..::Football IV::..

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    Manchester United 1 Chelsea 1: Another De Gea howler hands Sarri's side top-four advantage

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    Chelsea ensured the race for a place in the Premier League's top four remains in their hands after a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.Another error from David de Gea allowed Marcos Alonso to cancel out Juan Mata's opener and claim what could be a valuable point in the quest for Champions League qualification.

    United started the day knowing anything less than a win would leave them needing a few favours in the final two matches of the season, and they deservedly went ahead in the first half after producing a far better performance than they have managed in their recent run of seven defeats in nine games in all competitions.


    But De Gea, who made costly mistakes against Barcelona and Manchester City in recent games, gifted Alonso a simple finish that could prove fatal to United's top-four hopes.

    United's fast start yielded a goal after 11 minutes - their first from open play since April 2 - when Mata, on his 31st birthday, turned in Luke Shaw's cutback after a fine pass from Romelu Lukaku.

    Chelsea responded with a period of possession, but the recalled Eric Bailly could have made it 2-0 with a header he glanced just past the right-hand post.The visitors managed to draw level moments before the break, though, as Alonso squeezed in the rebound after De Gea failed to hold Antonio Rudiger's speculative strike from 35 yards out.

    The second half was disrupted by a succession of injury problems, with Rudiger and Marcus Rashford unable to fight through the pain barrier and Bailly then helped off after an awkward collision with Mateo Kovacic.

    Marcos Rojo had a header cleared off the line by Pedro in injury time, while De Gea saved from Gonzalo Higuain, but United will now need to beat Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City in their final two matches and hope for some help elsewhere if they are to secure Champions League football for next season.
     

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    Burnley 0 Manchester City 1: Aguero keeps title defence on track

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    Sergio Aguero scored another crucial goal for Manchester City as his strike in a 1-0 win at Burnley moved the defending champions back above Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table.

    City were frustrated for long periods at Turf Moor on Sunday but they found the breakthrough in the 63rd minute, Aguero scoring his 20th Premier League goal of the season.Aguero's strike evaded the desperate efforts of Burnley defender Matt Lowton to clear off the line, with City's 12th straight league victory moving Pep Guardiola's side a point above Liverpool with two games remaining.

    The Argentina attacker has become the second player in Premier League history to score 20 or more times in five consecutive seasons, with his latest goal keeping City on track for the title.
    City took until the 28th minute to record the game's first shot on target, but Bernardo Silva's attempt to repeat his Old Trafford goal from midweek failed to seriously test Tom Heaton at his near post.

    Leroy Sane showed frustration with City's sloppy play in the final third before Aguero thumped a drive from outside the Burnley box narrowly wide of Heaton's left upright.

    City, after a tunnel pep talk from Guardiola, made a roaring start to the second half with Heaton beating away Aguero's powerful strike before Ashley Barnes appeared to block Silva's shot with his arm and Aymeric Laporte headed straight at the keeper.Burnley were on the ropes and City found a way through thanks to Aguero, who has now scored nine goals in his past eight appearances in all competitions against the Clarets.

    James Tarkowski appeared to have halted Aguero in the box, but City's record goalscorer wriggled clear and Lowton's second attempt to clear his shot off the line was timed moments too late.Substitute Gabriel Jesus almost added a nerve-settling second only for former City centre-back Ben Mee to make a brilliant clearance on the line, bettering Lowton's efforts.

    Guardiola decided to hold what he had, finishing the match with all four of his senior centre-halves on the field to cautiously see out a vital triumph.
     

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    Rayo Vallecano 1 Real Madrid 0: Benzema missed as Los Blancos humbled by LaLiga strugglers

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    Karim Benzema's absence was felt by Real Madrid as Zinedine Zidane's side slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat at LaLiga strugglers Rayo Vallecano.

    Madrid's leading scorer Benzema - who has netted the club's last eight LaLiga goals - may miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, and without their talisman to rely on, Los Blancos put in a tame display at Estadio de Vallecas.VAR played a crucial role in Rayo's first victory over Madrid since 1997 - referee Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes changing his initial decision not to award the hosts a penalty for a foul by Jesus Vallejo.

    Adrian Embarba duly slotted home from 12 yards and Rayo's lead was hardly threatened as Madrid succumbed to a defeat that all but ends their hopes of finishing second.

    Mariano Diaz, in for Benzema, saw an early chance blocked by Abdoulaye Ba, while Thibaut Courtois denied Jose Pozo an opener at the other end.Javi Guerra looked set to prod home a wonderful Alex Moreno cross soon after, only for Vallejo to get there first.

    However, after initially letting play to continue - Gareth Bale seeing a one-on-one effort saved by Alberto Garcia in the intervening period - the referee brought the play back and, after consulting with VAR, deemed that Vallejo had in fact dragged Guerra down, with Embarba making no mistake from the resultant spot-kick.

    Embarba almost caught Courtois out with a cross-shot shortly after the restart, before Madrid's goalkeeper made a smart stop to deny Bebe.Garcia reacted sharply to keep out a dipping Bale free-kick with 20 minutes remaining, but that was all Madrid could muster as Rayo held firm to secure a famous victory and boost their slim hopes of survival in the process.
     

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    Torino 2 AC Milan 0: Rossoneri implode as pressure grows on Gattuso

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    Andrea Belotti and Alex Berenguer were on target as Torino piled the pressure on Gennaro Gattuso with a 2-0 win over 10-man AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.

    Milan, who were eliminated from the Coppa Italia semi-finals by Lazio on Wednesday, lacked a clinical edge with Krzysztof Piatek only entering the game in the second half and have now won just one of their past eight matches in all competitions.

    Italy international Belotti fired home from the spot in the 58th minute following Franck Kessie's foul on Armando Izzo and, after Piatek was thrown on in response, Berenguer sent a fine effort past Gianluigi Donnarumma.


    Alessio Romagnoli was shown a straight red card for sarcastically applauding referee Marco Guida with nine minutes remaining as Milan's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League were dealt a huge blow.
    Andrea Conti, Suso and Lucas Paqueta were booked in a scrappy first half of limited goalscoring opportunities.Walter Mazzarri was removed from the dugouts for dissent shortly after the restart and Torino were unhappy about not getting a penalty when Belotti went down under pressure Mateo Musacchio.However, the referee did point to the spot when Kessie felled Izzo and Belotti drilled the spot-kick straight down the middle.

    Gattuso sent Fabio Borini and Piatek on and Tiemoue Bakayoko rattled the crossbar with a header from just inside the box as Milan finally displayed some urgency.Berenguer stopped them from gaining further momentum in the 69th minute when he beat Donnarumma with a looping cross-goal shot from the left side of the box.

    Bakayoko went close again with a header that Salvatore Sirigu blocked, but Milan's hopes of salvaging a result ended with Romagnoli's dismissal for dissent.
     

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    Nurnberg 1 Bayern Munich 1: Champions spared by late penalty miss

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    Tim Leibold hit the post with a last-gasp penalty as Bayern Munich escaped with a dramatic 1-1 draw at Nurnberg on Sunday.

    Alphonso Davies' errant elbow to the face of Georg Margreitter gifted full-back Leibold the chance to be the hero for the relegation-threatened hosts, but his spot-kick came back off the inside of the post.Kingsley Coman then failed to convert a breakaway one-on-one in a frantic finish to a contest that ended with Bayern inching two points clear of Borussia Dortmund at the top.

    Serge Gnabry had earlier struck in the 75th minute to cancel out Matheus Pereira's opener and, though they were let off the hook late on, Niko Kovac may well view the result as two points dropped following Dortmund's loss to Schalke on Saturday.
    David Alaba tested Christian Mathenia in the 22nd minute and the goalkeeper proved up to the task, tipping a fine free-kick onto the crossbar.Sven Ulreich - again deputising for the injured Manuel Neuer - looked less convincing when forced to scramble Mats Hummels' mis-placed pass away from Mikael Ishak.

    The deadlock remained intact at half-time after the referee deemed Ewerton to have legally challenged Joshua Kimmich in the Nurnberg box.Match official Tobias Stieler delayed the restart in response to Bayern fans lighting flares, but Nurnberg made the breakthrough in the 48th minute.

    Ulreich parried Eduard Lowen's tame initial effort only as far as winger Pereira, who curled a classy follow-up finish into the bottom left corner.Bayern increased the tempo and, after the bar kept out a James Rodriguez free-kick, the visitors found a fortuitous equaliser, Robert Bauer's attempted clearance bouncing in off substitute Gnabry.

    The woodwork ultimately proved an ally to Kovac's men as Leibold's failure to convert from 12 yards and Coman's subsequent inability to beat Mathenia when clean through on goal meant the points were shared.
     

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    Leicester City 3 Arsenal 0: 10-man Gunners slip to third straight defeat after Vardy double

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    Ten-man Arsenal slipped to a third consecutive Premier League loss as Jamie Vardy's late brace sealed Leicester City's 3-0 win at the King Power Stadium.Defeats to Crystal Palace and Wolves in the past week had already damaged the Gunners' hopes of securing a top-four spot but their latest reverse against the Foxes now means they could end the day four points shy of the Champions League qualification places, if Chelsea overcome Manchester United.

    Arsenal were on the backfoot from the outset and their cause was made even more challenging when Ainsley Maitland-Niles received a second yellow card in the 36th minute for a late challenge on James Maddison.


    The Leicester midfielder was the provider when Youri Tielemans opened the scoring with powerful header shortly before the hour, while Vardy struck in the 86th minute and stoppage time.
    Brendan Rodgers' side dominated early on – going close through Jonny Evans and Maddison – but it was Arsenal who carved out the first clear opportunity as Alexandre Lacazette bundled wide from 12 yards midway through the first half.Gunners goalkeeper Bernd Leno produced a superb save to keep out Wilfred Ndidi's header, while Vardy clipped over the crossbar after being played through by Marc Albrighton.Kasper Schmeichel repelled Alex Iwobi's low shot with his foot before Maitland-Niles received his marching orders.

    Leno was again called into action before the break, getting down quickly to paw away Vardy's instinctive effort.Leicester continued to press when the action resumed and were rewarded after 59 minutes when Maddison's whipped cross from the right was emphatically headed home by Tielemans.

    The Belgian whipped wide soon after before Leno produced excellent stops in quick succession to deny Ricardo Pereira and substitute Harvey Barnes.A flagging Arsenal capitulated during the closing stages, allowing Vardy to plunder his 17th and 18th Premier League goals of the campaign.

    He nodded in when his initial lob over Leno had bounced back off the crossbar before sealing a miserable day for Emery's side deep into stoppage time, tapping home from close range after impressive play from Pereira.
     

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    :(Bailly's season ended by knee injury in Manchester United draw, confirms Solskjaer


    Eric Bailly is likely to miss the rest of Manchester United's season after suffering a knee injury in the draw with Chelsea, according to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

    United defender Bailly made his first league start since February on Sunday, but had to be taken off after a collision with Mateo Kovacic.Solskjaer's side are now winless in their past four games in all competitions, and also lost Marcus Rashford to injury in the second half.

    But while unable to provide an update on Rashford, Solskjaer confirmed Bailly is unlikely to feature again this term."Injuries? Rashy, we strapped him up before the game," Solskjaer told a news conference."You could see clearly that his shoulder got worse and worse and he could no longer run freely. Eric, I think it is a bad knee injury.

    "Hopefully it is not the worst case. I am sure we won't see him again this season, unfortunately. It just adds to what we got against Manchester City. Anyway, we will be ready against Huddersfield."United started well at Old Trafford, Romelu Lukaku and Luke Shaw combining to tee up Juan Mata for the opener.

    David de Gea's calamitous error enabled Marcos Alonso to equalise before half-time, though, and neither side could make the breakthrough after the restart, and Solskjaer acknowledged that United looked tired in the second half."We were tired towards the end of the game, that's for sure," Solskjaer said when asked if his side were not fit enough to carry out his gameplan.

    "We have addressed that issue before. We have to take it one step at a time. We depend on everyone being fresh and fit."We looked really sharp. Really good. Then for some reason, the second half we didn't come out and play as we did in the first half. There can be many reasons."

    The draw leaves United three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with two games remaining, and Solskjaer suggested any hopes of Champions League qualification are now over."If you look at the league table, it is going to be difficult," he added.

    "We need to make sure we turn up, win our games and you never know because points are being dropped right left and centre in this race. There's difficult games for all of us. You can't do more than focus on our own performances."
     

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    Zidane: Varane will stay at Real Madrid


    Zinedine Zidane reiterated that defender Raphael Varane would remain with Real
    Madrid beyond this season.

    Varane, 26, has been linked to the likes of Manchester United and Juventus after eight seasons with the LaLiga giants.The France international is contracted until 2022 and Madrid head coach Zidane said his compatriot would stay at the Santiago Bernabeu.

    "The positive point of this season finale is that Varane will stay," he told a news conference after Madrid's shock 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.Zidane has a rebuild ahead of him at Madrid after returning to the helm of the club in March.

    The loss to relegation-threatened Rayo continued what has been a poor league campaign for Madrid, who are set to finish third in the table.An apologetic Zidane hopes his team can finish the season strongly, although he accepted they had little to play for.

    "I've been gone for a while and now I'm back, I do not have any problems with that right now," he said."The season has to end, because it's true that we have complications and there's nothing at stake. It's complicated."We have to think about the future and finish the last three games well."
     

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    Man Utd are going to have to spend even more on summer signings – Neville


    Manchester United are going to need to spend even more on transfer targets this summer after seeing their top-four hopes all but ended, says Gary Neville.Champions League qualification appears to be beyond the Red Devils following a 1-1 draw with fellow hopefuls Chelsea that has left them sixth in the Premier League table.

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are only three points off the pace, with those around them also struggling to get over the line, but have just two games remaining in their 2018-19 campaign.

    Missing out on elite European competition will make it harder to attract players of quality and ambition to Old Trafford, in what is expected to be a crucial window for United.Neville believes the necessary additions can still be made, but admits that greater financial incentives will need to be offered to those Solskjaer is looking to bring on board.

    The former United defender told Sky Sports: “I think when players are choosing their clubs they obviously want the team to be competitive, wanting to win trophies and to be in the Champions League.

    “For Ole Gunnar Solskjaer it will be a really big ask from where they are now to winning the Premier League. So if you were choosing between two clubs on a like for like salary basis you might choose other clubs.“What I think will happen is United are a rich club and have a huge amount of revenue and it will just cost them more.

    “They will get players as it is still a huge attraction for players to come and play for a huge club, an amazing club, and it just means it will cost them more to get the players they want.“That's where you don't want to be; you want to be in control.

    “For 20 years this club had this perfect situation where they were strong enough to lose players knowing they wouldn't upset the rest of the squad and cause disruption, but they are not in that position anymore.”There have been examples in recent transfer windows of Premier League deals being driven by money.

    Pep Guardiola at Manchester City has refused to overspend when strengthening an already star-studded squad, leading to top talent heading elsewhere.Neville added: “Manchester City have been the best club in the Premier League the last few years but they lost Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool because they paid more money, they lost Alexis Sanchez to United because they paid a lot more money, and lost Jorginho to Chelsea because of a relationship with the manager.“You still lose players at the very top because there are other factors.”
     

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    Firmino trains for Liverpool ahead of Barcelona clash


    Roberto Firmino has returned to training for Liverpool on Tuesday despite previous claims he could miss the rest of the season.

    The Brazil star was absent for last Friday's 5-0 win over Huddersfield with an ankle knock, and rumours had circulated that the injury was long term.However, Firmino was seen training in an open session at Melwood ahead of the Reds' Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona on Wednesday.

    Jurgen Klopp has already rubbished the reports that Firmino might be out for the remainder of the campaign and said he was hopeful the forward would be fit for the Camp Nou clash.The German told BBC Sport on Friday: “Roberto Firmino is not out for the rest of the season.

    “It’s true yesterday [on Thursday], after training, he fell obviously a little bit, he went to the physiotherapist and they wanted to wait overnight. “This morning he came and said he still feels it a little bit. It’s kind of a small tear. We will see.

    “It’s Bobby Firmino, so I would say it’s likely he’s ready for Barcelona. Of course, we don’t know 100 per cent."And the former Hoffenheim man gave his boss a major boost ahead of the vital first leg with his presence in training on Tuesday.

    Former Reds attacker Philippe Coutinho has admitted Liverpool's attacking trio of Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are important to Klopp's team, but claims there is more to the Anfield outfit as he aims to help Barcelona through to the final.

    Firmino has managed 11 Champions League strikes this term and has taken up the mantle left by the earlier dip in goals of Mohamed Salah this term, although the Brazilian says his team-mate has returned to form at exactly the right time.

    Liverpool will be looking to secure a second successive Champions League final appearance after finishing runners-up to Real Madrid last term.They made it through the semi-finals last year in dramatic style with a 7-6 aggregate victory over Roma.

    With Klopp's side sitting just one point behind Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, Liverpool could still secure a memorable double this season.
     

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    Eriksen's head would be turned by interest from Real Madrid or Man Utd - Berbatov


    Christian Eriksen would see his head turned if Real Madrid or Manchester United were to put a formal bid to Tottenham, claims Dimitar Berbatov.The Denmark international continues to generate transfer speculation heading towards the summer window.He is one of few prized assets to have not committed to a new long-term contract in north London.

    His current deal is only due to run until 2020, which leaves Spurs in the difficult position of what to do with him if offers are received.
    Berbatov believes the 27-year-old can be persuaded to remain in his current surroundings, but expects interest to be shown in a man proven on Premier League and Champions League stages.
    The former Tottenham striker told Betfair: “Another midfielder attracting transfer rumours is Christian Eriksen.

    “We all know how great he is with the final pass and that powerful shot, but he is quick, and people do not often realise that.

    “Most of the time he does not use that because of his phenomenal positioning in between the lines which means he does not need to sprint that much and it's that skill that often creates his opportunities to shoot from distance.“How much might he go for? Who knows.

    “If Real or United come for Christian then it is going to start questions in his head and if he does decide to go then we can be sure that Daniel Levy will extract maximum value from the Dane's sale. The Spurs chairman is a great businessman who knows exactly how to get

    “And, of course, he might be choosing to stay with the side that has just won the 2018-19 Champions League!”European success, to complement their move into a new ground, would aid Spurs’ cause when it comes to persuading key men to stay put.

    They are through to the Champions League semi-finals as things stand, with the first leg of a last-four showdown with Ajax set to be staged at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday.
     

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    Juventus willing to consider Dybala sale but have no offers on the table


    Juventus are open to the idea of offloading Paulo Dybala during the next transfer window, Goal understands.The Argentina international is no longer considered to be integral to the Bianconeri’s future plans.

    A summer of change is approaching in Turin and Dybala could find himself caught up in that process.

    The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018 has nudged the 25-year-old out of the limelight and into a supporting role.Boasting a player of such ability as a back-up option is an obvious bonus for Juve, but the player himself is looking for much more.

    His ambition dictates that he needs to be filling a leading role at club level. Such a standing is being denied him, with Massimiliano Allegri often asking him to play out of position in order to cater to the needs of Ronaldo.Dybala has managed 10 goals in 39 appearances, but his situation has become complicated and big decisions are now approaching at a career crossroads.

    If Allegri remains at the Juve helm, amid speculation suggesting that he could be targeted by other leading European clubs, then Dybala’s future appears to lie elsewhere.

    Having already slipped down the pecking order, the South American is set to see Aaron Ramsey join the creative ranks at Juve once he reaches the end of his contract at Arsenal.

    It could be that a role is found for him alongside the Welshman, but such a decision will depend on who is calling the shots from the dugout.The suggestion is that Allegri will be staying put and that clouds the picture for Dybala, with Juventus aware that sanctioning a sale could still be considered an economic risk.

    There are no offers on the table as things stand, but plenty of interest has been mooted in the past.Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Manchester United have all been linked with Dybala at one stage or another.

    Juve would likely have no trouble finding a buyer were they to make the Argentine available, but they would be taking a financial hit.Having acquired Dybala for €32 million in 2015, plus another €8m in add-ons, more was expected across four years, and the hope was that his value would have increased significantly by this point.

    It now remains to be seen what the going rate would be for a player who remains under contract until 2022.Dybala’s representatives have already started to hold informal discussions regarding their client’s future, so as not to be caught unawares.

    The preference of all concerned would be to remain in Turin, with Juventus allowed to dictate proceedings, but the uncertainty surrounding a proven performer appears set to rumble on.
     

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    :(Lukaku, Alexis, Rashford & Martial not a good enough unit for Man Utd - Scholes


    Manchester United have been offered transfer advice by Paul Scholes, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told his current crop of attacking talent is not good enough.The Red Devils boast plenty of international forwards on their books, but questions have been asked of all of those required to provide a spark in the final third.

    Alexis Sanchez has flopped since arriving at Old Trafford, Anthony Martial has lacked consistency, confusion surrounds Marcus Rashford’s best position and Romelu Lukaku is being linked with a move elsewhere.

    Scholes concedes that United need better and more suitable options to lead the line, while reinforcements are also required at the centre and on the right of a leaky back four.The Red Devils legend told Premier League Productions: “I think it’s a confusing club and a confusing squad of players at the minute.

    “I always think at Man Utd and at big clubs, you’re only as good as your centre-forwards are and your attacking players. I’m not sure whether these attacking players are good enough.“We talk about potential with Martial, Rashford, but you’re getting to a point now where it’s not potential, you have to start producing week in, week out.

    “Lukaku, I’m not sure if he’s a top-class centre-forward that’s going to score you 30 goals to win you a league. There’s confusion with the forwards.“When I played we had four centre-forwards, who were brilliant, and they were centre-forwards.

    “You look now and you’ve got Lukaku, who’s definitely a centre-forward, but then you’ve got Martial, Rashford, Sanchez. Are they centre-forwards? Are they wide players?“There’s confusion all over the pitch. A lack of identity.“If [Victor] Lindelof can get a tough and aggressive defender next to him, I think they’ll be okay.

    “They definitely need a right-back. Ashley Young has done well, converted from a winger. He’s struggled in the last few weeks but mainly he’s been alright over the last few years.”Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted that summer transfer plans are in the process of being pieced together at Old Trafford.

    He is expected to spend big reshaping a squad inherited from Jose Mourinho, but failure to qualify for the Champions League could make life difficult for United and force up asking prices in a competitive market.
     

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    'Their future looks very bright again' - Suarez full of praise for Liverpool


    Luis Suarez believes the future is very bright for Liverpool, though the Barcelona star has no plans to show his former club any mercy in the Champions League.Barcelona and last season's runners-up Liverpool will go head-to-head in the semi-finals - a reunion for veteran forward Suarez, starting at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

    Suarez spent three years at Liverpool, winning just the EFL Cup on Merseyside, before joining La Liga giants Barca in 2014.

    Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have emerged as a serious threat both in the Premier League and the Champions League as they vie for the domestic title this season, having lost to Real Madrid in the 2018 European decider.

    Liverpool are a point adrift of Manchester City with two matches remaining in the league and Suarez told the Express: "Liverpool are now in a position where their future looks very bright again.

    "The race is so tight in England this season it is impossible to say out of Liverpool and Manchester City who will be champions."But Liverpool are now in a position where they will be challenging in the future. When we nearly won the title there was so much disappointment because I think there was a feeling that was our moment and we wouldn’t get another.

    "But now Liverpool have the squad, the investment, the set up where this will not be a one-off season."Suarez, who has won four La Liga titles and the Champions League among other honours with Barca, added: "Liverpool will always be important for me - for giving me an opportunity, for playing a big part in my development, and of course for the amazing fans.

    "But this is a Champions League semi-final and all that will matter is helping Barcelona fight to get one step closer to another trophy."