6 Reasons Why Bayern Can Beat Madrid

Bayern Munich host Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinal first leg this week, aiming to avenge their painful 6-3 aggregate defeat at last season's quarterfinal stage.

Here are six reasons why the German champions are better placed to reach the final this time around in their quest for a sixth European crown.

1. Heynckes has united the team

The most obvious change since last time out is the fact Jupp Heynckes has returned to replace Carlo Ancelotti, after the Italian was dismissed the day after Bayern's 3-0 group stage embarrassment in Paris.

For his fourth spell in charge, Heynckes inherited a fractious unit amid high levels of discontent with Ancelotti's laid-back coaching methods. In 2017 there were cracks and they showed in this season's campaign as Ancelotti lost the dressing room. But with his supreme man-management skills, Heynckes almost immediately revitalised Sven Ulreich, James Rodriguez, Javi Martinez, Arturo Vidal, David Alaba and the reportedly disgruntled trio of Franck Ribery, Jerome Boateng and Muller.

Heading into the business end of the season, this is now a united squad focusing on the treble.

It is also easy to forget Heynckes knows how to get the job done in Europe's top club competition. His Bayern side disposed of Real at the semifinal stage on penalties at the Bernabeu in 2012, and in three previous seasons he has reached the final each time: winning in 1998 with Real and leading the Bavarians to the showpiece event in both 2012 and 2013.

While the recent 0-0 against Sevilla broke a record run of 12 consecutive Champions League wins for the 72-year-old, almost 20 years on, Heynckes will no doubt still be smarting from being rewarded with the sack eight days after leading Los Blancos to their seventh European Cup.

2. Robert Lewandowski is fit and raring to go

Bayern's main goal threat injured his shoulder ahead of last season's quarterfinal. Without their prolific striker, an out-of-sorts Thomas Muller was handed a more advanced role but Bayern remained toothless up front and slipped to a meek 2-1 defeat -- following 16 successive Champions League home wins -- in Munich.

Inevitably rushed back from injury for the second leg at the Bernabeu, Lewandowski was largely anonymous in the first half, enjoying only 14 touches of the ball -- the fewest of anybody on the pitch. He did convert from the spot -- his eighth goal in nine Champions League games -- to give Bayern a precious advantage on the night but was forced off with just two minutes left after his injury flared up and could only watch on as Real went on to win in extra-time.

Lewandowski has been handled carefully by Heynckes since the end of the winter break, after he initially struggled to shake off a knee injury, and hasn't started an away Bundesliga fixture all year. Now fit, fresh and firing, the Poland star has notched 39 goals in 43 games this season, including a first half double as 18-time winners Bayern reached their 22nd DFB Pokal final with a 6-2 hammering of Leverkusen on Tuesday.

Off the pitch, Lewandowski's recent switch of agent has led to an inevitable surge in transfer speculation, with Real Madrid most heavily linked. That may mean extra motivation for him in this game.

3. Missing Manuel Neuer is not the calamity it might seem

After breaking his foot in September, Neuer has been out for most of the season and back-up goalkeeper Ulreich endured a horrible series of lapses under Ancelotti. However, Ulreich has undergone a remarkable transformation under Heynckes and has been key to Bayern's impressive run of form in three competitions.

Normally the absence of the world's best goalkeeper would be a crushing blow for any side's Champions League chances but Heynckes immediately backed Ulreich as his No. 1 and has been rewarded.

The latest in a long line of matchwinning performances came in the cup on Tuesday with Heynckes hailing his back-up keeper as "exceptional" and a "godsend" after pulling off a host of fine saves to keep Bayern's slender lead intact in Leverkusen.

Last season, Neuer almost single-handedly kept 10-man Bayern in the tie with at least 10 top class saves in Munich, excelling in the return too at the Bernabeu before letting in three goals in extra time.

A few weeks into his spell as No. 1, Ulreich told ESPN FC "It wasn't easy to replace Neuer," but he has grown in confidence and has been one of Bayern's standout players this season. He can harbour genuine hopes of going to the World Cup as Germany's third keeper behind Marc-Andre ter Stegen and the soon-to-be recovered Neuer.

4. Martinez has impressed as a defensive midfielder 

Heynckes' decision to restore Martinez to defensive midfield has proved another masterstroke.

Once Bayern's record signing at €40 million from Athletic Bilbao in 2012, Martinez had been used predominantly in central defence under predecessors Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola (when fit).

He is far from the quickest but his ferocious tackling and ball-winning skills have provided Bayern with great solidity and a robust shield in front of what was a creaking backline. Once again, in similar fashion to the 2013 treble winning season when regularly partnered with Bastian Schweinsteiger, Martinez has become one of the first names on Heynckes' teamsheet and the unheralded key to their treble hopes.

5. Boateng and Hummels' partnership at the back is solid

Last season, Mats Hummels missed the first leg (like Lewandowski) through injury and both of Germany's 2014 World Cup winning duo were still hampered by injury and far from 100 percent for the return as well. With Martinez suspended, Boateng and Hummels bravely played through the pain barrier as Bayern put up a stirring fight with to take the tie into extra time, but it was not enough.

Statistically speaking, if Boateng plays Bayern do not lose. He is the only Bayern regular not to have tasted defeat this season in 29 appearances and did not feature in any of the German champions' losses to PSG, Leipzig, Hoffenheim and Gladbach.

Hummels oozes class and composure alongside the more robust Boateng, while together they represent a reassuring presence at the heart of the Munich backline. Finally fit, Bayern's rocks at the back have a much better chance of keeping Ronaldo and company quiet this time around.

6. There should be no red card 

One of Heynckes' biggest coaching beliefs is to do everything in his power not to risk a dismissal in the Champions League. He always, when possible, takes off a player who is walking the red card tightrope and in danger of crossing the line.

In last season's second leg against Real, Vidal went into the referee's notebook after only five minutes for a clumsy foul on Isco. A red card seemed inevitable the longer the combative Chilean remained on the pitch and he was duly dismissed for a foul on Casemiro in the 84th minute.

With Bayern a man down, Cristiano Ronaldo clinically took advantage by adding a couple more goals to seal his hat trick and Ancelotti was heavily criticised postmatch for his blatant oversight on Vidal.

Back in October, Heynckes recalled his very first game in charge of the player he calls "my Arturo" at Leverkusen in 2009. "Arturo picked up a yellow card after only two minutes," Heynckes said. "In the 10th minute, he made another crazy challenge. In the 20th minute, I had to show him the red card myself. I knew from training how impulsive and aggressive he is. You simply must react."

Vidal certainly won't be getting a red card this time around anyway -- he's been ruled out until the end of the season with a knee injury -- but Heynckes will ensure that Bayern aren't left with a disadvantage again.

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Why Mohamed Salah Beat Kevin De Bruyne to PFA award

Judging by the reaction on social media to Mohamed Salah's confirmation as the PFA Player of the Year, there is a distinct split between red and blue following the Liverpool forward's success in beating Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne to the award.

This is understandable. Football is rooted in tribalism after all, so supporters will always back their man, regardless of the merits of the other.

On this occasion, though, it is almost impossible to separate the qualities and achievements of Salah and De Bruyne this season and I am speaking from experience, having cast my vote last week for the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year award, which will be presented to the winner on May 10.

Just like the professional footballers in England's four divisions, my choice also boiled down to one between Salah and De Bruyne -- I did consider City's Leroy Sane, but despite the German winger's outstanding campaign, it would have been difficult to justify Sane ahead of Salah and De Bruyne.

Ultimately, I voted for Salah, despite De Bruyne playing a huge role in City's Premier League title success this season. The Belgian was also instrumental in his club's Carabao Cup victory.

My vote could easily have gone to De Bruyne, but it is all about timing and, with both he and Salah enjoying a fine first half of the season, the Liverpool winger's form surge in recent weeks proved to be the decisive factor.

He may end up with nothing more than a third-place finish in the Premier League to show for his efforts this season, while De Bruyne will head off to the World Cup with two winners' medals stashed away.

But the fact that Liverpool are still in with a chance of winning the Champions League this term is largely down to Salah and his ability to deliver at the most crucial stage of the campaign.

De Bruyne, for all of his brilliance, endured a 13-game goal drought stretching back to January which only ended with his stunner against Swansea at the weekend.

Had he been able to take his game to another level during that time, as Salah has somehow managed, perhaps it would now be City facing Roma in the Champions League semifinals rather than Liverpool.

That may be splitting hairs, but Salah and De Bruyne have both been so outstanding this season that the final decision comes down to those tiny margins.

It will have been the same for the players who voted for the PFA award.

De Bruyne has dominated for large parts of this season, but it could be argued that City have been so formidable that Pep Guardiola's men would still have won the title even without the 26-year-old.

Liverpool, it is safe to assume, would not be in the top four or challenging for a place in the Champions League without Salah's 41 goals in all competitions. 
It is about players who make the key difference at the most important times and Salah has done that, time and again, in recent months during a remarkable run of form.

In 17 games since the beginning of 2018, Salah has failed to scored in just three of them. During that time, he has hit the back of the net 18 times.

The timing of the vote for both awards does not always help in terms of selecting the right winner, though.

The votes for the PFA award are counted with more than a month of the season still to run, while voting for the Football Writers' award ends at midnight on April 30, so it is impossible to wait until the last ball has been kicked in order to make a full judgement on a player's campaign.

If Liverpool fail to win the Champions League, will Salah suddenly look a flawed choice as winner ahead of De Bruyne?

Back in 1999, Tottenham winger David Ginola scooped both awards before the end of the season, but by the time the dust had settled on that campaign, Manchester United had won the Treble and none of their players had been honoured with an individual award.


It has proven to be an anomaly of history that Ginola beat the likes of Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Dwight Yorke, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Peter Schmeichel not once, but twice, in the Player of the Year awards that season.

United's array of talent probably split the vote to enable Ginola to win and there is a likelihood that all of the votes cast for the likes of Sane, David Silva and Raheem Sterling this season played into Salah's hands because they took valuable votes from De Bruyne's tally.

The only consolation for De Bruyne is that he lost out to a worthy rival in Salah.

Scoring 41 goals -- there are probably more to come -- in one season in English football is an outstanding achievement, but it required something out of the ordinary to deny De Bruyne.

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Jupp Heynckes want Bayern Munich-Liverpool Champions League final

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes has said it would be a dream to end his career with a Champions League final against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.

Heynckes, in his fourth spell in charge of the Bundesliga champions, is planning to retire at the end of the season and will be succeeded at the Allianz Arena by Niko Kovac.

In order for his Champions League dream to come true, Bayern must beat Real Madrid in the semifinals and Liverpool need to see off the challenge of Roma.

Heynckes said he was looking forward to a "meeting of giants" against Madrid and hoped that it would end with a showdown against Liverpool and Klopp in Kiev next month.

"If I were allowed one wish, that would be it," he told a news conference in Munich following Friday's Champions League draw.

"There were only three possible opponents left, and that's a fantastic draw. A meeting of giants -- two clubs which have a great tradition in European football, two teams which love to play attractive football.

"It's a difficult draw, but you'd never know whether Roma or Liverpool would have been a better draw."

Heynckes hailed Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 15 times in this season's Champions League and put his side into the last four with a clinically taken injury-time penalty.

Ronaldo has scored nine goals in six career games against Bayern -- all coming in the Champions League knockout stages -- including seven goals in his last three appearances.

"There have always been outstanding players in football -- Cristiano Ronaldo is one of them. Alongside Lionel Messi, he is the best in the world," he said. "He is no Maradona, he is no Messi. He is a different kind of player, but still world class. He's one of the best, and you must work hard for this every day.

"Still, the team performance is a crucial factor in games like this, and let's hope he won't have his best day."

Meanwhile, Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno said he expected both sides to "suffer" in the semifinal.

Speaking to BeIN Sports at the draw in Nyon, he tipped Madrid to rise to the challenge as they had done against Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.

"It is almost impossible not to suffer at this stage of the competition," he said. "We will all suffer, they will too. Bayern are another prestigious team, among the best in the world. But we trust in our players, who for many years have shown what they are capable of."

Madrid are aiming to win the trophy for a third time in succession, and Butragueno said: "It will be very difficult, obviously. But we feel our players can again be up to the level required, and we are excited about the chance to reach another final."

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Bayern Munich select Niko Kovac as next coach - reports

Eintracht Frankfurt manager Niko Kovac will be the next coach of Bayern Munich, according to multiple reports in Germany.

A former Bayern defender, Kovac has long been considered a leading contender to replace interim coach Jupp Heynckes, who plans to retire at the end of the season.

And the 46-year-old is now set to take over in July, as first reported by Bild. He will receive a two-year contract, according to kicker, which also reported that a clause in his contract at Eintracht allowed for Kovac to join Bayern or one of two unnamed foreign clubs for a fixed fee of €2.2 million.

Kovac took over Eintracht Frankfurt in March 2016 and helped the club survive a relegation playoff that season before finishing 11th last year.

They are currently in fifth place, just two points behind Bayer Leverkusen for the final Champions League qualification spot with five games remaining.

Kovac said last week he was happy at Eintracht, where his contract runs for another season, but he left the door open for a possible change.

"There is no reason to doubt whether I'll be coach here next year," he said, but added: "So much happens in soccer. I don't know what will happen tomorrow. As things stand now, I am coach until 2019."

Bayern had previously targeted former Thomas Tuchel to take over, but CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed last month that the Borussia Dortmund boss had turned down the Bavarian club, while sources told ESPN he is Paris-Saint Germain's choice to be their next boss.

Rummenigge also said that Bayern would seek a German-speaking coach, and planned to make an appointment before the end of April. Other reported candidates included RB Leipzig's Ralf Hassenhuttl, Hoffenheim's Julian Nagelsmann and Freiburg's Christian Streich.

During his playing career, Kovac spent two seasons with Bayern Munich from 2001-03. After retiring from playing in 2009, Kovac remained at RB Salzburg as an assistant.

His first senior coaching job came with the Croatia national team, for whom he earlier starred as captain at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008.

Kovac is also a good friend of his former Bayern teammate Hasan Salihamidzic, who is now Bayern's sporting director.

Heynckes, 72, helped Bayern secure the Bundesliga title last weekend after replacing Carlo Ancelotti in October.

Information from Bayern Munich correspondent Mark Lovell was used in this report.

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See What Klopp Said About Salah's Transfer Talk

Real Madrid may be keeping a close eye on the in-form Egypt international forward, but those at Anfield have no concerns when it comes to his future

Liverpool manager Jurgen Kloppp is “not worried” when it comes to Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield.

After netting 39 times across all competitions this season, the Egypt international is now considered to occupy a standing among global football's elite.

That has alerted the likes of Real Madrid to his ability, with the Blancos in the process of drawing up a list of possible summer transfer targets.

Liverpool are aware that their star turn is said to figure on the recruitment radar at Santiago Bernabeu, but Klopp has no concerns when it comes to retaining a 25-year-old talent.

The Reds boss told Sport Bild on the exit talk: “I know that Mo feels very comfortable here and he knows that our style of play suits him very well. So I am not worried about a transfer.”

Salah signed for Liverpool for £36.9 million in the summer of 2017, with the Reds moving to bring a former Chelsea flop back to English football.

They have seen an immediate return delivered on that investment, with the African star hitting the ground running on Merseyside.

That has not been the case for all of the recent recruits at Anfield, with some requiring longer in which to find their feet.

German goalkeeper Loris Karius falls into that category, having endured a testing debut campaign, but the 24-year-old has also come good to justify the faith shown in him by Klopp.

“Maybe it was my fault that I played him shortly after he came back from his hand injury. But I was always convinced of his talent,” said Klopp of a fellow countryman.

“If not, we wouldn't have bought him. Loris is a young keeper with great potential and he does a great job.”

Those at his disposal have helped Klopp to oversee a run through to the semi-finals of the Champions League this season.

Premier League leaders Manchester City are the latest side to have been bundled out of Europe by the Reds, but Pep Guardiola is still held in the highest regard by the man who masterminded his continental demise.

Klopp said of an old adversary: “Everywhere he has been, everyone can recognise his talent. That was the case in Barcelona, at Bayern and now in Manchester.

“If he's not my opponent, I love watching his football. You don't have to force me to watch City games!”

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Liverpool fear no one after wins vs. Manchester City - Oxlade-Chamberlain

Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is one step closer to his Champions League dream but he believes beating Manchester City over two legs has longer-term implications.

Jurgen Klopp's side won 5-1 on aggregate after a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium to bring up two wins in a week over the Premier League champions-elect and make it three in the season against Pep Guardiola's team.

They could now get defending European champions Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Roma in Friday's semifinal draw but Oxlade-Chamberlain insists they fear no one.

"This is a massive confidence booster for us. To beat City twice is no easy feat,'' he said.

"We did it twice in a week and we also did it at an earlier stage this season.

"It just shows to us that when we are at the right level we can beat anyone in this league.

"Now it is on us -- whoever we get in the next round -- to go and prove we can beat people in Europe as well.

"People might say Roma [is the preference] but look what they did, they performed amazingly well.

"It doesn't matter who we get, we have to make sure we are ready for anyone and we can beat anyone.''

On a personal level, the England international is excited by the tantalising prospect of a major European final being within touching distance.

"It is everything you dream of when you are a young lad,'' he added. "You want to play in finals and they don't come much bigger than the Champions League final so we've made my dream that one step closer by getting into the semifinals.

"That is what we want to do as professional athletes: get to as many finals and then when you get there you want to win.''

Oxlade-Chamberlain paid tribute to Klopp for the way he handled the team trailing 1-0 having been under pressure for 45 minutes.

He was grateful to see his boss in the technical area while City were left rudderless by Pep Guardiola's banishment to the stands at the interval.

"He [Klopp] is a great manager and he has proved that over the years,'' he said.

"Just as much as tactically he had a good plan, he also has the fire in him to get you all motivated and that is what he did at half-time.

"He calmed us all down and then gave us a little bit of a rocket and just said 'no matter what we do now -- if we go through, if we go out -- we are going to do it our way,' and I think we did that much better in the second half.

"Obviously you always want your manager on the touchline. He is the man you look to at times when we need information [even if] it is hard to shut him off as he shouts loud.

"From what I've seen how Pep manages City he is very vocal as well on the sidelines so that is obviously important -- but whether or not that affected them I'm not too sure.

"I wasn't really aware Pep wasn't on the touchline until someone said they saw it on the TV afterwards!''

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Why Salah didn’t do well at Chelsea – Lampard

Chelsea legend, Frank Lampard has revealed why Mohammed Salah did not do well while at the Stamford Bridge.

The Egyptian has scored his 39th goal of an increasingly prolific season to help send Jurgen Klopp’s side through to the last four of the Champions League at the expense of Manchester City.

Lampard played alongside Salah at Chelsea during the Egyptian international’s underwhelming 18-month spell at Stamford Bridge.

Salah returned to the Premier League in the summer, transforming from an erratic winger to a free scoring forward.

Asked if he thought Salah was capable of producing the sort of form he is in currently, Lampard told BT Sprot, ‘No.

“But he didn’t get that many chances [at Chelsea] to show that. But he’s released himself from the wing. At Chelsea he was seen as a winger.

“He didn’t have much impact but there were a lot of players ahead of him, the likes of Eden Hazard who was older than him.
“By releasing himself from the wing he’s been able to show his brilliant intelligence. Even for the goal. Sometimes we watch Lionel Messi and he’s great at just standing in areas.
“Salah’s started to do that, just standing in areas and all of a sudden the ball comes to him and he goes.”

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Liverpool have defeated the best team in the world -- Jurgen Klopp

 Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool deserve to be in the last four of the Champions League after Tuesday's 2-1 second-leg quarterfinal victory over Manchester City, who he calls the best team in the world.

Liverpool withstood a first-half siege from City at the Etihad Stadium as Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino both scored after half-time to guide the Reds to a 5-1 win on aggregate over Pep Guardiola's side.

The Merseyside club are now in the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time since the 2007-08 season.

Speaking at his postmatch news conference, Klopp said: "This league is unbelievably strong, this competition is unbelievably strong. You cannot imagine how much intensity you feel before a game like this.

"I really think they are the best team in the world at the moment but I knew we could beat them. We completely deserve to be in the semifinals.

"Everybody wrote me a message -- 'I will watch the game here, I will watch the game there, I will have a beer together with friends...' I would really like to do that as well, to drink a beer and watch a Champions League game. Unfortunately, it is always work.

"It's all good but it's not that you can enjoy it completely, but I don't care who is in [the competition]. We are here and we deserved it, and I am really happy about that.

"So far, we fought for each opportunity to get it -- and then to use it is so hard. But that's what we will do. The other teams will have their targets as well when we meet them in the semis; I think they are not without ambitions."

Liverpool recovered from going 1-0 down inside two minutes as a result of Gabriel Jesus' goal and escaped going further behind in the first half as Bernardo Silva struck the post before Leroy Sane controversially had a goal ruled out for offside.

"We've matured constantly, that's true," Klopp said. "The boys get more and more used to situations like this. If you could say anything bad about us in the past, the last few months, then it's that on a good day we beat everybody and on an average day we lose with cheap goals.

"Obviously we have worked on that. It's all about confidence, being convinced about what you are doing and stuff like that. We did it, but on the other side it is always like this.

"Yes, if the ball is here or there around the box, in the box, you need to defend it, but it should not happen that often. That only works if you have the ball and then you have to do something with it.

"We are still in a development phase, that's how it is, but already a good team."

Liverpool could be pitted against Roma in the last four of Europe's premier club competition in Friday's draw after the Italian side defied the odds to beat Barcelona on Tuesday night.

Klopp initially thought it was a joke when somebody informed him that Eusebio Di Francesco's side had overcome a 4-1 deficit to go through on away goals against the likely La Liga Champions.

"I walked up the stairs and somebody told me [Roma had gone through] -- I really thought it was a joke," Klopp said. "Not that I don't respect Roma, the absolute opposite. They have a fantastic team -- Edin Dzeko, wow. They lost Mo Salah and they are in the semis, that's quite a big thing.

"I cannot say anything about the game, I didn't expect it before the game but I knew it was possible.

"This competition is quite fair and I really think a normal final would have been Manchester City against Barcelona, and now they are both out.

"But there will still be two other really strong teams in there plus Roma and us. We will see what happens but that's not the thing I have to think about tonight."

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Fernandinho Labels Liverpool "Long Ball Team"

Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho claims that Liverpool are a "long ball" team ahead of their Champions League clash on Tuesday.

City need to become only the third team in Champions League history to overturn a three-goal or more deficit to progress to the semifinals after their shock 3-0 first-leg defeat at Anfield.

Fernandinho admits they failed to cope with Liverpool in the first leg and says they must not concede if they are to have any chance of going through.

"They are a team that like to play long balls," the Brazilian told a news conference. "They try to keep the players around the middle.

"I hope we can solve all the problems we had, especially in the first half, in 10-15 minutes we conceded three goals. Then we can apply our type of game.

"[A cleant sheet is] the most important thing for us. If we concede one goal we have to score at least five so we must play our football and more than ever we need our fans to be together with us and we will see what happens tomorrow. I hope we can do our job."

City have now conceded six goals in their last two games following the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola's side let a two-goal lead slip to blow the chance of securing the Premier League title against their bitter rivals and Fernandinho admitted that it has been a difficult week.

"It was a tough week for us, two defeats in a week but that's in the past already," he added. "Our focus is on the second leg against Liverpool and the only way to play good football is to be positive.

"Now's the time for experienced players to take over and take charge. Of course we know two defeats are not easy but that happens to the best teams in the world.

"What we have done this season is amazing and we have a chance to go through in the Champions League. It won't be easy.

"[Liverpool] are a team who fight for the ball and try to keep the players in the middle but we will be ready for tomorrow's game."

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Liverpool make surprise swoop for Man United's Marouane Fellaini

In what could be one of the more unexpected moves of the summer, Liverpool have offered Marouane Fellaini a three-year deal as they aim to prise him away from Manchester United, according to L'Equipe.

The former Everton midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season and has attracted interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and Besiktas.

But Liverpool are trying to push their way to the front of the queue, with Fellaini's future still uncertain despite Jose Mourinho's attempts to convince him to stay at Old Trafford.

If the Belgium international joins the Reds, he will be the first player to transfer directly between the two clubs since Phil Chisnall in 1964.

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Man United want Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial swap for Neymar

Despite his double to inspire Manchester United to a 3-2 fightback victory in the derby against City, Paul Pogba is being linked again with a move away from Old Trafford -- this time to Paris Saint-Germain, rather than to the Etihad.

Only now, United want Neymar in return, should the Ligue 1 giants push for Pogba and his France international colleague Anthony Martial, according to the Star.

United would still have to add cash into the deal to land the Brazilian, with the report suggesting a further £50 million would go along with the star duo.

Only last year did PSG put up £200m to bring Neymar to the French capital from Barcelona, but failing to settle has sparked talk of a departure already.

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Liverpool trying everything to have Mohamed Salah fit vs. Everton -Klopp

Jurgen Klopp is still holding out hope that Mohamed Salah could be for Saturday's Merseyside derby, but insists he will not risk the 38-goal forward at Goodison Park if he is not 100 percent fit.

Salah came off early in the second half of Liverpool's 3-0 victory over Manchester City on Wednesday after appearing to complain of an issue in his leg.

The Premier League's top goalscorer uploaded a picture of himself in an oxygen chamber on Thursday and Klopp says no decision has been made yet on the lineup for Saturday's game with Everton.

"First of all, I don't think it makes sense when we start talking about what we do with the boys in rehab," Klopp told a news conference on Friday afternoon. "There's maybe another place where we have to talk about that.

"But, of course, you can imagine we tried everything to make him available. There's still 23 hours to go until we start. Let's see what happens."

Liverpool's trip to Goodison comes three days before their Champions League second leg at the Etihad.

"I cannot make Mo available because it's a derby. Even our supporters don't want that," the Liverpool manager added. "If he's a doubt, then he will not be involved. That's the same with all of them. If they are not 100 percent fit, they cannot be involved.

"I would not rest a player who has nothing wrong, we are used to playing games, that is not a problem.

"The only way to work in this job is to be focused always on the next game, and that is Everton. Then after the game you have to see.

"I said before, the next game is never the reason for rotation -- it is always the last game. If I think I have to do this or that, I will do it."

Injuries are mounting up within the Liverpool squad after Salah became the latest fitness concern for Klopp, joining Emre Can and Ragnar Klavan as doubts for Saturday's early kickoff. Klopp opted to remain tight-lipped when asked for an injury update on Friday afternoon.

"There's not too much to say about it for two reasons," he said. "I don't want to give any information away -- that's the first one -- and the other one is because we want to wait a little bit. That's all.

"We have a few hours to go until we go to the hotel, we have a few more hours until the ref starts the game.

"You will see who is available and who is not available when you see the lineup tomorrow because it's not about rotation or something. We need to find solutions. But [I] don't want to give too much information away."

The potential absentees may hand opportunities for youngsters and players on the fringes to be part of Saturday's squad.

Klopp hinted that striker Danny Ings, who has not made a start under the German, stood a good chance of appearing, while young players Conor Masterson, Rafael Camacho, Curtis Jones, Nathaniel Phillips and Herbie Kane have all been training at Melwood this past week.

"Thank God, Danny is here and in a good shape," Klopp said. "I would not guarantee it, but it doesn't look too bad that he could start tomorrow.

"I always say to young players it is about being ready for the opportunity. Conor Masterson has played under-18s, under-23s, he's still a very young lad and these are different experiences.

"They are around now, because we gave the "next generation" on loan to different clubs -- Ryan Kent, Harry Wilson, Ovie Ejaria, Sheyi Ojo, Marko Grujic, these boys are on loan so we use the next generation.

"They are really talented boys, and I am always ready for using them -- but in the right game. We will see when that is."

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Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh wins legal fight against Fortuna Sittard

Former Nigerian Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has been vindicated by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) court after it was discovered that the Dutch Club Fortuna Sittard were guilty of ‘Black Money Payment‘ as claimed.

The court ordered that Oliseh be compensated with all his due gratuities and he has the obligation to remain in the club as the Fortuna Sittard’s manager until his contract expires in May 2018.

Oliseh was suspended by Fortuna Sittard and blamed for insubordination but the Nigerian international also alleged that the Dutch club wanted him to be part of something devious which he turned down.

“Black money payment’ is an unlawful payment for a job done in which tax isn’t paid to the government and it is culpable in the Netherlands.
The former Super Eagle’s captain took to his social media page to express his delight:
“Dutch court finds Fortuna Sittard guilty for not being a good employer to Sunday Oliseh and sanctions Fortuna. Most importantly The Knvb Court stated that Oliseh has not acted as a bad employee!” Oliseh wrote on Twitter.

“Consequentially, negating false claims made by Fortuna. God is great!


“The court further sanctions Fortuna Sittard to compensate me (Oliseh) financially immediately.
“I am obliged to stay as a Fortuna employee until the month of May 2018. Thanks, 2 all my well-wishers for your valued support all through this injustice. Thankful to God 4 his blessings!”

Oliseh was however berated by some individuals for taking such action against his employer. A particular commentator on a popular Nigerian forum stated the he ought to have settled the issue with the club amicable as his action could affect his ability to secure another job at any top flight club in Europe.

The comment reads:

Anyway, Congrats on the legal victory BUT… good luck finding another coaching job in Europe, Asia and Americas.

You created a bad impression/image (regardless of the circumstance) of yourself, the moment you go legal with your employers. It’s a Capitalist world… Hire /fire at will or discretion, even contracts are NOT restricted within this confinement.

Go ask all the top, top European coaches (Mourinho, Capello, et al…). Your best bet is to have negotiated a lucrative term in the contract agreement so it won’t get to this stage.

Please, it’s NOT about race else, he won’t have gotten the job in the first place.

Remember, Talent will ONLY take you this far… Attitude/Character/Personality will take you very, very far!

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Sevilla troll Liverpool and Man City with Champions League comeback reminder

The Reds put three past Pep Guardiola's side without reply and the Spanish outfit poked fun at both English teams
Sevilla have cheekily reminded Liverpool that a 3-0 lead in the Champions League does not always guarantee success, offering Manchester City a glimmer of hope in their quarter-final tie.

City were on the end of a crushing defeat at Anfield on Wednesday, as Liverpool produced a stirring display which had them 3-0 up by the 31st minute of the first leg.

In-form Mohamed Salah got the first, before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's long-range thunderbolt and a Sadio Mane goal put the Reds in cruise control.

The result leaves Pep Guardiola's men staring at a likely exit, despite being considered among the favourites to lift the trophy in Kiev.

But Sevilla gave a timely reminder of their exploits against Liverpool in November, as they came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan – Guido Pizarro netting a last-gasp equaliser.

From their official Twitter account, the Liga club posted: "3-0 down to Liverpool? Been there, done that."

3-0 down to @LFC?

Been there, done that 😉 pic.twitter.com/GH6B0ZFVRL

— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) April 5, 2018

City host Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday and they will look to follow Sevilla's lead and claw back a three-goal deficit.

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Philippe Coutinho wants Salah at Barca

Philippe Coutinho is pushing for Mohamed Salah to join him at Barcelona next summer, and wants his former Liverpool team-mate to ignore the calls from Real Madrid, Don Balon reports.

The Brazilian believes that Salah is a better fit for Barca than Antoine Griezmann, who the club has already practically signed, and has promised the Egyptian star that he will try to convince Ernesto Valverde to go after the Reds' forward. 

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Anfield Reception Moved Firmino To Tears

Roberto Firmino has told ESPN Brasil that he was moved to tears by the reception Liverpool received en route to Anfield for Wednesday's Champions League tie with Manchester City.

Liverpool supporters lined the streets to greet the arrival of Jurgen Klopp's team ahead of the first leg of the quarterfinal, with the Reds running out 3-0 winners.

But the reception for the Liverpool bus followed ugly scenes as fans threw objects that damaged the City transport and injured two police officers, leading to charges from UEFA on Thursday.

Inside the stadium, Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren branded the atmosphere as the best he had experienced during his time at the club, with Firmino also believing the crowd provided Liverpool with an extra edge.

"When we were on the bus I was reading about how the reception was going to be. I must say, it filled my eyes full of tears. It was very moving for me," the Brazilian said.

"It only gives us more strength to fight on the field and win the games."

Goals from Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sadio Mane inside 31 minutes give Liverpool a commanding lead ahead of next week's second leg at the Etihad Stadium.

But Firmino echoed his manager's comments in saying that the tie was only at half-time, especially against an opponent like Pep Guardiola's side, who can win the Premier League title against Manchester United on the weekend.

"I think we played really well," said the forward, who was substituted after 71 minutes. "We had a great game, we scored and kept the clean sheet, which is important.

"We haven't won the tie yet, we have to keep focused."

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I left Man United due to lack of attacking football --Mkhitaryan

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has told FourFourTwo he wanted to join Arsenal because he "missed playing offensively" at Manchester United and was not signed to replace Alexis Sanchez.

Mkhitaryan joined Arsenal in January in a swap deal for Sanchez and has had a flying start at the Emirates with two goals and six assists in 11 games.

It is a turnaround for his recent form at United, where he had fallen out of favour with Jose Mourinho, and Mkhitaryan seemed to aim another dig at the Portuguese manager's playing style.

"When I heard I could swap Man United for Arsenal, I said, 'Yes, I want to do that,'" Mkhitaryan said. "I didn't think twice. It's important for me to play in an offensive team.

"I couldn't have imagined a better start. I'd missed playing offensively. I joined Arsenal because [Arsene] Wenger wanted me, not because he wanted to replace Sanchez.

We are different players and characters, with different abilities and skills, so I'll try my best to do everything for the club."

While Arsenal are in sixth place in the Premier League, Mkhitaryan has a chance to win the Europa League for the second year in a row.

Arsenal host CSKA Moscow in the first leg of the quarterfinals on Thursday, and the Armenian made no secret of his ambition to deliver trophies to the club.

"I want to write my name into Arsenal's history and have my name as a legend here," he said. "I want to score goals, make assists and win trophies to make the fans happy."

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Liverpool top Premier league agent spending; See total combined fees

Liverpool spent £26.7 million on fees for intermediaries and agents in 12 months and Premier League clubs overall topped the £200m mark for the first time.

Figures released by the Football Association on Tuesday showed Liverpool paid out more than any other club, closely followed by reigning Premier League champions Chelsea and this season's table-toppers Manchester City.

Jurgen Klopp's team have been strengthened by big-money signings including Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain over the past year, with agents also significantly benefiting from player transfers involving the club.

Chelsea spent £25.1m for the period concerned, which runs from Feb. 1 2017 to Jan. 31 2018, taking in last year's summer transfer window and the recent January window.

Manchester City had an outlay of £23.4m and Manchester United paid £18m, the FA said, with the total Premier League spend amounting to £211,011,187, up from £174,227,243 for the corresponding 2016-17 timeframe.

Watford's total of £13.3m meant the Hertfordshire club were the fifth-highest spenders, forking out more than Everton and Arsenal.

Of the current Premier League sides, Huddersfield were the lowest spenders with a total of £2.4m. Four teams currently in the Championship paid out more, with Aston Villa spending £5.5m, Middlesbrough £2.5m, Reading £2.8m and Sunderland £4.3m.

The aggregate spend by Premier League and Football League clubs amounted to £257,680,542, with Championship sides paying £42.183m. Clubs from League One paid £3.527m, and League Two outfits spent £958,969.

Much of the spending will comprise payments made to agents for transfers completed and contracts negotiated over the 12 months, although the FA said some payments may have been made for deals agreed before last February.

League Two side Crawley were the lowest spenders of all, with a £4,680 total investment.

Premier League spending table

1. Liverpool £26,793,503

2. Chelsea: £25,143,786

3. Manchester City: £23,475,309

4. Manchester United: £18,002,193

5. Watford: £13,390,605

6. Everton: £12,056,512

7. Arsenal: £10,560,689

8. Leicester £9,918,530

9. West Ham £8,387,694

10. Bournemouth: £7,733,988

11. Newcastle: £7,409,760

12. Swansea: £7,317,716

13. Tottenham: £7,173,667

14. Southampton: £6,296,804

15. Stoke: £6,241,527

16. Crystal Palace: £6,173,622

17. West Brom: £4,754,226

18. Brighton: £4,415,325

19. Burnley: £3,299,917

20. Huddersfield: £2,465,815

Total: £211,011,187

Sky Bet Championship

Top spenders - Aston Villa: £5,510,180

League total: £42,183,048

Sky Bet League One

Top spenders - Blackburn: £764,024

League total: £3,527,338

Sky Bet League Two

Top spenders - Coventry: £113,620

League total: £958,969

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Liverpool must be '100 percent better' vs. Manchester City -Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes you need confidence to be successful against Manchester City and will tell his team they have all the quality they need to beat the Premier League champions elect.

The first leg of their hugely-anticipated Champions League quarterfinal at Anfield sees City return to the scene of their only league defeat so far this season when they lost 4-3 in arguably the game of the season in January.

Klopp has won more matches (six) against Pep Guardiola than any other manager and so obviously has a method which works well against the Catalan's full-on possession game.

But if there is a secret to combating Guardiola then the German was not prepared to air it publicly.

"We beat Man City two months ago but we knew before the game it is possible, if unbelievably difficult to do it, so now we know again it is possible and difficult to do it again,'' he said.

"If you have a home game hoping for a clean sheet against Man City does not make much sense.

"If you have to defend against them 95 minutes, 100 percent they will have a shot on target.

"You need a fantastic goalkeeper and fantastic defence and fantastic organisation and you need the [guts] to use the space they give you.

"We have to be 100 percent better in all parts, offensively and defensively.

"We cannot avoid everything. But with our skills, we can cause them problems and they have the same chance so that makes the game interesting.''

Despite their storied past, Liverpool have won just one trophy since 2006, although Klopp did take them to two finals without success in his first season in 2016-17.

The enormity of their all-Premier League quarterfinal brings back memories of the famous 2005 occasion against Chelsea, but the Reds boss insists that has to remain in the past.

"I like all these things but this club is already full of history and we have to write our own,'' he added.

"I meet people who can tell me each goal Liverpool scored 37 years ago. This team we need to be proud of our history but we need to create our own history.

"I did that a lot in the past with my former teams: at one point you need to do your own things. The boys are ready and are really looking forward to it.''

As if Klopp did not have enough to concern himself with, he revealed preparations for next week's second leg have not gone to plan.

Ideally, Liverpool would have trained at the Etihad Stadium the night before the match and then had a closed session on the morning of Tuesday's game.

However, the club have been unable to secure a behind-closed-doors pitch on which to practise and so may end up remaining on Merseyside and travelling to Manchester on the day of the game.

"We would've liked to have trained next week ahead of the away game as well but we didn't get a pitch for the next morning because no Manchester club could give us a pitch for the next morning,'' Klopp said.

Sources tell Press Association Sport that Liverpool did contact Manchester United to ask about the availability of the Red Devils' The Cliff training ground, where Napoli trained ahead of their tie against City earlier this season.

However, the complex in Salford, used by United's youth teams and for football in the community events, was already being used for the dates Liverpool requested. The club are not aware of any enquiries being made about using the first-team's Carrington training complex or Old Trafford.

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