 points behind Liverpool, and also getting knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Lyon, Guardiola will be looking to improve his squad yet again.

Defence is key

If Guardiola is to win the Champions League for the first time with City, it will take a number of big signings to bring the silver trophy to the blue side of Manchester.

Securing Messi would no doubt bring more goals to his attacking line-up, but defensive reinforcements will also need to be made.

The Sky Blues have already announced the £41m signing of Dutchman Nathan Ake from Bournemouth and according to reports one of Europe’s most in-demand defenders could also be heading to the Etihad.

The Manchester Evening News says Napoli and Senegal centre-half Kalidou Koulibaly is City’s “top transfer target” this summer and a deal is reportedly close to completion.

With Ake already in and a deal for Koulibaly looking near, the new-look defence could make the vital difference for City’s ambitions of winning back the Premier League title.

Bringing in a superstar like Messi may just help City secure the Holy Grail, the Champions League. The finance department at the Etihad will no doubt be busy crunching those numbers.

Pep Guardiola has won every trophy there is to win in England since becoming manager of Manchester City in 2016.

The Spaniard has guided City to Premier League titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19, the FA Cup in 2019, League Cups in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and FA Community Shields in 2018 and 2019.

But despite his domestic successes, he has a major gap in his City CV: winning the Uefa Champions League.

As head coach of FC Barcelona, Guardiola led the Catalans to Champions League titles on two occasions - 2008-09 and 2010-11. However, at City he still awaits European glory. Could 2020 be the year when Guardiola and Co finally lift the famous silver trophy? He will find out in the next 11 days.

It’s a knockout

With the coronavirus putting a halt to the football season, City had to wait five months to complete their round of 16 tie against 13-time European champions Real Madrid.

In February City won 2-1 in the first leg at the Bernabeu and in the return fixture at the Etihad last Friday they repeated the scoreline to secure a 4-2 aggregate victory and a place in the last eight.

The post-lockdowon conclusion of the Champions League has a new look to it, with a mini-tournament taking place from 12-23 August in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.

Instead of the usual two-legged affairs, the quarter-finals and semi-finals will be one-off knockout fixtures - similar to those seen at major international tournaments such as the Fifa World Cup or Euros.

The action starts on Wednesday with the first quarter-final between Atalanta and Paris St-Germain. On Thursday RB Leipzig face Atletico Madrid and Friday sees Barcelona take on Bayern Munich. City’s clash against French side Lyon on Saturday concludes the round.

‘Every game is a final’

Speaking ahead of the tie against Lyon at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, Guardiola has urged his players to embrace the sudden-death format.

The 49-year-old City boss said: “It is quite similar to a World Cup. Before it was last-16, quarter-final and semi-final with two games and now every game is a final.

“You are in, or you are out. We will see a final against Lyon, there are no second chances or mistakes. We are looking forward to it, we are going to prepare well and will try to go through.”

With a potential three games in eight days in Lisbon, Guardiola believes his squad are fully focussed on the task at hand. Not just the knockout fixtures, but also preparing for the games in the right way.

However, it won’t be all work and no play for the City squad though.

“We cannot stay nine or ten days away in Portugal staying in the room just waiting for the matches,” Guardiola said. “We have to try and make walks, make good lunches and dinner together, and of course training and prepare for the games as best as possible. And after that, try to beat them.

“When you arrive at this stage and you see the desire the players have to go through or win this competition, it is just to have fun. Because I know in every single situation they will be focused, they are going to prepare incredibly well.”

Should City beat Lyon and progress to the semi-finals it would see Guardiola go up against one of the teams he formerly managed - Barcelona or Bayern Munich.

It’s a challenge that the serial winner will have to face if he wants to bring the Champions League trophy back to Manchester.

2020 Champions League fixtures

All one-leg ties are being held in Lisbon, Portugal, and are live on BT Sport.

Quarter-finals

- Wednesday 12 August: Atalanta vs. Paris St-Germain (8pm BST; Estadio da Luz, Lisbon)- Thursday 13 August: RB Leipzig vs. Atletico Madrid (8pm BST; Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon)- Friday 14 August: Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich (8pm BST; Estadio da Luz, Lisbon)- Saturday 15 August: Manchester City vs. Lyon (8pm BST; Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon)

Semi-finals

- Tuesday 18 August: RB Leipzig or Atlético Madrid vs. Atalanta or Paris Saint-Germain (Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica)- Wednesday 19 August: Manchester City or Lyon vs. Barcelona or Bayern Munich (Estádio José Alvalade)

2020 Champions League final

- When: Sunday 23 August- Where: Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Champions League winner odds

Prices according to Oddschecker (as of 11 August)

- Manchester City: 9/4- Bayern Munich: 3/1- Paris Saint-Germain: 11/2- Barcelona: 8/1- Atletico Madrid: 17/2- Atalanta: 12/1- RB Leipzig: 20/1- Lyon: 50/1

In the war of words that has broken out in English football one thing is for certain: the players are losing the public relations battle and sympathy from the public is running short.

It’s not so much the ongoing row about pay cuts - although that is becoming increasingly distasteful as coronavirus continues to cut a deadly swathe across the country - but more the rank hypocrisy of one or two players who believe they can do as they please in these fraught times.

Last week it was Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish who made headlines after he was filmed crashing his car after a late-night party shortly after reminding us of the lockdown rules.

Now it’s the turn of Manchester City and England defender Kyle Walker to find himself plastered across the papers after, in the polite parlance of BBC Sport, he broke lockdown rules by “hosting a party involving two sex workers”.

The Sun is more explicit in its reporting of the party, describing how Walker and a friend invited two young women to his apartment last Tuesday and paid them “£2,200 in cash before moving through to the bedroom”, whereupon the 29-year-old Walker pulled out some gold-coloured Shine condoms.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Hypocrite

What Walker, who’s single, does in his own time is his own business - in normal circumstances. But with the country on lockdown, he contravened the regulations and worse, he did so hours before telling the rest of the country to heed the government advice.

In a message posted on his Instagram account, Walker said: “Stay indoors, keep washing your hands, keep following the protocols and just protect the NHS.

“It’s been tough, but first and foremost, we have to think about other people’s health and protecting the elderly and family members that can spread it.”

As one of the sex workers, Louise, put it: “Kyle really should know better. On the one hand he’s inviting strangers round to his house for sex, and the next day he’s lecturing everyone on the need to stay safe.”

Walker in hot water

Since the story broke at the weekend, Walker has apologised but BBC Sport says he is facing disciplinary action from his club.

They have issued a statement saying: “Manchester City FC are aware of a story in a tabloid newspaper regarding the private life of Kyle Walker in relation to a breach of the UK lockdown and social distancing rules.

“Footballers are global role models, and our staff and players have been working to support the incredible efforts of the NHS and other key workers in fighting the effects of the Covid-19 coronavirus in any way we can.

“Kyle’s actions in this matter have directly contravened these efforts. We are disappointed to hear the allegations, note Kyle’s swift statement and apology, and will be conducting an internal disciplinary procedure in the coming days.”

According to the Daily Mirror Walker could be hit with a £250,000 fine, which would represent about two and a half weeks wages.

Today’s back pages

Liverpool slammed for furlough move as football’s civil war rages on

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Juventus could target Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus as part of a squad overhaul this summer.

The Italian champions were linked with the Brazilian in January and according to Calciomercato.com the club’s chief football officer, Fabio Paratici, is ready to make another move.

Gonzalo Higuain’s future in Turin is in doubt and reports suggest that he will be sold.

ESPN says Juve will be keen to land a “marquee signing”, and Jesus “fits the bill”. This season the No.9 has scored 18 goals in all competitions for City.

Transfer ‘free-for-all’ as summer window could stay open until January

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Sterling: Liverpool are always in my heart

Despite leaving Liverpool for Manchester City in a controversial transfer in 2015 Raheem Sterling admits that the Anfield club are “always in my heart”.

England striker Sterling spent five years at Anfield and in a live social media Q&A he was asked if he would ever return to the Reds.

On the Colossal Sports Management Instagram account, Sterling said: “Would I ever go back to Liverpool? To be honest with you, I love Liverpool.

“Don’t get it twisted, they are always in my heart, do you know what I mean? It’s a team that [has] done a lot for me growing up.”

Kane ‘doing really well’

No one knows when the Premier League season will resume but should fixtures start again in May Harry Kane could be ready for the run-in.

The Tottenham and England striker has been sidelined since January with a hamstring injury and there were fears - before the coronavirus crisis - that he would be out until the summer.

But the Three Lions skipper has revealed that he could be fully fit by the end of April, meaning he’ll be able to help Tottenham push for a top four finish if the Premier League returns.

Kane said: “I’m good. From a rehab point of view and personal point of view, I’m doing really well. I’m at a good stage now and just working hard, doing a lot of recovery, a lot of rehab and just waiting to see what happens to the season.”

Today’s back pages

Olympic flame will continue to burn in Tokyo, football’s transfer window of opportunity, Kane on the mend

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A crisis like the coronavirus is nothing if not a test of a person’s character and Pep Guardiola has shown his mettle by donating €1m (£920,000) to help fight the pandemic in his homeland.

Spain has been hit hardest of all European nations after Italy, with nearly 3,000 deaths and more than 42,000 cases.

The Manchester City manager has returned to his home in Barcelona to be close to his family, and according to BBC Sport Guardiola has been “working with his lawyers over the past few days to work out the best way of using the money”.

A decision has now been reached and the money will be donated to a campaign spearheaded by the Medical College of Barcelona and the Angel Soler Daniel Foundation.

Like every country badly affected by coronavirus, Spain desperately needs more medical equipment to deal with the growing number of people hospitalised with breathing difficulties.

The BBC says that Guardiola’s donation will be used to purchase medical equipment and protective material for the hospital staff working on the frontline of the war with coronavirus.

Arsenal support community in Covid-19 crisis

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Magnificent Messi

Guardiola’s munificence has been matched by that of FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

CBS reports that the Barca captain has also donated €1m which will be split between the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona and a medical facility in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina.

Although there have been fewer than 300 cases of coronavirus in Argentina so far, the country is in its third year of recession and there are concerns that if the pandemic takes hold it will struggle to respond.

It’s not the first time that Messi has acted in such a manner; in the past he helped fund a new cancer wing at the Sant Joan de Deu children’s hospital in Barcelona.

Barca stars to take a pay cut?

A study by France Football magazine has this week revealed that Messi is the world’s highest-paid player ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. The publication reports that the Argentine will have a total annual income this year of €131m (£121m).

However, with football suspended in Spain Messi and his team-mates could be hit hard in the pocket.

Barcelona are “locked in talks” with senior players - including Messi - to try and reduce their wage bill because of the economic impact of the virus.

According to reports the Catalan giants’s annual wage bill of £438m is the highest in Europe and Messi earns a staggering £1.15m a week.

Spanish newspaper Marca said: “The Barcelona board are in discussions with the captains of the club over a possible reduction to the players’ salaries due to the economic impact of the coronavirus.

“One of the measures that was discussed at a board meeting was the possibility of a wage cut until the end of the season.

“The reaction from the players has been positive, but no agreement can currently be reached without knowing for how long official competitions will be suspended.”

German giants do their bit

In Germany Bayern Munich have followed the example of rivals Borussia Dortmund and “agreed to take a 20% pay cut while there is no football”.

The Times reports that the Munich squad have accepted the measure in order to prevent the club laying off administrative staff.

Bayern’s annual wage bill is “roughly £308m, so the gesture has saved the club tens of millions of pounds”, and the Times predicts it will increase the pressure on Premier League players to show similar altruism in the coming weeks as English clubs struggle financially.

Today’s back pages

Olympic flame will continue to burn in Tokyo, football’s transfer window of opportunity, Kane on the mend

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Manchester City’s match against Arsenal this evening has become the first Premier League fixture to fall victim to coronavirus.

The decision to call off the Etihad clash was taken after Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis tested positive for coronavirus a fortnight after watching his Greek team beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the Europa League.

The 52-year-old, who divides his time between Nottingham and Greece, confirmed in an Instagram statement that he has contracted the virus.

“The recent virus has ‘visited’ me and I felt obliged to let the public know,” he wrote. “I feel good as I take all the necessary measures and I discipline to the doctors’ instructions. I strongly advice [sic] all my fellow citizens to do the same. I wish all a quick recovery.”

In response to the news, Arsenal issued a statement, saying: “Our home match with Olympiacos was played on Thursday 27 February and none of our staff who came into contact with [Marinakis] on that matchday have reported any symptoms since.

“We continue to follow strict protocols with regard to coronavirus. We’re following the Government health guidelines and have additional procedures in place to protect our players and staff.

“This has included regular deep cleaning of areas used by players at Emirates Stadium and our training centre.”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

People who have come into contact with carriers are obliged to self-isolate for 14 days and in the case of Arsenal this timeframe expires on Friday.

“The players will remain at their homes until the 14-day period expires,” continued the statement. “Everyone at Arsenal Football Club wishes Mr Marinakis a swift recovery and we look forward to the players and staff returning to work on Friday in preparation for our match at Brighton.”

Expressing their disappointment at the development, Arsenal assured supporters that “tickets will be valid for the match when it’s rearranged”.

When that is, however, is still to be decided.

In its own statement the Premier League said: “We understand this will cause inconvenience and cost to fans planning to attend the game but Arsenal, Manchester City and the Premier League have agreed that the short notice of Mr Marinakis’ infection means there is no alternative but to take the time to complete a proper assessment of risk.

“All necessary measures are being taken and the Premier League currently has no plans to postpone any other matches.”

Today’s back pages

Spurs crash out, Klopp warns of Atletico’s ‘dark arts’ and Wolves must play in Greece

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Man United 2 Man City 0

Manchester United beat their noisy neighbours for the third time this season on Sunday and in doing so they edged Liverpool ever closer to the Premier League title.

United’s 2-0 defeat of Man City at an ecstatic Old Trafford means Liverpool - whose win against Bournemouth on Saturday has given them a 25 point advantage over the Sky Blues - need just two more victories to get their hands on a trophy they last held in 1990.

Points mean prizes

For United, who have beaten City in their two league encounters this season (for the first time in a decade) as well as the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi final, the win was imperative after Chelsea had thrashed Everton 4-0 earlier in the day. The Blues are fourth with 48 points but United are just three behind after a weekend when both Wolves and Tottenham dropped points in the fight for the precious fourth place.

United are now unbeaten in their last five league matches but it’s unlikely they will again encounter a goalkeeper this season as generous as Ederson was at Old Trafford. The City stopper had a shocker with the Brazilian at fault for both goals.

Brazilian blunders

His first gaffe came on the half hour when Bruno Fernandes quick free-kick found Anthony Martial whose innocuous shot squirmed under Ederson’s body and into the net. Then in the dying moments of the match, as City desperately chased an equaliser, Ederson hurled his clearance straight into the path of Scott McTominay who struck the ball back past the Brazilian.

“He is an extraordinary keeper,” said Guardiola, when asked about Ederson’s performance. “Next time he will do better. Sometimes it happens.”

Privilege

Sergio Aguero had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR and United felt they should have had a penalty when Fred clashed with Nicolas Otamendi, but the three points rightly belonged to United. “It’s a privilege to be their manager,” said a jubilant Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of his side, now unbeaten in their last ten competitive matches. “We feel we are improving as a squad and a team. We feel the fans want us to do well and they see what we are doing, so it is getting better and better. But we are still fifth. We need points to catch Chelsea and Leicester, so need to keep plugging away.”

How they reacted to the Red Devils victory:

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: ”The desire, attitude, commitment, connection between fans and players pleased me most.”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola: “We did our game but unfortunately we conceded a goal. They waited for our mistakes.”

Manchester United goalscorer Scott McTominay,: “That was such a sweet moment...It’s such a beautiful feeling to score like that in front of the fans. But we can’t get too carried away and need to keep pushing for the Champions League.”

Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva: ”It was a bad game for us. Not acceptable... a team like ours cannot lose this many games. We need to check what’s not going right and try not to make so many mistakes.”

Derby delirium

Manchester United’s 2-0 win against Man City in their derby encounter dominates the tabloids. “Bundle of Joy” is Metro’s headline, above a photograph of celebrating United players, while the Daily Mirror goes for “Red Hot”. The paper claims that United’s win, which moves them into fifth in the table, just three points shy of fourth place Chelsea, is further evidence that the Red Devils are rediscovering their mojo under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Daily Express focuses on the losing manager under the headline “Eds will roll”. That’s an oblique reference to City keeper Ederson, at fault for both the United goals, but the Express says that the Brazilian keeper isn’t the only player who “fears a backlash” from manager Pep Guardiola, after a defeat that means Liverpool are now just two wins away from clinching the title for the first time in 30 years.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

France felled by Scots

Scotland’s dramatic 28-17 victory over France at Murrayfield makes most of the back pages with the result meaning that four teams are still in with a shout of winning the Six Nations tournament. England, who beat Wales 33-30 on Saturday, top the table but their final match in Rome next week has been postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak in Italy. So they’ll have to sit and watch what happens when Scotland play Wales and France host Ireland, although that match might also fall victim to coronavirus as cases continue to rise in France. Ireland didn’t play at the weekend because their game with Italy was shelved and they, along with Scotland, are also in contention for a title that is unlikely to be decided before the autumn.

The French were expected to maintain their unbeaten campaign in Edinburgh but against a fired-up Scotland side they lost their shape and their discipline - none more so than prop Mohamed Haouas who was sent off four minutes before the break for landing a right hook on the head of Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie. The i paper has a photo of the punch on its backpage under the headline “knockout Blow”, while the Daily Express captions the same photo with “Sucker Punch”.

The Guardian’s headline is “Le Punch” and the paper says France’s hopes of winning their first Grand Slam since 2010 are in “tatters” on account of Haouas’s moment of madness.

Keeping up with Jones

The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Express find space on their back pages to report that England coach Eddie Jones is ready to sit down with the RFU and thrash out a new contract. The Telegraph says that Jones, whose existing contract expires next year, “is keen to resolve his own future” when he meets Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney. “I think we’ve got dinner organised in a couple of weeks so we may be able to chat about it,” Jones is quoted as saying. The Express claims that the Australian “wants to go through to the 2023 World Cup”, which would see him overtake Sir Clive Woodward to become the longest-serving coach in England history.

Today’s sport headlines

The 2019-20 Uefa Champions League knockout stage began with some huge results in the round of 16 first legs. But there is now as much focus on the impact of the coronavirus outbreak as the football.

Barcelona confirmed on Tuesday that their game against Napoli on March 18 would take place behind closed doors, and it is expected that Chelsea's tie with Bayern Munich the same night will also be a lock-out.

On Monday Paris Saint-Germain were ordered to play Wednesday’s home tie against Borussia Dortmund behind closed doors after banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people to try and slow the spread of the disease.

The clash between Valencia and Atalanta tonight will also be played in an empty stadium, and Uefa has done away with the pre-match handshakes, following in the footsteps of the Premier League.

On the pitch Spurs travel to Germany this evening and even though his team lost 1-0 Jose Mourinho was in a positive mood after the first leg.

“It’s not 10-0 and the result is still open,” said Tottenham boss Mourinho. “It’s as simple as that. We wouldn’t be the first team to lose 1-0 at home and then win the tie away. So why shouldn’t we believe?”

Despite losing 1-0 in the Spanish capital, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes the power of Anfield can help his side progress to the last eight on Wednesday night.

He said: “I am really looking forward to the second leg. It’s half-time and we’re 1-0 down. The second half will be played in our stadium and they will feel it.”

Chelsea require a miracle after losing 3-0 at home in their first leg against Bayern Munich, but may not have to contend with raucous home support if the tie does take place in an empty arena, while Manchester City will be confident of progressing after winning 2-1 at Real Madrid.

Here we take a look at the round of 16 second leg fixtures and pick out the pundit predictions ahead of the games on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Champions League last-16 second leg fixtures

• Tuesday 10 March: RB Leipzig vs. Tottenham (1-0 on aggregate); Valencia vs. Atalanta (1-4)
• Wednesday 11 March: PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund (1-2); Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid (0-1)
• Tuesday 17 March: Manchester City vs. Real Madrid (2-1); Juventus vs. Lyon (0-1)
• Wednesday 18 March: Barcelona vs. Napoli (1-1); Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea (3-0)
• All matches kick off at 8pm (GMT) and are live on BT Sport

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Predictions: RB Leipzig vs. Tottenham (1-0)

Bwin

“Only Timo Werner’s 58th-minute penalty separated these sides in London, but the Bundesliga outfit looked much the better team for large parts of that contest. We’re backing Julian Nagelsmann’s men to come out on top again on home turf.”

Football Predictions

“We’ve got the feeling that RB Leipzig look likely to get the goals that they need when they face Tottenham, who will not find it easy to score. We’re predicting a decent 2-0 winning margin for RB Leipzig after 90 minutes.”

Pinnacle

“A Timo Werner penalty proved enough to separate these sides for the first leg in London, and Leipzig are heavily expected to finish the job and book their quarter-final place at the expense of a Tottenham team who are clearly struggling in the absence of Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min. Percentage chance of qualifying: RB Leipzig 80.20% Tottenham 19.80%.”

Football Tips

“If Mourinho’s strike-force options don’t improve, then the prognosis, like our predictions, suggest a heavy loss that will send Spurs out of the Champions League knockout rounds with a bitter aftertaste.”

BettingPro

“Leipzig are unlikely to risk their away goal lead and chase the game with the same fearless aggression from the start, so we’re going to go with a low scoring game in the return leg, with a Leipzig 1-0 win the most likely outcome.”

Infogol

“The Infogol model predicts a 61% chance of a win for RB Leipzig. There is a 20% chance that Tottenham Hotspur will win. The draw is a 19% chance.”

Predictions: Valencia vs. Atalanta (1-4)

Football Predictions

“In our opinion, Atalanta and Valencia should both be able to score more than once here although it’s hard to pick a clear winner. Shouldn’t be much in it, and there should be goals with a draw being quite a realistic outcome. With that in mind, we reckon that it will be a 2-2 when the full-time whistle blows.”

Football Tips

“We can see this one fizzling out into a draw. Valencia have to come forward to try and come from behind in the tie, but Atalanta have the quality to pick them off on the break and as such, we expect the two sides to cancel each other out in this game for a draw.”

Pinnacle

“Valencia found themselves hopelessly overpowered by a free-scoring Atalanta side that have netted the third most goals [70] in Europe’s top five leagues this season, and the odds give them less than a 10% chance of overturning their 4-1 defeat. Percentage chance of qualifying: Valencia 9.72% Atalanta 90.28%.”

Predictions: Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid (0-1)

Squawka

“All their good work will be undone as [Diego] Simeone heads to Anfield and tries to defend for 90 minutes; only to find that Liverpool’s relentless will to win and his own side’s mental fragility means there will be only one outcome from such an approach. They will hold as long as they can, but eventually they will cave to the pressure as they always do. Liverpool to advance.”

Football Tips

“The fortress that is Anfield has played host to many historic Champions League games down the years, paired with a wall of red banners and the cacophonous singing Kop. Combine this with the Reds’s gegenpressing, attack-dominant starting XI and the chances of another comeback are more than likely.”

Pinnacle

“Defending champions Liverpool fell foul of a typically stern and defensively organised Atletico performance in the first leg, although they are still very narrowly favoured to remain in the competition ahead of Diego Simeone’s side. Percentage chance of qualifying: Liverpool 51.12% Atletico Madrid 48.88%.”

Predictions: PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund (1-2)

Bwin

“Past evidence suggests Borussia will struggle to keep PSG at bay on the road. They lost 3-1 at Barcelona and 2-0 at Inter during this season’s group stage, while last term they went down 2-0 away to Atletico Madrid in their pool and were beaten 3-0 by Tottenham in London at this point. Take 11/1 for a 3-1 home victory.”

Pinnacle

“Whilst an impressive brace from this season’s breakout star Erling Braut Haaland led Dortmund to a first leg victory, the odds give PSG a slight edge in advancing to the quarter-finals for what would be the first time in four seasons. Percentage chance of qualifying: PSG 52.11% Borussia Dortmund 47.89%.”

PSG’s striker situation: keep Mbappe by selling Neymar or risk losing both?

Predictions: Man City vs. Real Madrid (2-1)

Pinnacle

“A Kevin De Bruyne masterclass enabled Manchester City to come from behind and defeat La Liga leaders Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, and the market indicates they have reason to feel confident about their chances of reaching the quarter-finals. Percentage chance of qualifying: Man City 86.99% Real Madrid 13.01%.”

Predictions: Juventus vs. Lyon (0-1)

Pinnacle

“A fortuitous Nicolas Tousart goal condemned Juventus to defeat versus Lyon in arguably the most shocking result amongst the first legs, and whilst they are still favoured to advance, their chances have dropped from an initial 85% rating to just under 55%. Percentage chance of qualifying: Juventus 54.60% Lyon 45.40%.”

Predictions: Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea (3-0)

Pinnacle

“Bayern Munich produced a thoroughly impressive and ruthlessly clinical second half performance to dismantle Chelsea in the first leg of their tie, leaving Frank Lampard’s side virtually zero chance of advancing and all but ending their campaign.”

Predictions: Barcelona vs. Napoli (1-1)

Pinnacle

“Napoli turned in a determined display to earn a respectable 1-1 draw at home against Barcelona, although the market indicates that will not be enough to secure a spot in the quarter-final. Percentage chance of qualifying: Barcelona 77.72% Napoli 22.28%.”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Carabao Cup final Aston Villa 1 Manchester City 2

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described his side’s third consecutive Carabao Cup title as “awesome”.

Speaking after the Sky Blues had beaten Aston Villa 2-1 at Wembley yesterday, the City boss said: “It was awesome… it’s the consistency, incredible.”

The league cup has now found its way to the Etihad in five of the last seven seasons and their hat-trick of wins is a feat emulated only by Liverpool, who lifted the trophy a record four times from 1981 to 1984.

For Guardiola, yesterday’s victory was about the joy of six as the Spaniard has won all his cup finals with City: two Community Shields, three League Cups and one FA Cup.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Fab four?

City will have their eyes on equalling Liverpool’s record - particularly as they won’t be competing in Europe next season after their two-year ban imposed by Uefa - and Guardiola issued a statement of intent as his side celebrated at Wembley.

“We’ve won a lot,” he declared. “Every game we play we try to win it, every competition we try to win it, and three times in a row, being here and winning is great.”

The result seemed set in stone as City went 2-0 up within half an hour. Sergio Aguero’s strike put the holders ahead on 20 minutes and ten minutes later Rodri’s header doubled their advantage, although the Sky Blue who really caught the eye was young Phil Foden.

Mbwana Samatta got a goal back for Villa just before the break, and the underdogs almost levelled in the dying moments of the second half when Bjorn Engels’s powerful header was brilliantly kept out by City stopper Claudio Bravo.

Cups runneth over

Although City are out of the title race, lying 22 points behind leaders Liverpool, who actually lost a game on Saturday, they are still in with a shout of a hat-trick of cup titles this season.

On Wednesday they visit Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup fifth round and on 17 March they host Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 clash having come away from the Bernabeu last week with a priceless 2-1 victory.

“What is important is everybody knows we have the responsibility to fight and try to win the games and titles and that means a lot,” said Guardiola.

Today’s back pages

‘Champers’ City win Carabao Cup and Tottenham must toughen up

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

City win the Carabao Cup

“Champers” is the headline on the back of the Daily Star, beneath a photo of Pep Guardiola swigging a bottle of bubbly after watching his Manchester City side clinch a third Carabao Cup title in a row.

City beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Wembley yesterday and the Daily Mail, Daily Express and The Times use the same photo on their back pages - of the jubilant Sky Blues lifting the cup on the hallowed Wembley turf.

The Mail quotes Guardiola declaring that “no team will ever match City’s amazing trophy haul”, and the Times interprets the Spaniard’s boast in its headline, “the history boys”.

Independent is generous in its praise of Villa, describing them as “spirited” but not strong enough to deny City a hat-trick of league cup triumphs.

‘Winning is great’: Pep Guardiola hails Man City’s incredible consistency

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Toughen up, Tottenham

Tottenham’s hopes of finishing in the top four of the Premier League suffered a setback yesterday when they lost 3-2 at home to Wolves, and the Daily Express and the Independent report on Jose Mourinho’s scathing assessment of his side.

“Mourinho: nice guys finish last” is the headline in the Indy, describing how Spurs twice surrendered the lead against their visitors with Matt Doherty, Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez scoring for Wolves and Steven Bergwijn and Serge Aurier netting for the north London outfit.

“I think we are too good, we are too nice and that was the only thing that made a difference in the game,” lamented Mourinho.

“I cannot complain to the players about the spirit, about their fighting, I can complain about some psychological characteristics that is not easy to change… we don’t have that aggression, that ruthlessness.”

Solskjaer backs De Gea

The defeat leaves Tottenham in seventh spot on 40 points, while Wolves move into sixth on 42 points, the same number as Manchester United, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton.

The game was noticeable for another mistake by United keeper David De Gea, which Metro describes on its back page as a “clanger”.

De Gea’s gaffe handed Everton the lead - Bruno Fernandes levelled for United - but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is quoted by Metro saying that the Spanish stopper “remains the best in the world”.

The Daily Star’s focus from Goodison Park is the red card received by Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti for venting his fury at officials after his side had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee.

Wilder wants Fury trilogy

The Times, Daily Star and the Independent report that Deontay Wilder has officially triggered his rematch clause with Tyson Fury, scuppering the fervent hopes of UK fight fans to see an all-British bout between the Gypsy King and Anthony Joshua.

Fury demolished Wilder last week in Las Vegas to win the WBC heavyweight belt, and the talk was of a summer showdown between the two British bruisers, but The Times says that won’t now happen “until the end of the year at the earliest”.

It will also be dependent on Fury seeing off Wilder again, in a bout which is likely to take place in the United States in July.

Today’s sport headlines

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Uefa Champions League last-16 first leg Real Madrid 1 Manchester City 2

Pep Guardiola praised his players after they produced a stunning performance to beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabeu last night.

It was the first time that the Sky Blues have defeated the Spanish giants in the Champions League, but it was a deserved result for a side that showed great resolve in fighting their way back from a goal down.

“I’m happy for the victory, of course, and the performance as well,” said Guardiola, whose side now have a crucial advantage ahead of the return leg at the Etihad on 17 March.

The performance was all the more spirited given that City are still reeling from the two-year ban that means this season will be their last in Europe’s showpiece tournament until 2022-23.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Cool and calm

It was a rather nervous first half as the two sides probed each other like boxers in a ring, and it took a defensive blunder on the hour mark for the game to really come to life.

As Rodri and Nicolas Otamendi dithered, Vinicius Junior seized on their indecision to set up Isco for the opening goal. Sergio Ramos almost doubled Real’s advantage with a shot that blazed over the City bar, but then 12 minutes from time Gabriel Jesus headed the visitors level.

Five minutes later substitute Raheem Sterling was felled in the box and Kevin De Bruyne made no mistake from the penalty.

Guardiola’s side had missed five of their previous seven spot kicks but the Belgian’s coolness exemplified a City display that was in contrast to Real’s, who had Ramos sent off in the dying minutes.

Halfway house

City even coped with the loss of defender Aymeric Laporte, who limped off in the first half with a hamstring injury, on a night that will go down in the club’s history.

Nonetheless, despite their euphoria, Guardiola emphasized that the job is only half done.

“We are happy but, of course, there is the second leg,” he said. “It is still not over. If there is one team in the world that can overcome anything, it is this club [Real Madrid].

“Hopefully we can do a good performance and go through. We have not won anything yet but to win here is a big satisfaction.”

Asked if the Uefa ban had helped get his boys buoyed up for the match, Guardiola replied: “We cannot control what happens off the pitch, only on the pitch. These players want to do it for ourselves and our fans.”

Do or die for Zidane

Real’s head coach, Zinedine Zidane, knows that his future may well rest on the outcome of the second leg.

Last season the club were dumped out of the tournament at the last-16 stage, a bitter humiliation after three consecutive titles, and a repeat next month would probably see Zidane following Santiago Solari out of the exit.

“I’m not happy that we played well but with ten minutes left, we changed and made errors which hurt us,” reflected the Frenchman.

“We didn’t deserve it but this is football. We needed 90 minutes of total concentration, especially against a team like City. But we know that there’s half of this tie left and now it’s simple - we have to go to City and win.”

Lyon edge Juventus

In last night’s other last-16 tie, a first-half goal from Lucas Tousart gave Lyon a 1-0 win over Juventus in France.

The Italian champions dominated their hosts but lacked a cutting edge in front of goal, and just after the half-hour mark Tousart converted Houssem Aouar’s cross for the winner.

Paulo Dybala thought he had levelled for Juventus late on but his effort was ruled offside.

“It was a game of two halves,” said Lyon boss Rudi Garcia. “The first half was very beautiful. Not only did we defend very well, we respected the game plan to the letter. In the second half we didn’t exist with the ball and suffered.”

The second leg is scheduled to take place in Turin on 17 March, although that could be subject to change depending on the coronavirus outbreak that has locked down much of northern Italy this week.

Champions League results and fixtures

Last-16 first leg results

• Atlético Madrid 1 Liverpool 0
• Borussia Dortmund 2 Paris Saint Germain 1
• Atalanta 4 Valencia 1
• Tottenham Hotspur 0 RB Leipzig 1
• Chelsea 0 Bayern Munich 3
• Napoli 1 Barcelona 1
• Lyon 1 Juventus 0
• Real Madrid 1 Manchester City 2

Last-16 second leg fixtures

• Tuesday 10 March: Valencia vs. Atalanta (1-4 on agg); RB Leipzig vs. Tottenham (1-0)
• Wednesday 11 March: PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund (1-2); Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid (0-1)
• Tuesday 17 March: Manchester City vs. Real Madrid (2-1); Juventus vs. Lyon (0-1)
• Wednesday 18 March: Barcelona vs. Napoli (1-1); Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea (3-0)
• All matches kick off at 8pm (GMT) and are live on BT Sport

Today’s back pages

Man City are the Real deal with ‘Bernablue’ win

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Advantage City

“Bernablue” is the headline emblazoned on the back page of the Manchester Evening News, and the delight of the newspaper is shared by the national press after Manchester City’s superb 2-1 victory last night against 13-time European champions Real Madrid.

Metro describes it as a “mad night” for the Sky Blues, and claims that the win was a tonic for English football after Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham had all suffered defeat in their Champions League last-16 first legs.

With its “De-light” headline, the Daily Mirror pays tribute to the cool penalty of Kevin De Bruyne (who ended a club run of four consecutive misses from the spot), while the Daily Express and The Daily Telegraph have “Real deal” splashed across their back pages.

The Times could be accused of a touch of pomposity in its “That’s what Europe will be missing” headline.

Chief football writer Henry Winter says that in beating Real Madrid 2-1, City “stuck it to Uefa”, implying that the governing body is at fault for City’s two-year Champions League ban and not a club that breached football’s fair play rules.

i Sport’s headline catches the mood with more pith. “Not going quietly”, screams the paper, which acknowledges the guts of a City team that raided Real.

‘It’s not over yet’: delight for Man City but Pep warns of a Real fightback

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

So long, Sharipova

The Daily Telegraph, Metro and The Guardian all carry the news that Maria Sharipova has called time on her tennis career.

“Ave Maria” says the Guardian, above a picture of the Russian, who announced herself on the world stage by stunning Serena Williams to win Wimbledon as a raw 17-year-old in 2004.

Sharipova went on to win four more grand slam titles, but writing in the Guardian, Kevin Mitchell offers a harsh if honest assessment of her legacy.

Mitchell writes: “The 32-year-old Russian, who won five grand slams and could freeze a room with her aloof grandeur, will be remembered as the ice queen of the sport, respected more than loved inside the game.”

Coronavirus chaos

Most of the papers carry the latest on how the spread of coronavirus could affect the sporting world after the announcement yesterday that Ireland’s Six Nations match with Italy has been postponed.

The Guardian says that the decision has plunged the tournament into chaos and “there are also escalating doubts over England’s trip to Italy [on 14 March] amid concerns the tournament may not be completed for the first time in almost 50 years”.

The paper also says that the Formula 1 Australian, Bahrain and Vietnam grands prix may have to be cancelled while there are growing fears for this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Today’s sport headlines

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Real Madrid vs. Manchester City

• What: Uefa Champions League last-16 first leg
• When: Wednesday 26 February
• Where: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain
• Kick-off time: 8pm (GMT)
• TV coverage: live on BT Sport 2

All eyes will be on Manchester City tonight as they travel to Spain for the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Real Madrid.

It’s the first time City have played in Europe since they were handed a two-year ban from the Champions League, a punishment that the English side will appeal.

City have never beaten 13-time Champions League winners Real Madrid and head coach Pep Guardiola knows it will be a huge test.

Urging his side to embrace the challenge, Spaniard Guardiola said: “I know this is a big opportunity in the last 16. We are playing the king of this competition, so we know the challenge in front of us.

“They [Real] are the best and it’s a huge challenge for us to meet them. We are convinced that we want to play against them, win and be the level of this competition.”

With the two-year ban looming, The Times says this season could be Guardiola’s final shot at the “holy grail” - winning European football’s top club competition with City.

Guardiola, who used to coach Real’s rivals Barcelona, added: “We have to show our personality. I know my players, myself, all the club want to fight until the end for this title. But if you want to do that [win the title] you have to face these teams sooner or later.

“You have to beat Madrid, you have to beat Barcelona, you have to beat Bayern Munich. You have to beat the big, big teams.

“If we’re able to do it we’ll be so happy. If not then next season... well, next season I don’t know but when we are able to play we are going to come back.”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Sterling fit for Bernabeu clash

England forward Raheem Sterling will be available for tonight’s clash after three weeks out with a hamstring injury. Spanish midfielder David Silva could also feature but German winger Leroy Sane is still out with a knee injury.

Guardiola said: “Raheem is fit, his natural physical condition and regeneration is amazing. He told us he could play at West Ham and Leicester but the doctors said be careful as muscular injuries take three weeks. After 15 days he wanted to play. He is fit, he is ready.”

Hazard could be out for the season

Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane fears that Eden Hazard could miss the rest of the season after suffering a fractured ankle in the 1-0 La Liga defeat to Levante at the weekend.

Zidane said: “I don’t know if his season is over, I don’t know but I hope not. I don't know if he will need an operation, it’s not my area. I can see he’s not happy.

“It’s important he stays positive but of course it’s difficult. It’s a bad moment, it won’t be easy and he will feel like this for a while.”

Champions League results and fixtures

Last-16 first-leg results

• Atlético Madrid 1 Liverpool 0
• Borussia Dortmund 2 Paris Saint Germain 1
• Atalanta 4 Valencia 1
• Tottenham Hotspur 0 RB Leipzig 1
• Chelsea 0 Bayern Munich 3
• Napoli 1 Barcelona 1

Tonight’s last-16 first-leg fixtures

• Lyon vs. Juventus (8pm, live on BT Sport 3)
• Real Madrid vs. Manchester City (8pm, live on BT Sport 2)

Today’s back pages

Bayern Munich and Gnabry cause a ‘power Serge’ at Stamford Bridge

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Manchester City displayed defiance on and off the pitch last night as they beat West Ham 2-0 in their first match since being slapped with a two-season Champions League ban by Uefa.

Goals from Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne eased the Sky Blues to a comfortable Premier League win against the Hammers, a victory that moves City into second spot above Leicester.

The performance heartened the City faithful who made their feelings at the ban clear throughout the game with a series of anti-Uefa chants along with several banners displaying such messages as “Uefa cartel” and “Uefa mafia”.

Their resolve was matched by their manager’s when Pep Guardiola addressed the BBC in his post-match press conference.

“We appeal,” he said, referring to the club’s intention to contest the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). “When someone believes they are right they have to fight.”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

All to play for

Guardiola said his players’ performance against West Ham had come as no surprise given the professionalism of his squad, adding that they had discussed the importance of focusing on their job despite the furore surrounding the ban.

“What happens off it we cannot do much [about it],” explained the Spaniard. “We talked about what we have to do until the end of the season, especially for the people who love this club. We will play our game the best as possible. We have a lot of interesting things to play for.”

Going nowhere

When he was asked about his future, Guardiola replied: “If they don’t sack me I will be here. I love this club. I like to be here. This is my club and I will be here, no matter.

“The club has to fight and I trust the club 100% [in] what they have done, and they have explained to me.”

Broadside at Barca

Guardiola also had a few choice words for former club Barcelona, whose president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, has endorsed Uefa’s decision to ban City and hit them with a £25m fine for overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts.

“If they are happy we are suspended, I say to the president of Barcelona, give us two appeals,” said Guardiola.

“I ask right now the people trust what they have done. Don’t talk too loud Barcelona. That is my advice, because everybody is involved in situations. We are going to appeal and hopefully in the future we can play Champions League against Barcelona.”

Guardiola’s comments suggest that he is unlikely to accept Bartomeu’s invitation to return to Barcelona where “the door is always open for him”.

Today’s back pages

‘Leip too far’ for toothless Tottenham and Marcus Rashford is a major doubt for Euro 2020

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Wenger whine

Metro reports that former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has backed Uefa for banning Manchester City from the Champions League for two seasons for breaching Financial Fair Play rules.

“It is important for the clubs to work with the natural income they have,” said the Frenchman. “The point of sport is basically to win, but by respecting the rules.

“We celebrate the best in every sport but we need to know they respect the rules. If that doesn’t happen it is not real sport so that’s why it’s so important. Once you play in a competition you agree to the rules.”

Wenger saw several of his Arsenal stars head north to the Etihad during his time in charge of the Gunners - including Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Samir Nasri - and clearly this still rankles.

“I think this is a deep question,” he said. “They bought all my players, yes!”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Sexist or common sense?

The Times reports that ex-England boss Fabio Capello has “reignited the debate” about reducing the size of the goal for female footballers.

In a panel discussion at the Laureus World Sports Awards with Jill Ellis, the World Cup-winning former United States head coach, Capello said: “I think the goal for the women is too big… every time when you shoot at the goal, for the ’keeper it’s really difficult.”

Ellis, who coached the US to their second successive World Cup victory last summer, “respectfully disagreed” with the Italian, saying: “The purity of the game is the purity of the game and we all love that. We’ve grown up with the game and I don’t think we feel that we need to modify that.”

When a member of the audience put it to Capello that the dimensions of a tennis court are the same for men and women, he replied: “In tennis, you don’t have to jump. The problem in football is you have to jump.”

Chelsea left feeling blue

Manchester United’s 2-0 win at Chelsea last night dominates the back pages with a variety of headlines.

“Dirty Harry” is the Daily Mail’s splash, a reference to defender Harry Maguire, who scored one of United’s two goals but in the Mail’s eyes should have been sent off for kicking Michy Batshuayi in the groin in the first half.

The incident was reviewed by VAR, which strangely exonerated Maguire, and the Red Devils also got lucky when the same system denied Chelsea a goal for a foul when it appeared to the neutral that the first infringement was by United midfielder Fred.

Those incidents account for the Daily Star’s headline “A Bridge too VAR” and The Times is also inspired by a film title with its “Escape to Victory” headline.

‘Soul destroying’ for Lampard: reactions to Man Utd’s VAR-cical victory

Today’s sport headlines

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Pep Guardiola has pledged his loyalty to Manchester City in the wake of the club’s two-season ban from the Uefa Champions League.

According to The Times, the Spaniard has “informed the Manchester City board and his players that he intends to carry on as manager”.

The news will come as a huge relief to the City chiefs, who were reportedly “stunned” at the severity of the punishment handed down last week by Uefa.

Not only are the reigning English champions suspended from European competition for two years but they were also slapped with a £25m fine after being found guilty of breaking financial fair play (FFP) rules between 2012 and 2016.

Although City will challenge the ban in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), it’s expected that the best they can hope for is a one-season reduction, and that will still leave a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the Etihad.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Man of honour

But The Times says that despite rumours at the weekend linking Guardiola to Juventus, the Spaniard will not invoke the break clause he has in his contract and will honour the final year of a deal that expires at the end of next season.

The papers say that Guardiola addressed the squad at the club’s training ground on Saturday and urged his players to use the ban as a motivation for the rest of the season.

City play away at Real Madrid next week in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash, and on Wednesday they host West Ham in the Premier League.

Guardiola will speak to the press about that match tomorrow - and inevitably most of the questions will be about the ban - but The Times expects him to confirm he will not be leaving the club.

Sterling staying

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail says that a number of star players are also staying loyal to the club - for the moment.

Raheem Sterling is known to be on the radar of Real Madrid but the England frontman’s agent, Aidy Ward, told the Mail: “Raheem is solely focused on Manchester City and will not be distracted by any talk of transfers at the moment.”

The future of Sterling and his team-mates will probably hinge on the outcome of City’s appeal, although when exactly their case will be heard is unclear.

The Daily Express adds: “It remains a possibility that CAS won’t be able to reach a verdict before the start of next season. In that situation, if the ban were to be upheld, it would be suspended for one year and come into force in the 2021-2022 season.”

Today’s newspaper back pages

Del Piero says Guardiola is ‘destined’ for Juventus

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

England seal T20 series win

“Magnificent Morgan” is the headline in The Guardian as the paper lauds the heroics of England’s captain in blasting his side to victory in a thrilling Twenty20 encounter with South Africa at the Wanderers.

Skipper Eoin Morgan smashed an astonishing (and unbeaten) 57 runs from just 22 balls as he chased down South Africa’s daunting total of 222 in what The Daily Telegraph describes as a “stunning victory”.

It was a fitting climax to a wonderful T20 series in which all three matches went down to the wire.

The BBC points out that the 1,207 runs accumulated across the games are the most in any three-match series in the history of T20 internationals.

i Sport believes that England’s performances have laid down a marker for the T20 World Cup which begins in October in Australia.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Nice one, Son

Several papers have the smiling face of Tottenham marksman Son Heung-min on their back pages after the South Korean’s two goals helped his side see off Aston Villa with a 3-2 win to move into fifth spot in the Premier League.

The Daily Star sings his praises, as do The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, while Metro’s main focus is the comments of Spurs boss Jose Mourinho.

Asked in the post-match interview about Manchester City’s two-season Champions League ban, Mourinho cheekily mooted the idea that the Sky Blues should also be stripped of their 2018 league title, which would mean his then Manchester United side would be crowned retrospective champions.

Pep to Turin?

With the Sky Blues in turmoil, several papers continue to analyse what the Champions League ban may mean for the Man City players and head coach Pep Guardiola.

The Daily Star and Daily Express both claim that the City gaffer is being eyed up by Italian giants Juventus, a club he was first linked to last year.

“Juve made for you” screams the back page of the Star, which also carries comments from club legend Alessandro Del Piero declaring that it is Guardiola’s “destiny” to take the reins of the Italian champions.

Speaking at the Laureus Sports Awards in Germany, Del Piero added: “Every club in the world would love him as a coach and I would love to see Pep in Italy.”

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reports that City chiefs believe Guardiola and his stars will remain loyal to the club despite the ban from European football.

Today’s sport headlines

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Pep’s petrified

The lead story for most of the tabloids is Pep Guardiola’s fear that he could be fired if Manchester City fail to beat Real Madrid in the Uefa Champions League.

Under the headline “Tough Love” (a tenuous reference to Valentine’s Day), the Daily Mirror says that the City head coach is under no illusions as to the importance of the Champions League last-16 clash with the Spanish giants.

Similarly Metro says that should City fail to make it to the quarter-finals, Guardiola’s position will be under scrutiny given their poor form in the Premier League this season.

The Express also covers the story with all the papers relaying Guardiola’s comments at a press conference yesterday when asked if he might be sacked before the end of the season.

He said: “It has happened many times and could maybe happen.”

City travel to the Bernabeu for the first leg on Wednesday 26 February. The second leg at the Etihad Stadium is on 17 March.

Premier League returns: goodbye winter break, hello football

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Referee return

Stories are now so short on the sports desk because of the Premier League winter break that the Daily Star and the Daily Express both devote space to the return of disgraced whistle-blower Bobby Madley.

Sacked two years ago by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited after sending a video to a friend mocking a disabled person, Madley will make his refereeing comeback next season as an official at League One and League Two level.

The return of the Premier League can’t come soon enough for the tabloids.

Itoje denies any wrongdoing

The Times reports on its back page that on the day Saracens’s main sponsor, Allianz, announced it was ending its eight-year association with the club, star name Majo Itoje denied all knowledge of any wrongdoing.

England’s dominant rugby union club of the last decade have been relegated from the Premiership for breaching salary cap rules, but Itoje says he’s not to blame in any way.

The England ace said: “When I entered into [the co-investments], they were all, to my knowledge, above board. There wasn’t even the slightest thought of it being not allowed by the salary-cap manager.”

Meanwhile, another of Saracens’s big names, England hooker Jamie George, has confirmed he is staying loyal to the club next season.

“It will be different for each individual, but I want to stay at the club and to be part of the transition,” he told The Times. “We’ve got to make sure that we fight to keep the club afloat.”

Today’s sport headlines

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Messi to Man City?

Could Barcelona’s superstar striker Lionel Messi soon be wearing the sky blue of Manchester City?

According to the back page of The Times, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that the goal machine might swap the Camp Nou for the Etihad after what the paper describes as a “spat” with Barcelona.

The Times states that City are “monitoring Lionel Messi’s situation amid claims that the Argentina star could leave Barcelona at the end of the season”.

Apparently Messi is hopping mad with Eric Abidal after the Barca sporting director suggested in an interview that the South American striker was involved in the sacking of the head coach Ernesto Valverde last month.

The Sun is also in on the act with a “Nou Dawn” headline.

The paper claims that City manager Pep Guardiola is on “red alert” in the hope of bringing his former charge to Manchester having coached Messi at Barcelona from 2008 to 2012.

Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo: all-time career goals and records

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Spurs win five-goal cup thriller

Tottenham’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Southampton in their FA Cup fourth-round replay makes most of the back pages.

“Son’s top Gunn” is the headline in the Daily Express after Son Heung-min converted an 87th-minute penalty past Angus Gunn to break the hearts of the Saints.

The Daily Mail also pays homage to the South Korean ace with its “Son silences Saints” headline but both papers cover all the drama of the 90 minutes that saw Southampton fight back from a goal down to lead 2-1 only for Lucas Moura to level with 12 minutes left.

Then came Son’s moment of glory when he converted a penalty three minutes from time after being fouled by goalkeeper Gunn.

If that wasn’t enough drama, there was also the horrific knee injury suffered by Saints midfielder James Ward-Prowse, and the Sun’s back page is not for the faint-hearted.

Above a close-up photo of the injury, the paper screams “It’s emergency Ward-Prowse”. Tasteless but sharp.

Tottenham will now play Norwich City at home in the FA Cup fifth round.

FA Cup fifth-round draw

Ties to be played week commencing 2 March

• Sheffield Wednesday vs. Manchester City
• Reading vs. Sheffield United
• Chelsea vs. Liverpool
• West Bromwich Albion vs. Newcastle United
• Leicester City vs. Birmingham City
• Derby County vs. Manchester United
• Tottenham Hotspur vs. Norwich City
• Portsmouth vs. Arsenal

Today’s sport headlines

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

City slackers

Tottenham’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City is covered on most of the back pages this morning with Steven Bergwijn receiving glowing praise for scoring on his debut.

The 22-year-old volleyed home Spurs’s first goal on 63 minutes and the Daily Star describes it as a “stunner”.

The defeat leaves Man City 22 points adrift of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League and the Daily Mirror is one of several papers to carry the admission from Pep Guardiola that the title race is officially over.

City’s Spanish head coach said: “They [Liverpool] are far away so they are unstoppable. They have a lot of points, we have dropped points quite similar to today. Our targets are to win the remaining competitions and qualify for the Champions League next season.”

According to the Mirror’s back page the City boss held a “behind-closed-doors inquest into the latest meltdown” and he could face a fine after breaching Premier League regulations in turning up late for his media responsibilities.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Brutal truth

England’s Six Nations hammering at the hands of France makes for grim reading for Eddie Jones, with his pre-match taunts coming back to haunt the coach.

Jones had warned the young French team that Test match rugby was a “brutal” environment, and so it proved - for England.

Beaten 24-17 in Paris (and at one stage trailing 24-0), England’s horrendous performance comes in for sharp criticism on the back pages.

“Jones’s lesson in brutality” is The Times’s headline, while The Daily Telegraph leads with “brutally exposed”.

The Express goes with “brutal backlash” and the Daily Mirror labels Jones a “motormouth” and says that the French were grateful to the England head coach for giving them ample motivation with his pre-match comments.

Djokovic jubilant

Independent finds space to report on Novak Djokovic’s eighth Australian Open crown after the Serbian won a five-set thriller against Austria’s Dominic Thiem in Melbourne.

It was his 17th grand slam title and Djokovic is now two titles shy of Rafael Nadal’s tally of 19 and three behind Roger Federer’s record of 20.

Today’s newspaper back pages

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

City through to final

Manchester City’s feat in reaching the final of the Carabao Cup makes all the back pages today, but there is a general consensus that the Sky Blues did so without any panache.

“Hollow victory” is the headline in the Independent, while the Daily Express calls City “sloppy” in reporting their second leg 1-0 defeat at home to Manchester United.

That scoreline wasn’t enough to overturn City’s 3-1 advantage from the first leg earlier in the month but as the Indy says there was a flat feeling to the Etihad at the end of the 90 minutes.

“Hero to zero” is the headline in The Daily Telegraph, a reference to Nemanja Matic, who scored United’s goal on 35 minutes but was then sent off 14 minutes from time for his second bookable offence.

Carabao Cup holders City will now play Aston Villa in the final on 1 March at Wembley Stadium.

Fernandes set for United

Man Utd fans may have been disappointed not to reach Wembley but they did get some good news yesterday.

Independent and Metro report that the Old Trafford club have agreed a deal with Sporting Lisbon to sign Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

A statement said: “Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached agreement with Sporting Clube de Portugal for the transfer of Bruno Fernandes. The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. A further announcement will be made in due course.”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Liverpool march on

“All over bar the shouting” is the headline on the back of the Daily Mirror, and it’s hard to argue with that assessment following Liverpool’s 2-0 win away at West Ham last night.

The victory continues the Reds’s unbeaten Premier League season and they are now a whopping 19 points clear of their nearest rival at the top of the table.

The Daily Star has a picture of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain celebrating his goal but the paper lavishes praises on the other scorer, Mohamed Salah, for his “man-of-the-match display”.

Archer out

The news that Jofra Archer has been ruled out of England’s forthcoming Twenty20 series with South Africa makes the back page of the Daily Express under the headline “elbowed out”.

The paceman has been plagued by injury this winter, sitting out most of the Test series against South Africa and now he’s sidelined for next month’s T20 blast.

According to The Guardian, the 24-year-old fast bowler sustained a bone stress injury to his right elbow during England’s opening Test against South Africa last month, and he “must now be considered a major doubt for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka in March”.

Today’s newspaper back pages

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Spurs land Gedson Fernandes

Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes has joined Spurs on an 18-month loan deal.

Jose Mourninho secured the services of the 21-year-old after he fell out with Benfica coach Bruno Lage. The loan deal includes an option to buy the Portuguese international for £56m.

“His key attribute is running with the ball, frequently being fouled and winning free-kicks - but he also provides midfield mettle with an above-average number of duels won and forward-thinking distribution,” says Sky Sports.

“With Moussa Sissoko and Tanguy Ndombele out injured, Harry Winks and Eric Dier spending time in the treatment room themselves this season and Victor Wanyama and Oliver Skipp on the fringes, Fernandes could soon find himself straight into the Spurs XI”

Inter bid for Eriksen rejected

Inter Milan have failed in the first bid to sign Spurs midfielder Christian Eriksen.

The Italian side offered £10.5m for the Dane, who is out of contract at the end of the season and could leave on a free transfer.

“The Italians have been told they will have to double their bid to at least £20m in order to prise the Dane away this month, with Spurs confirming talks between the sides are underway,” reports the Daily Mail.

More talks are expected this week and Inter have “discussed the possibility of throwing players into the deal aware that Tottenham have an injury crisis”.

City block Stones Arsenal move

Manchester City have “ruled out” the possibility of defender John Stones joining Arsenal this month, but the move could still happen in the summer.

The 25-year-old is on the fringes at the Etihad and is reportedly concerned about his place in the England squad for Euro 2020.

“Stones has the same agent as new Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, and the two men struck up a good relationship during the Spanish coach’s time as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City,” reports the Manchester Evening News. “But City, who have no plans to sign a new centre back in this window, will not countenance any move away for Stones.”

However, that could change this summer if Guardiola is able to bring in a replacement.

Gunners want Maddison

Another target for Arsenal is Leicester City midfielder James Maddison, but that move too could be delayed until the summer, reports Goal.com.

“Maddison, 23, is currently under contract until 2023 with the Foxes and is said to be locked in talks over a new deal with Brendan Rodgers’ side,” says the website.

“With Arsenal now joining both Manchester club in being credited with an interest in the England international, however, a move to a historically bigger club may be appealing.”

Lingard set to leave Man Utd

Manchester United’s pursuit of Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes could lead to an Old Trafford exit for Jesse Lingard, says ESPN.

“Lingard's contract at United expires at the end of next season, which means his value is decreasing, while he’s also struggling for playing time,” says the website. “Fernandes’ arrival wouldn't help the situation and United are reportedly open to considering bids now.

“Lingard looks set to depart for Serie A, with Napoli, Roma, AC Milan and Inter Milan all interesting in him.”

Super Sergio sets record as Man City slaughter Villa

Sergio Aguero was the star of Manchester City’s 6-1 thrashing of Aston Villa as the defending champions moved above Leicester into second place. The Argentine ace scored the 12th hat-trick of his career against the demoralised hosts, in the process becoming the most prolific overseas goalscorer in Premier League history.

Record breaker

Aguero has now scored more goals than the previous record holder, Arsenal’s former French striker Thierry Henry (175), and his 177 goals have only been bettered by the English trio of Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney and Andy Cole. But none of them can match Aguero’s tally of 12 hat-tricks, and his treble against Villa contributed to the most emphatic City display in months

Though they remain 14 points behind Liverpool - who beat Tottenham 1-0 on Saturday evening to maintain their unbeaten season - City have moved above Leicester, who lost 2-1 at home to Southampton.

Happy man

“I am so happy for the record but thank you to my team-mates because they help me,” said Aguero, whose goals came on 27, 58 and 81 minutes. “I want to keep scoring more goals but it all depends on my team-mates.”

Asked if he believes he can surpass Alan Shearer’s Premier League record of 260 goals, the 31-year-old Aguero said: “He has too many goals so I don’t know. I will try.”

'One of the best ever'

Aguero’s exploits overshadowed the two goals from the impressive Riyad Mahrez and the strike from Gabriel Jesus, but it was understandable that the Argentine took centre stage on his landmark day. “Sergio is one of the best ever,” said City boss Pep Guardiola. “I am proud to be here when he got the record. He will die scoring goals.”

Guardiola has already declared his belief that the title race is over, and he underlined that view when asked to assess the victory over Villa. “We would have liked to fight against them but for many reasons we could not - forget about it... We are second in the table and for a long time we were not there so we will try and maintain this position.”

How they reacted to Aguero’s record

Man City boss Pep Guardiola: “To score this amount of goals means you have done for many years a lot of good things. He’s been consistent for many years and so we are proud of him.”

Riyad Mahrez: “He’s a legend for the club and Premier League. He shows it every week and I’m very happy to have him in the team.”

Alan Shearer: “Congrats Sergio Aguero. A special day for a special player.”

The Daily Mail: “Sergio Aguero may not end his career as revered worldwide as Messi but few players will be able to look back on what they have achieved with as much satisfaction.”

The Times: ”The little Argentinian stands on the shoulders of giants, a bleach-blond colossus with a cartoon character’s nickname whose oeuvre of clinical excellence bears comparison with the best.”

Hat-trick hero

One story dominates all the back pages and that is the record-breaking feat of Man City striker Sergio Aguero on Sunday afternoon. The Argentine striker’s hat-trick in City’s 6-1 thrashing of Aston Villa was the 12th of his Premier League career, surpassing the existing record of 11 by Alan Shearer.

“League of his Own”, is the headline in the Daily Express, with the paper acclaiming his achievement in overtaking Thierry Henry to become the Premier League’s most prolific foreign marksman with 177 goals.

The Times, Independent and Guardian also lead with the story, as does Metro, which descibes Aguero as a “legend”.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Eriksen to Inter

Nearly a fortnight into the January transfer window and the lack of deals has been striking, but The Times says that a big move could be in the pipeline.

According to the paper, Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen is “a step closer” to leaving north London after thrashing out terms with Inter Milan.

The deal will net the Dane “about £100,000 a week after tax”, in what will be a four-year deal with the Serie A club.

Eriksen has long been linked with a move away from Spurs, and The Times says that the club are now ready to sell him so that he doesn’t leave as a free agent in the summer. There is also a feeling within Tottenham that the 27-year-old Eriksen is guilty of “a perceived lack of effort on the pitch”, and Jose Mourinho wants his out of the dressing room.

Tottenham will hope to sell Eriksen this week for £20m, a tidy profit for a player they bought from Ajax for £11.5 million in 2013.

Buttler apology

With the third Test between South Africa and England starting on Thursday in Port Elizabeth, Metro reports that Jos Buttler has said sorry for the swear words that were picked up by the stump mic in the previous game.

The England wicketpaper was fined last week for badmouthing Vernon Philander on the fifth day of the second Test in Cape Town.

“I’d like to apologise, that’s not the way to behave,” Buttler said. “I’ll take the slap on the wrists and I understand that as role models you can’t get away with using language like that.”

Today's newspaper back pages

Carabao Cup semi-final first leg Manchester United 1 Manchester City 3

Manchester City silenced their noisy neighbours in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final after a dominant performance at Old Trafford.

The match was as good as over at half-time with City going into the break with a three-goal lead, and although United pulled a goal back in the second period it was of scant consolation to the home fans.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted the feeble first half showing was the “worst we have played this season”, and barring an extraordinary turn of events in the second leg City will progress to the Wembley final.

The winners of the Manchester derby semi-final tie will face Leicester City or Aston Villa in the final. Leicester host Villa in tonight’s other semi-final first leg (8pm, live on Sky Sports).

Mountain to climb

Solskjaer’s future at Old Trafford is once again in the spotlight and fans reacted to last night’s display by calling for the Norwegian’s sacking.

After the match he admitted that his team have a “steep mountain to climb” if they are to beat their rivals and reach the final on 1 March.

He said: “From the first goal until half-time we just couldn’t cope with the setback, we were running in between, we let them play, our heads dropped, made decisions we shouldn’t do and that needed sorting at half-time.”

The Daily Mail reports that Solskjaer questioned the pride of his players after the feeble first-half capitulation.

He said: “The first half, from their first goal, was the worst we’ve played. Pride is a word you speak about at half-time.

“It’s natural that your head goes down but we have to get back into the mentality quicker. It can’t be me at half-time.”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Pep pleased

Marcus Rashford’s goal on 70 minutes has given United a glimmer of hope but City remain on course to win their third consecutive League Cup.

Goals from Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and an own goal by Andreas Pereira gave the visitors their half-time cushion and manager Pep Guardiola expressed his satisfaction with the performance, despite their failure to score after the break.

“We played good in the first half,” said the Spaniard. “You cannot expect to come here and score four or five goals in 45 minutes, but 0-3 is good enough.”

If anything, Guardiola seemed pleased that United pulled a goal back, a reminder to his players that complacency could be their trickiest opponent in the return fixture.

He added: “It was a good result for us but I take note about what happened in the second half for the second leg in three weeks.”

The second leg takes place on Wednesday 29 January at the Etihad Stadium (7.45pm, live on Sky Sports).

Reactions to Man Utd’s feeble first leg

David McDonnell, Daily Mirror

“United have spent close to £1bn on players since Sir Alex Ferguson retired seven years ago, but are further away than ever from reclaiming their status as the country’s dominant football force.”

Henry Winter, The Times

“This was humiliating for United. Fans will whisper their relief that it could have been worse, but that first half needs watching by the Glazer family to understand fully the importance of long-term strategic planning and proper recruitment as City, and Liverpool, do.”

Adam Bates, Sky Sports

“United conceded three goals in the first half for the first time here in 22 years. The gulf between the two teams was obvious to everyone… and it made for a frustrating sight for the home support.”

Chris Bevan, BBC Sport

“Solskjaer’s side are, somehow, still alive in the tie but this game should be seen as a reminder of how urgently United need reinforcements this month, even if they are more expensive than the club’s owners would like.”

#OleOut: how United fans reacted on Twitter

Today’s back pages

Ben Stokes is England’s superhero and it’s blue murder at Old Trafford

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Mauricio Pochettino has his heart set on Manchester City, reports The Sun, and as a result the Argentine is “refusing to commit” to Real Madrid.

The paper says the Spanish giants have been making eyes at Pochettino following his dismissal from Tottenham Hotspur last month, but it’s claimed that he sees City as his dream job.

Speculation has been growing in recent weeks that Pep Guardiola could quit the Etihad in the summer and Pochettino would jump at the chance of replacing the Spaniard.

He’s also keen on replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United. While Norwegian Solskjaer is expected to remain manager for the rest of the season, if he fails to steer United into the Champions League he will likely be sacked.

The Sun says that 47-year-old Pochettino is the “leading contender for United chiefs”, but his preference is for City as they are a more stable club.

What’s certain is that he doesn’t want the Real job, despite the Sun’s claim that they were willing to pay the Argentine “around £12m”.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Sweeping changes

Guardiola’s future at Man City is in the balance, reports the Daily Mail, and apparently he is “demanding sweeping changes across the board at the club if he is to extend his current contract”.

The lack of strength in depth in the City squad has been exposed in the first half of the season, which is why they are effectively out of the title race, trailing Liverpool by a whopping 14 points, and Guardiola wants the money to overhaul his ailing squad.

The Mail says he “wants three new additions in the summer”, as well as a fresh face on his coaching staff to replace Mikel Arteta, who will be officially unveiled as Arsenal’s new manager today.

Spending spree

Guardiola was allegedly disgruntled last summer at the club’s reluctance to go on a spending spree, recruiting only two players, and he has told City chiefs he will sign a new deal only if he is allowed to bring in a centre back, left back and a new forward.

The Mail says that there is a clause in the deal that Guardiola signed last year, allowing him to “walk away at the end of the current season should certain stipulations that satisfy the club be met”.

Today’s back pages

Man Utd fear Paul Pogba exit in January and Carlo Ancelotti agrees £9m-a-year deal with Everton

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Manchester rivals United and City will go head-to-head in the two-legged Carabao Cup semi-finals after the draw was made last night.

Holders Manchester City secured their last-four spot after beating Oxford United 3-1, while neighbours Manchester United also progressed thanks to a 3-0 defeat of Colchester at Old Trafford.

Aston Villa, who thrashed Liverpool’s kids 5-0 at Villa Park on Tuesday, will face Leicester City in the other semi-final. Brendan Rodgers’s Leicester beat Everton on penalties in a pulsating encounter at Goodison Park last night.

Semi-final first legs will be played in the week commencing 6 January and the second leg three weeks later. Man Utd and Leicester will be at home first.

The prospect of a Manchester derby will delight tournament organisers after Liverpool were forced to play a youth team due to their involvement in the Fifa Club World Cup.

The last time the Manchester clubs met in the competition was in the fourth round in 2016, when United won 1-0. United also emerged triumphant when they played City in the 2010 semi-finals.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Battle of the strikers

The derby cup fixtures have any number of intriguing sub-plots, not least of which is the clash between Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling.

Both England stars are enjoying a rich vein of form with Rashford once again scoring for United last night. That takes his season tally to 14 in all competitions, his best return in a single campaign for the Red Devils.

But the 22-year-old still lags behind Man City rival Sterling, who scored twice against Oxford for his 17th and 18th goals of the season.

In all Sterling has found the net 33 times this calendar year for the Sky Blues, more than twice the 16 goals he scored in 2018.

Nonetheless the England marksman told Sky Sports that it’s not the goals that count. “It would not mean anything without silverware and then I’ll be happy with my goal tally after that,” said Sterling.

Carabao Cup semi-final draw

First-leg fixtures will take place the week commencing 6 January, and the second legs will be played the week commencing 27 January.

• Manchester United vs. Manchester City
• Leicester City vs. Aston Villa

Today’s back pages

Firmino to the rescue as Liverpool reach Club World Cup final

Klopp hails Firmino and Alisson

Roberto Firmino came to Liverpool’s rescue, The Times reports, after scoring a stoppage-time winner to send the Champions League holders into the final of the Fifa Club World Cup.

In last night’s semi-final against Monterrey Naby Keita gave Liverpool the lead after 11 minutes, but the Mexican side were level shortly afterwards through Rogelio Funes Mori.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp made changes in the second half by bringing on Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold, and it was the duo who combined for the winner on 91 minutes. England right-back Alexander-Arnold played in a low cross which Firmino converted from close range.

After the match Brazilian striker Firmino was hailed by Klopp for his late winner, who said: “I was actually afraid of extra time so I was more than happy that Bobby scored that goal.”

Klopp also praised Firmino’s fellow Brazilian, goalkeeper Alisson Becker. “All you need is Alisson Becker, Alisson Becker,” he added. “He was there in the decisive moments. A really hard game and then you can bring on the boys.”

It will be a “Pool party” in Qatar on Saturday, says the Daily Star, when Klopp’s men face Brazilian side Flamengo in the final. Kick-off is at 5.30pm and the match is live on BBC One.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Arteta on his way

Manchester City may have won 3-1 last night in the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Oxford, but they are set to lose Mikel Arteta, Metro reports.

Spaniard Arteta, Pep Guardiola’s assistant, is poised to join Arsenal and become the new manager at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are holding final talks with Arteta’s lawyers, says The Guardian, after City boss Guardiola accepted his assistant’s wish to leave City.

Today’s newspaper back pages

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Mikel Arteta is expected to be unveiled as Arsenal’s new manager this week, with The Sun reporting that the 37-year-old Spaniard will “hold final talks with Josh Kroenke” on Tuesday.

Kroenke, son of Arsenal owner Stan, is ready to offer Arteta a £5m-a-year deal after the Manchester City assistant held an initial round of talks on Sunday evening with Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham and chief contract negotiator Huss Fahmy.

According to the Sun the presence of the pair suggests that the Gunners are “already discussing transfer budgets and salary offers with their former midfielder”.

Not impressed

Arteta spent five seasons at the Emirates as a player before joining the City staff in 2016 when he hung up his boots.

Since then he has been learning the manager’s craft under Pep Guardiola, and while the City boss is said to be relaxed about his protegee leaving, Etihad officials are less enamoured.

The Times reports that newspaper photographs of Venkatesham and Fahmy leaving Arteta’s house in the early hours of Monday morning did not “impress” the champions.

Officials from the two clubs shared the same executive area of the Emirates Stadium on Sunday when City thrashed Arsenal 3-0 and the subject of Arteta’s future was not raised.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Tough talking

The perceived deviousness of Arsenal’s approach could have consequences, warns the Times, which claims that City’s “annoyance at such secrecy may well lead them to adopt a tougher stance in negotiations over any compensation”.

The Guardian endorses the Times’s claim but says that City will nonetheless not stand in the way of Arteta should he wish to accept the Arsenal job.

They will ask for “at least £1m in compensation” and also make it clear to the Spaniard that the door will always be open should he wish to return to the Etihad.

Player mutiny

The Daily Mirror also believes that Arteta will be appointed manager this week, but says he may face hostility from some members of the squad who had hoped Carlo Ancelotti would get the job.

Italian Ancelotti now seems set to join Everton, but the issue, if true, could be the excuse Arsenal need for having a mass clearout of their squad next month.

The problems at the Emirates go far beyond who sits in the dugout and as recent performances have shown around half of the current squad are simply not up to scratch.

Today’s back pages

Carlo coup for Everton as Arsenal take the Mikel

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––��––

Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester City will face Madrid clubs in the Uefa Champions League round of 16.

Holders Liverpool have been drawn against Atletico Madrid in the first knockout stage while Man City take on Real Madrid.

Tottenham and Chelsea both have German opposition in the last 16. Last season’s beaten finalists Spurs are drawn against RB Leipzig and Chelsea have a huge tie against Bayern Munich.

In the other games Borussia Dortmund face Paris Saint-Germain, Atalanta take on Valencia, Lyon play Juventus and Napoli face Barcelona.

Round of 16 draw in full

The eight seeded teams play at home in the last-16 second legs.

• Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris Saint-Germain
• Real Madrid vs. Manchester City
• Atalanta vs. Valencia
• Atlético Madrid vs. Liverpool
• Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich
• Lyon vs. Juventus
• Tottenham Hotspur vs. RB Leipzig
• Napoli vs. Barcelona

When are the last-16 fixtures?

The Champions League round of 16 first legs will take place on 18-19 and 25-26 February 2020. The second legs are on 10-11 and 17-18 March. All matches kick-off at 8pm and will be live on BT Sport.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Last-16 first-leg fixtures

Tuesday 18 February

• Borussia Dortmund vs. PSG
• Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool

Wednesday 19 February

• Atalanta vs. Valencia
• Tottenham vs. RB Leipzig

Tuesday 25 February

• Napoli vs. Barcelona
• Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich

Wednesday 26 February

• Real Madrid vs. Manchester City
• Lyon vs. Juventus

Last-16 second-leg fixtures

Tuesday 10 March

• Valencia vs. Atalanta
• RB Leipzig vs. Tottenham

Wednesday 11 March

• PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund
• Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid

Tuesday 17 March

• Manchester City vs. Real Madrid
• Juventus vs. Lyon

Wednesday 18 March

• Barcelona vs. Napoli
• Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea

Reactions to the draw

Atlético Madrid vs. Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool manager: “It’s an interesting draw. Before the draw I actually thought it would be Madrid – either one of the two clubs – and that’s the way it is. Madrid is the place where we only have fantastic memories, all of us, so that’s great, but this time we play Atletico there and it’s their home ground.

“It’s a tough one, but if you go through all of the draws, there are pretty much four or five potential finals already in the last 16.

“So, really, really good; a good draw, a difficult game like it should be, but how we most of the time think and say, I don’t think Mr Simeone is running through his living room and is happy that he got Liverpool.

“It will be a tough game. Two teams who are used to playing intense football, different styles and slightly different organisation of course, but both are ready for intensity and that makes it pretty tough for both.”

Real Madrid vs. Manchester City

Txiki Begiristain, Man City director of football: “It is a difficult one, of course. Real Madrid have won 13 times so they are the best. We want to be the best so we want to beat them. It is always a pleasure to go to Real Madrid and play in big stadium like the Bernabeu. We know what we are going to face but they know our team and our manager too. I think we have to keep connected to all of the competitions and we will have chances to win some. In the league, Liverpool are many points ahead but we have to be connected.”

Lyon vs. Juventus

Pavel Nedvěd, former Juventus player: “We can’t complain, considering that last year we drew Atlético, but if you’re not in form when the Champions League comes back around between February and March, there is little that you can do. The precedents are favourable to us, but they do not count for anything, only the form in the moment counts.”

Rudi Garcia, Lyon head coach: “It’s a great challenge to take, a real pleasure to host them [Juventus]. We’re in the top 16 teams in Europe [and we’re happy for that]. Miralem Pjanić [former Garcia player at Roa, former Lyon player, now at Juve] is a person with great quality, incredibly skilled. He is a big strength of Juventus. Happy to welcome Maurizio Sarri. He is a very good coach, with a lot of experience.”

Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich

Thomas Müller, Bayern forward: “Now we know which team we have to deal with. We expected it to be a team of European top quality. But we are very confident, I am okay with that draw. Nevertheless, Chelsea has players who can be very dangerous, like [Christian] Pulisic or [Callum] Hudson-Odoi.”

Manuel Neuer, Bayern goalkeeper: “We watched the draw with the team. We are looking forward to London. We made some great experiences there. Surely you think of the final 2012 in Munich. They are a dangerous team, which we have to take seriously. We have to deliver a highly concentrated performance, but want to move to the next round.”

Tottenham Hotspur vs. RB Leipzig

Markus Krösche, RB Leipzig sporting director: “It was obvious that we’d get a big club. That is normal at this stage of the competition. But we will do everything we can to qualify for the next round.”

Julian Nagelsmann, Leipzig coach: “Spurs is very nice and exciting! They are a top team in Europe, in a fantastic city, with world stars who have experienced a lot. Of course it won’t be easy. But we are really looking forward to it – especially the stadium.”

Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Marco Reus, Dortmund forward: “A great matchup for both the players and fans. Our goal is to advance to the next round!”

Atalanta vs. Valencia

Antonio Percassi, Atalanta president: “The draw could have been worse. In my opinion Valencia was the best possible option for us to deal with, then we’ll see how it goes.”

Napoli vs. Barcelona

Gennaro Gattuso, Napoli head coach: “A great team, a great challenge, two fascinating races. We will face them [Barcelona] without fear.”

2019-20 Champions League season calendar

• 18-19 and 25-26 February: round of 16, first leg
• 10-11 and 17-18 March: round of 16, second leg
• 20 March: quarter-final and semi-final draw
• 7-8 April: quarter-finals, first leg
• 14-15 April: quarter-finals, second leg
• 28-29 April: semi-finals, first leg
• 5-6 May: semi-finals, second leg

When is the final?

The 2020 Champions League final will be played at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday 30 May.

How to watch on TV

BT Sport has the UK rights for the Champions League and the broadcaster will show every game live in the 2019-20 season.

Champions League winner betting odds

Prices according to Oddschecker

• Manchester City: 4/1
• Liverpool: 5/1
• Barcelona: 11/2
• Paris Saint-Germain: 15/2
• Bayern Munich: 8/1
• Juventus: 12/1
• Tottenham Hotspur: 20/1
• Real Madrid: 20/1
• Atlético Madrid: 40/1
• Chelsea: 50/1
• RB Leipzig: 50/1
• Borussia Dortmund: 66/1
• Atalanta: 100/1
• Valencia: 100/1
• Napoli: 125/1
• Lyon: 250/1

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Pep out, Poch in at Man City?

The Daily Mail reports that Pep Guardiola has a “secret release clause” in his contract at Manchester City.

An agreement in his deal at the Etihad means the Spaniard could leave the Premier League champions at the end of the season.

He signed a new contract last year, which extended his original deal until 2021, and the Mail says it includes “an agreement that he could depart at the conclusion of this campaign should certain stipulations that satisfy the club be met”.

City’s board are confident that Guardiola will honour his deal, but it’s also claimed they “remain admirers” of former Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Minamino set for Anfield

The Daily Mirror and Daily Star focus on Takumi Minamino’s impending move from Red Bull Salzburg to Liverpool in January.

Described as “Kop’s Mina miracle” by the Mirror and “Klopp’s Mina coup” by the Star, Liverpool have beaten Manchester United to the signing of the Japanese international in a deal worth just £7.25m, subject to medical.

The Anfield club were aware of a clause in his contract, says the Mirror, which United were “oblivious to”.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Today’s newspaper back pages

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Manchester City assistant coach Mikel Arteta is “desperate” to be the next manager of Arsenal but before he puts pen to paper the Spaniard wants “guarantees off the board”.

According to The Sun, Arteta would “love a return to the former club he captained” but only if he can thrash out the fine print of his contract on his terms, and in the process not upset Man City.

In particular Arteta wants assurances over the “long-term project in north London before talks begin”. It’s believed that includes the final say on which players are bought and sold.

Arteta became Pep Guardiola’s assistant at the Etihad in 2016 when he hung up his boots at Arsenal, and he is ready to take the next step up the managerial leader.

The Sun says that the Sky Blues are “willing to let the 37-year-old move back to Arsenal, but would prefer he stays until the end of the season”.

That is apparently OK with Arteta, who “does not want to upset Man City”, but will it satisfy the Arsenal board?

Waiting game

Arsenal are said to have drawn up a list of 12 candidates to replace Unai Emery at the Emirates and although Arteta is one of the favourites, it may be that the hierarchy feel they have to appoint a new boss sooner rather than later given their mid-table position in the Premier League.

The two clubs clash in the league on Sunday when City visit the Emirates, and it is rumoured that Arsenal officials will sit down with their Sky Blues counterparts in the hope of reaching a deal.

“Mikel wants the job but wants to know what is on offer and guarantees from them,” an Etihad source told the Sun.

“He will then speak to the club. Nothing is going to happen before the end of this week from what we can tell.”

The Sun claims that the City owners have discussed Arteta as a possible future replacement for Pep Guardiola when he decides his time at the club is up.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Ancelotti to Everton?

As for Carlo Ancelotti, recently sacked as Napoli manager, the odds of an approach from Arsenal appear to be slim and instead it’s Everton who are being linked with the veteran Italian coach.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the 60-year-old is “keen on a return to the Premier League and the Blues’ power-brokers are weighing up a move”.

Ancelotti remains a contender for the Arsenal job but the Daily Mirror reports that his representatives have flown to London for talks with Everton.

Today’s back pages

Man City boss Guardiola hails Jesus for his ‘goaly trinity’

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Pep hails Jesus

Independent reports that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hailed Gabriel Jesus after the striker hit a hat-trick in last night’s 4-1 Champions League win at Dinamo Zagreb.

Midfielder Phil Foden was also on the scoresheet as City finished top of group C. City and group runners-up Atalanta are through to Monday’s last-16 draw.

Jesus’s “goaly trinity” was praised by Guardiola, says the Daily Mirror, as City hit the 500th goal of his Etihad reign.

On Jesus’s performance Guardiola said: “We are incredibly delighted with Gabby. A striker needs goals and he scored three. Hopefully it can help his mood to be incredibly positive.

“Gabriel is an incredible fighter, how he helps us to defend and does absolutely everything, but a striker needs goals and that is important for him, for the team, for everything.”

After the match 22-year-old Jesus said: “It’s special. When I was young, I’d think about the Champions League - I wanted to play, I wanted to score, I wanted the ball. For me it’s a very special moment when I score goals and a hat-trick as well.”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Spurs lose in Germany

Tottenham Hotspur finished second in group B but suffered another defeat against Bayern Munich.

Earlier in the group campaign Spurs lost 7-2 at home to Bayern and the north London club were “Mullered again”, says the Daily Star, with the Germans winning last night’s match 3-1 to finish top of the table.

Kingsley Coman opened the scoring on 14 minutes for Bayern but Ryan Sessegnon equalised for Spurs on his first start for the club. Goals from Thomas Muller and Philippe Coutinho secured the win for the Bundesliga giants.

Man City, Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea are through to the Champions League last-16 draw, which takes place on Monday at 11am (GMT). The draw will be live on BT Sport 1.

Today’s newspaper back pages

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––