And there’s the final whistle on today’s weekend countdown. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to check out our live blog of tonight’s Premier League clash between Wolves and Leeds (8pm kick-off). Bye.
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool team news and a funky stat.
Nottingham Forest will be without Scott McKenna for their FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool. The defender limped off with a hamstring problem late in Wednesday’s victory over QPR and is expected to be sidelined for a month.
The news comes as a blow to Forest, who had already lost fellow defenders Steve Cook and Max Lowe. They will both miss at least a month with injuries picked up in the previous game against Reading last weekend.
Influential Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is out for a number of weeks with a hamstring injury.
Forward Mohamed Salah is still nursing a bruised foot which caused him some discomfort after coming off the bench in the midweek win over Arsenal and may be rested.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker will start, having previously shared duties with Caoimhin Kelleher. (PA Media)
- Liverpool are winless in their last 12 away games against Nottingham Forest in all competitions (D7 L5), since a 2-0 victory in October 1984. It’s the Reds’ longest current winless away run against an opponent, while they last had a longer run against a side vs Arsenal (14 between 2000 and 2011).
Some Champions League draw reaction from a legend, a coach and a captain.
Ian Rush on Liverpool facing Benfica: “I’m just happy that we didn’t get an English team. To play Benfica is a good sign and also the second leg is at home as well.”
Bayern coach Julian Nagelsman on facing Villarreal: “Villarreal are the defending Europa League champions. They have a very experienced coach and team, and have a clearly-defined style of play. Beating Juventus 3-0 is no easy feat. We want to advance, but will first need to play and win.”
Atlético Madrid captain Koke on facing Manchester City: “They’re one of the favourites. Last season, they came very close to winning the Champions League. They have a great coach and players, and play great football, but we like that sort of challenge. I’m sure our coach will come up with a strong plan to get us through the tie, but we know that it won’t be easy.We have to go to Manchester first, and then we’ll come back to Madrid to play in front of our fans. I think that will give us a boost in terms of confidence and strength as we try to make it through.”
(Quotes from uefa.com)
Well played Boro.
On behalf of the people of Middlesbrough and Teesside, #Boro will donate our share of the gate receipts from tomorrow's @EmiratesFACup tie against @ChelseaFC to humanitarian aid in Ukraine ❤️🇺🇦 #UTB https://t.co/rTpmZol6ZE
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) March 18, 2022
Fact of the day. Arguably better than Alan’s one about crab sticks.
* Barrow are the top scorers in the FA Cup this season with 10 goals, the same number as Manchester City and Chelsea.
Palace v Everton. Vieira v Lampard. Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace v Frank Lampard’s Everton. Who blinks first in Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final?
- Four-time FA Cup winner and Everton boss Frank Lampard has won 10 of his 14 matches in the competition since becoming a manager ahead of the 2018-19 campaign (D2 L2), with Pep Guardiola (17) the only boss to oversee more victories in the competition since Lampard’s first game in charge in the FA Cup.
- Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira remains unbeaten in his last 18 games in the FA Cup as a player (15) and a manager (3), since losing the 2003-04 semi-final against Man Utd with Arsenal. Indeed, Vieira and Everton manager Frank Lampard lined up against one another during the 2002 final, a match in which the Gunners won 2-0 at the Principality Stadium with goals from Ray Parlour and Freddie Ljungberg.
Some pub ammo for Middlesbrough v Chelsea. Maybe avoid reading this if you’re a home fan. Or print it for Chris Wilder to stick on the dressing room wall. “Let’s re-write history lads.”
- Middlesbrough have never won against reigning European champions in 20 attempts (D7 L13), playing more such games without ever winning than any other English side. This is their first such match since February 2013, and a home defeat in the FA Cup against Chelsea.
- Chelsea have gone on to progress from 15 of their last 19 FA Cup quarter-final ties, with only Everton (26), Man Utd and Arsenal (both 30) reaching the final four on more occasions than the Blues in the competition’s history (25 times).
- Thomas Tuchel has progressed from each of his last seven ties at the quarter-final stage across all competitions as both PSG and Chelsea manager, a run which started halfway through the 2018-19 campaign (Coupe de France x2, Coupe de la Ligue, Champions League x2, FA Cup, League Cup).
Nice story here revealed by commentator Richard Kaufman.
6 years ago, Kristyna Napoleaova was playing for the Czech national FOOTBALL team and had played one round of golf as a 10 year old.
— Richard Kaufman (@KaufmanRichard) March 18, 2022
Tomorrow she will be in the final group of an @letgolf event with @SolheimCupEuro players @Annevandam and @georgiahall96
What an incredible story!
All that talk of a Liverpool Quadruple, well what about a Manchester City treble? Here’s Jamie Jackson’s piece.
Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder went full tiny violin emojis and sarcy pants when talking about FA Cup quarter-final opponents Chelsea earlier today.
Responding to speculation that the Blues may not be able to fly to Teesside for the match due to limits being placed on their spending, Wilder couldn’t resist a playful dig.
“They won’t make a long coach trip. They’ll be looking down the back of the settee this afternoon to see if they can find a couple of quid – I usually look at the golf bag, that’s where I keep a couple of quid just to keep it away from people – and chuck it into a pot to get up on the plane.
“What happens? The millionaire footballers all club together and chuck a couple of quid in and hire their own private jet. They’re all on possibly, over £100,000 a week – it’s quite a big number, that.”
You tell ‘em champ.
FA Cup quarter-final: Crystal Palace v Everton. Team news for the first of Sunday’s three last-eight clashes (12.30pm).
Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has no fresh injury concerns to contend with. Luka Milivojevic, Will Hughes and Martin Kelly missed Monday’s 0-0 draw with Premier League leaders Manchester City but are in contention this weekend.
Joel Ward was on the bench for that game after a period sidelined with a groin injury. Palace midfielder James McArthur and full-back Nathan Ferguson are not training.
Everton midfielder Allan starts a three-match suspension for his red card against Newcastle on Thursday, although the club have appealed the dismissal. Defender Jonjoe Kenny, however, returns from a one-match ban.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford remains absent with illness so Asmir Begovic will continue to deputise. January signings Donny Van De Beek, Dele Alli and Anwar El Ghazi are all cup-tied. (PA Media)
Updated
Cheers Luke. Some Spurs v West Ham team news here.
Tottenham have no fresh injury concerns for the crunch London derby with West Ham. Spurs came through the midweek win at Brighton unscathed and Antonio Conte is likely to name an unchanged side.
Japhet Tanganga (knee) has been ruled out for the season, Oliver Skipp (groin) will return after the international break while Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) is at least four weeks away from a return to training.
West Ham are still without Jarrod Bowen, Vladimir Coufal and Angelo Ogbonna. Bowen will be out until after the international break with a heel injury, Coufal has had groin surgery and Ogbonna is a long-term absentee with knee ligament damage. Boss David Moyes will check on Michael Antonio, who played 119 minutes against Sevilla despite needing a late fitness test. (PA Media)
Scott Murray is here with today’s Fiver –
And that is the lot from me today... I shall hand you back to my esteemed colleague David Tindall. Bye!
The Tottenham coach Antonio Conte has criticised his Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta for complaining about his side’s fixture list. Arteta criticised the Premier League for scheduling Arsenal to play against Liverpool on Wednesday night and then Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime.
But Conte said the Spaniard had no right to complain given the Gunners called off the north London derby in January, despite having only one confirmed case of coronavirus. The Premier League changed the rules regarding fixture postponements in the wake of that incident.
Conte said: “Arteta should remember the game postponed. Tottenham-Arsenal. In general, I think my answer is enough. If someone wants to think about fair or unfair. [It was] postponed the game, Tottenham-Arsenal. I don’t forget this. And it’s not right to speak about fair or unfair.”
The Everton manager Frank Lampard hopes to have Allan’s red card rescinded but what he does not want is another apology from referees’ chief Mike Riley. It is only just over two weeks since Riley called Lampard and chairman Bill Kenwright to admit mistakes were made when VAR official Chris Kavanagh failed to advise referee Paul Tierney over a handball by Rodri which would have given Everton a chance of a late penalty equaliser against Manchester City.
Allan was sent off in the dramatic late win over Newcastle on Thursday night after Craig Pawson was advised to view the monitor and subsequently upgraded his yellow card to a red for the Brazilian’s tackle on Allan Saint-Maximin. Everton have lodged an appeal against that decision and even if it is unsuccessful they will then appeal against the severity of the three-match ban.
“It’s hard to say how hopeful we are,” said Lampard on the appeal. “We had a really bad decision against us which we had an apology for but apologies don’t mean points. There was nothing from that other than a ‘Thanks very much’. This one there is no need for an apology. It wasn’t a decision that should have been changed to a red card. It was very clear from my end. In the cold light of day that is not a red card and we don’t want to lose Allan for three games and now we are in their (an independent disciplinary panel) hands. With hindsight look at the decision and was it enough to warrant a red card? For me it wasn’t.” (PA Media)
A community of Chelsea fans say they have lodged a bid to buy around 10% of the club. The group is called ChelseaDAO (a Decentralised Autonomous Organisation) and they believe it should not require a billionaire to own the club.
Louise Taylor previews Middlesbrough v Chelsea in the FA Cup:
Frank Lampard, it appears, broke his hand while celebrating Everton’s late winner against Newcastle last night.
“I think I’ve broken a bone in my hand,” he said. “After the goal I realised ... but for the three points we got, not a problem. I won’t complain too much.”
The Southampton head coach Ralph Hasenhüttl knows it will take a bit more than just refuelling his squad to get them back into top gear for Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City. After a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions, the Saints were handed a reality check with three straight Premier League defeats - including at home by Watford last weekend.
“In every game (we lost), something different was missing, but the fact is that we haven’t played on our highest level in all three games,” Hasenhüttl said. “The question should be more why we didn’t do it and then ‘what can we do to make it happen again?’ It is not like you speak about a car that you put some different fuel in and suddenly it runs better, you have to find the margins that were missing and then learn to reach this level which we had once again. This is something [we face] from the Premier League every week, that is clear.
“We had games where we couldn’t find our rhythm or where we have been stopped with different way of killing our rhythm. But Sunday will be a completely different game against a very good team. We have had games against them when we had 50% possession, which is outstanding, but we also had games where we had only 28% and we took a point, so everything is possible. We have shown in these two games (against City) this season that we are able to draw against them, but on Sunday we need to win.” (PA Media)
Pep Guardiola is relishing the “marvellous challenge” Manchester City face defending their Premier League title. The title race could be set for a thrilling climax after Liverpool cut City’s lead at the top to one point this week. Guardiola said: “It is what it is. In 14, 15 days, we will come back after the international break, then nine games. Everyone knows what we do. It is a marvellous challenge. We try to do it.”
City may be chasing glory in the Premier League and the Champions League but Guardiola has no concerns that intensity might drop for Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Southampton. He said: “We play every game like it’s the last game of our lives. I know how difficult it will be away at Southampton but I trust a lot in my team, my players.” (PA Media)
Updated
The latest entry in the race to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich for Chelsea is a joint bid by C&P Sports Group and Hana Financial Group. The C&P CEO, Catalina Kim, said: “We are preparing our bid. There has never been investment into a top-tier football club made by South Korean capital before. It is time for a change.”
Steven Gerrard has urged his Aston Villa players to use Saturday’s lunchtime clash with Arsenal to prove they can start competing with the top sides in the Premier League.
“The teams at the top are there for a reason,” Gerrard said. “It’s about consistency, they’ve recruited well, they’ve got experience and some have got managers who have been with them for some time. There’s a reality to where we’re at at the moment but that’s the area of the league we need to strive for, it’s where we want to be operating of course. I’m very much aware of the stats and those results but tomorrow gives us another opportunity to try to prove that when we’re at our best we can take points off the top teams and the teams that are above us.”
Arsenal have improved markedly under Mikel Arteta this season but the Spaniard, 39, was under pressure after they started the season with three straight league defeats. “Mikel has done a fantastic job and really found that consistency that Arsenal have been looking for so credit to him for that,” he said. “He’s come through a couple of periods where the pressure was on him and his team and you’ve got to give people at Arsenal credit for backing him.” (PA Media)
Updated
“Delighted to get drawn against a ‘proper’ European club,” emails Leicester City fan Rich Hutson. “PSV may not be at the heights of the Van Nistelrooy/Robben/Van Bommel days but an away day against total football purists can never be a bad thing.”
A report from Serie A below from our friends at Reuters, with Stefano Pioli getting a bit philosophical:
AC Milan must take one game at a time and have their wits about them when they face relegation-threatened Cagliari on Saturday, coach Stefano Pioli said, as his side continue their quest for their first Serie A title since 2011. Milan, top on 63 points, are three points ahead of second-placed Napoli and four ahead of defending champions Internazionale, who are third with one game in hand.
“We must not put the cart before the horse. Virtually we are only one point ahead of Inter, perhaps Atalanta will lose a few points,” Pioli said on Friday. “The traps and obstacles are still many. There are still many games, if we think too far we lose our reality of the moment. And this must not happen. It’s tomorrow that counts. For the first four [teams in the league] the games are very open, every match is at the crossroads.”
While Cagliari are hovering above the relegation zone, Pioli stressed that they would make for difficult opponents, as Milan are looking to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 10.
“We know the difficulties. Cagliari have stopped Napoli,” he said. “[We] need a performance with intensity and quality, because Cagliari play very aggressive football.”
Updated
PSV are currently second in the Eredivisie, two points behind Ajax, who were knocked out of the Champions League by Benfica this week. It’s a tricky draw for Leicester but definitely a winnable tie. And the reward would be a semi-final against Bodø/Glimt or Roma. Feel free to email me your reaction, Foxes fans.
Conference League quarter-final and semi-final draw
QF1: Bodø/Glimt v Roma
QF2: Feyenoord v Slavia Prague
QF3: Marseille v PAOK
QF4: Leicester City v PSV Eindhoven
SF1: Leicester City or PSV Eindhoven v Bodø/Glimt or Roma
SF2: Feyenoord or Slavia Prague v Marseille or PAOK
The winners of semi-final 1 will be the ‘home’ team in the final, in Tirana on 25 May.
Updated
QF4: Leicester City v PSV Eindhoven
QF3: Marseille v PAOK
QF2: Feyenoord v Slavia Prague
QF1: Bodø/Glimt v Roma
They were in the same group, but the open draw means they’ll meet again. The group results in the group were 2-2 and 6-1 to Bodø/Glimt!
Updated
I attended Leicester’s Europa League draw at home against Napoli last September. For one reason or another, that feels like a very long time ago. Anyway, the Foxes can still win European silverware this season, and that is not to be sniffed at.
Updated
Key dates for the Conference League are as follows:
Quarter-finals
First legs: 7 April
Second legs: 14 April
Semi-finals
First legs: 28 April
Second legs: 5 May
Final
Wednesday 25 May
The teams:
Bodø/Glimt
Feyenoord
Leicester City
Marseille
PAOK
PSV Eindhoven
Roma
Slavia Prague
Thanks David. Hello everyone. I’m logged into the Uefa website and ready to roll ... and the Conference League draw is starting now.
It’s coming up to 2pm which means two things. First, I’m handing the blog back to Luke McLaughlin. Second, it’s the Europa Conference League draw. Over to you Luke.
Former West Ham midfielder Joe Cole has given his thoughts to BT Sport on the Hammers being paired with Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals.
“I’m absolutely delighted. It could have been the glamour tie against Barcelona, and I think Rangers got the plum tie with Braga.
“But I think Lyon are struggling in France. They’re not what they were, and with the carrot of a Barcelona semi-final it sets it up lovely.
“It’s a lovely place to go. Brilliant stadium, history, and the West Ham fans would be booking their trip already I would imagine.”
Lyon currently sit 10th in Ligue 1 although they’ve had a point deducted and are only two points behind sixth-placed Lille.
Here’s our full story of the Europa League draw.
Dates
7 April: Quarter-finals, first legs
14 April: Quarter-finals, second legs
28 April: Semi-finals, first legs
5 May: Semi-finals, second legs
Champions League quarter-final dates have been confirmed for Liverpool and Manchester City. They sit either side of the Premier League showdown between the two title contenders.
Tuesday, 5 April: Benfica v Liverpool (8pm), Manchester City v Atlético Madrid (8pm).
Sunday, 10 April: Manchester City v Liverpool (4.30pm).
Wednesday, 13 April: Liverpool v Benfica (8pm), Atlético Madrid v Manchester City (8pm).
Back to domestic matters and Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has responded to being linked with Manchester United.
What’s your reaction, Thomas? “There’s actually no reaction at all. Because do you feel me less committed to the club or less involved in the club in my situation? Absolutely not.
“I’ve said many times that I love to be here, that I love to work for Chelsea and that this club has everything that it needs to make me happy.
“And that’s why there’s no need. And we have plenty of reasons to stay in the moment here, and this is what we do.”
Tuchel was also asked about the next owners of Chelsea, whoever they shall be. Chelsea’s suitors have until end of business on Friday to submit bids after Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale.
“I’m absolutely not involved, zero. I’m informed from time to time, but we have a pretty tight schedule so I’m happy not to be informed of every little step and chance in the process.
“Because that gives me also the advantage to focus on football and the staff here, the environment I can influence, the 60 to 80 people here at Cobham.
“So of course I’m informed but not asked and it’s also not necessary, it’s not my job and not my role. Everybody hopes it will be completed quickly. And as I understand the hope is and we can trust this is maybe solved quicker than usual.
“But it makes not so much sense to reflect how it would change with the role of a new owner, because the new owner is not here, the ideas are not set out.
“We don’t know what’s coming, so let’s cross the river when we are at the bridge. And right now we are not at the bridge.”
Updated
A reminder that we’re not done yet with pulling bits of paper out of little vending machine balls. Yep, at 2pm it’s only the Europa Conference League draw.
Meet the teams: Bodø/Glimt, Feyenoord, Leicester City, Marseille, PAOK, PSV Eindhoven, Roma, Slavia Prague.
A quick scan of the bookies after those two draws.
Champions League
2/1 Man City, Liverpool
3/1 Bayern Munich
11/1 Chelsea
12/1 Real Madrid
25/1 Atlético Madrid
80/1 Villarreal
150/1 Benfica
In the Europa League, Barcelona are the 7/4 favourites, with West Ham 6/1 and Rangers 14/1.
A little surprised that Barcelona haven’t been in a UEFA Cup/Europa League final before never mind won it. Most of the other obvious teams (Real Madrid, Liverpool, Bayern, Man Utd, Juventus, Inter, Ajax) have lifted the trophy. Spain (8) and England (2) have won the last 10 editions of the tournament between them.
West Ham and Rangers will think they have very winnable ties there. Just awaiting the exact dates.
Europa League quarter-final and semi-final draw
QF1: Leipzig v Atalanta
QF2: Eintracht Frankfurt v Barcelona
QF3: West Ham v Lyon
QF4: Braga v Rangers
SF1: Leipzig or Atalanta v Braga or Rangers
SF2: West Ham or Lyon v Eintracht Frankfurt or Barcelona
The winners of SF2 will be the ‘home’ team in the final.
Updated
Braga v Rangers is quarter-final four.
West Ham v Lyon is the third quarter-final.
Eintracht Frankfurt v Barcelona is the second quarter-final. The Germans are the only previous winners (1980).
Leipzig v Atalanta is the first quarter-final.
Here we go...
Former Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop is doing the draw. Sevilla is host city for the final and Palop is a three-time winner of the Europa League. They’ve clearly thought this through.
Pedro Pinto is back, running us through the runners and riders. Could it be West Ham v Barcelona in the last eight?
Europa League draw coming up very soon.
On the official uefa.com website, they’re running a “Who will win?” poll. Barcelona (45%) clear but Rangers (21%) have just edged in front of West Ham (20%). Atalanta next (5%).
Liverpool v Benfica will surely be billed as this in both countries. A proud day for Carlisle United. Fun fact: I was once played in an U15s match against Steve Harkness’ old school. They beat us 9-0. They were good.
The Steve Harkness derby https://t.co/FrOpGesXRg
— Will Unwin (@Will_Unwin) March 18, 2022
Champions League draw: A look at the English club’s quarter-final opponents (from PA Media).
Real Madrid – Chelsea’s opponents
The Champions League holders take on the kings of the competition in the quarter-finals. Real Madrid have been crowned continental champions on a record 13 occasions, currently sit atop of LaLiga and secured this tie by knocking out star-studded Paris St Germain in stunning fashion. Having lost 1-0 in France and gone down further to another Kylian Mbappe goal in the second leg, Karim Benzema’s hat-trick secured a remarkable comeback and 3-2 aggregate triumph.
Atlético Madrid – Manchester City’s opponents
The three-time competition runners-up return to Manchester for a fascinating clash against Manchester City in the final eight. Diego Simeone’s men won LaLiga last season but have long since been out of the title race this time around, although they have picked up form of late and managed to knock out Manchester United in the last 16. Wily, well-drilled Atleti followed up a 1-1 first-leg draw in Spain by securing a 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Tuesday as the hosts were stifled.
Benfica – Liverpool’s opponents
Having surprisingly emerged from a group including Bayern Munich and Barcelona, caretaker boss Nelson Verissimo masterminded a memorable last-16 win against Ajax. The sides drew 2-2 in the first leg in Lisbon and Benfica dug deep in Amsterdam to eke out a 1-0 triumph through Darwin Nunez’s late header. The Uruguay international is the star of a side enjoying a fine Champions League run during a season when their Primeira Liga hopes are already over.
Thanks Luke. While we await that draw, it’s full steam ahead for coincidences and omens.
Memories of Howard Gayle, Ray Kennedy and Alan Kennedy. Liverpool also won the League Cup in 1981. It’s clearly in the stars.
1981👀
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) March 18, 2022
Semi Final: Beat Bayern
Final: Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid in Paris
My colleague David Tindall will be guiding you through the upcoming Europa League draw, and I’ll be back for more later today.
Russia’s participation in the World Cup in Qatar has almost certainly been ruled out after a move to delay their suspension while an appeal was heard was rejected. Football’s world governing body, Fifa, suspended the Russian federation from its competitions over the country’s invasion of Ukraine at the end of February.
Russia appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and asked that the suspension be stayed pending the outcome of the appeal. However, CAS announced on Friday that the Russian request for a stay had been rejected and that the suspension remained in force. Russia were due to compete in the World Cup play-offs later this month, but with no date fixed for the appeal to be heard it would seem that they are out of contention for the finals. (PA Media)
Chelsea will meet a former manager of theirs in Carlo Ancelotti in the quarter-finals. On which note, following Roman Abramovich’s decision to sell the club and the UK government sanctions amid the war in Ukraine, the deadline for bids to be submitted for the club is 9pm tonight. Jacob Steinberg takes a look at the known bids thus far:
Updated
“I’ll take that!” emails Sam, a Liverpool fan, after being drawn with Benfica.
The Portuguese side were very impressive in winning against Ajax the other night. Nicolas Otamendi and Jan Vertonghen were both exceptional in central defence in a classic backs-to-the-wall European away performance. But you would definitely fancy Liverpool to be more clinical with their finishing than the Dutch side were.
“I am delighted that we got Benfica,” chimes in Bilal, another Liverpool fan.
Updated
Arsenal go to Aston Villa tomorrow for a Premier League tie after midweek defeat by Liverpool. Our match preview:
Thank you to James for emailing in to point out that I neglected to mention the fact that Leicester City are in the hat in the Europa Conference League. The full lineup is:
Bodø/Glimt
Feyenoord
Leicester City
Marseille
PAOK
PSV Eindhoven
Roma
Slavia Prague
The draw is at 2pm UK time.
Updated
Our snap report from the Champions League draw which pits Chelsea against Real Madrid and Manchester City v Atlético Madrid:
In the final, the winners of semi-final two will be the ‘home’ team.
Benfica or Liverpool will play Villarreal or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
Winners of QF 2 (Manchester City v Atlético Madrid) will play Winners of QF 1 (Chelsea v Real Madrid) in the last four.
Updated
Champions League quarter-final and semi-final draw
QF1: Chelsea v Real Madrid
QF2: Manchester City v Atlético Madrid
QF3: Villarreal v Bayern Munich
QF4: Benfica v Liverpool
SF1: Manchester City or Atlético Madrid v Chelsea or Real Madrid
SF2: Benfica or Liverpool v Villarreal or Bayern Munich
The winners of SF2 will be the ‘home’ team in the final.
Dates
5/6 April: Quarter-finals, first legs
12/13 April: Quarter-finals, second legs
26/27 April: Semi-finals, first legs
3/4 May: Semi-finals, second legs
28 May: Final, Stade de France, Paris
Updated
Benfica v Liverpool is quarter-final four!
Updated
Villarreal v Bayern Munich is quarter-final three.
Updated
Manchester City v Atlético Madrid is the second tie out of the pot. England v Spain again.
Chelsea v Real Madrid is the first quarter-final tie drawn. Tuchel v Ancelotti.
Updated
Chelsea are the first team out of the hat.
Here we go ...
“The only thing we all want now is peace,” says Uefa’s deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti, as part of his opening address. And he then introduces a special guest, the former France and Manchester United full-back Mikaël Silvestre.
Pedro Pinto is up now, introducing the Champions League draw.
Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City fans ... not to mention West Ham and Rangers supporters ... who have you got your eye on in the imminent draw(s)?
A piece here by Adam Elder on Natalie Portman and Angel City FC:
The Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. The 22-year-old has not played since January and has now had surgery on the problem. A club statement read: “Japhet Tanganga has undergone surgery on his right knee and will be out for the remainder of the season. The England Under-21 international will undergo a period of recovery and is expected to return to training during the pre-season period.” (PA Media)
The Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta stands by his comments criticising the Premier League for his side’s fixture schedule. Arteta sarcastically said “thank you to the Premier League” and claimed it was “not fair” that the Gunners have to travel to Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime having been in action against Liverpool on Wednesday night.
The Spaniard said: “I do because I am talking about the Premier League. I’m complaining how we schedule the games in the Premier League. When you are in Europe it’s a different story. We are the only team that is scheduled like that.”
Arteta is unsure whether Takehiro Tomiyasu will be fit for the visit to Villa Park. The Japanese right-back missed the game against Liverpool with an injury and will be assessed after training today. “There is a chance, but we don’t know. We will see in training how he is feeling,” he said. (PA Media)
Updated
Our news story on the injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool:
And the teams in the Europa League quarter-finals:
Atalanta
Barcelona
Braga
Eintracht Frankfurt
Leipzig
Lyon
Rangers
West Ham
That draw is scheduled to commence at 12.30pm UK time.
Updated
The teams in the Champions League last-eight draw are as follows:
Atlético Madrid
Liverpool
Bayern Munich
Manchester City
Benfica
Real Madrid
Chelsea
Villarreal
The draw officially begins at 11am.
How the mighty have fallen.
On current form, I don’t think anyone will fancy meeting Liverpool ...
@LukeMcLaughlin
— krish (@vkmagus) March 18, 2022
There was a time this round was called "7 teams hoping not to draw FCB" - Is it Bayern now?
“We were all waiting for this. A night of togetherness and fight and spirit. We got what we deserved, against the odds.”
Frank Lampard, the Everton manager, sums up what looks to be a crucial 1-0 win against Newcastle that was achieved via a 99th-minute goal by Alex Iwobi.
Updated
“We were massive.”
David Moyes’s assessment of West Ham’s performance against Sevilla, an extra-time 2-0 win that secured a 2-1 aggregate success. Jacob Steinberg was there to see it:
You’ve got plenty of time before the European draws to ponder 10 things to look out for this weekend:
Hamstring injury to sideline Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold for weeks
The Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to spend weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. Alexander-Arnold’s absence will see him miss England’s friendlies against Switzerland and the Ivory Coast this month.
“Trent is out with hamstring so he will not be part of England as well,” said the Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, speaking ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. “No good news so we will see how long that takes.”
Asked if he was looking at weeks out rather than days, Klopp replied: “Yes.” Liverpool are one point behind Premier League leaders Manchester City in the title race, with their next game in the competition at home to Watford on 2 April.
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Preamble
The quarter-final and semi-final draws for the Champions League and Europa League will be coming up from 11am, with the usual pleasantries/inanities thrown in before the balls come out of the pot. We live in hope that another redraw will not be necessary.
The FA Cup quarter-finals will also unfold across the weekend and on top of that, there’s a Premier League game tonight, and another four top-flight league fixtures over the weekend. Plus Championship and EFL fixtures and plenty of action across the continent, too.
And of course there’s the ongoing drama of Chelsea, Roman Abramovich and the potential sale of the club following sanctions from the government: the deadline for potential buyers to submit bids is 9pm tonight. It’s all happening.
