Your Liverpool morning headlines on Thursday, April 21.
Liverpool right to fume with Premier League pencil pushers after controversial Rangers decision
It’s easy to forget that the Premier League was in danger of losing its fourth Champions League spot when Jurgen Klopp first joined Liverpool in 2015.
Poor performances from English sides in Europe had left them third in the UEFA association coefficients in September 2015, just four points ahead of Italy at a time when only the three top-ranking associations received four qualifying spots .
Fortunately for Premier League clubs, since then they have fared rather better in Europe to boost England’s European coefficient. And Klopp has played a major role in this, leading Liverpool to a Europa League final in 2016, Champions League final in 2018, winning the European Cup in 2019, and reaching at least the semi-finals this year following last year’s quarter-final loss to Real Madrid.
READ MORE: Thiago Alcantara Liverpool masterclass highlights hidden Gini Wijnaldum truth
READ MORE: Manchester clubs have let themselves down against Liverpool on and off the pitch
HAVE YOUR SAY: Rate the Liverpool players after 4-0 win
Of course, it’s not just the Reds’ own achievements which have boosted English football in Europe, with Chelsea winning the Champions League last season and both Man City and Tottenham reaching the final in recent seasons. Meanwhile, both the Londoners and Manchester United have won the Europa League, with the Red Devils and Arsenal also losing in the final.
Given such extended runs in Europe, England currently sits top of the association coefficients and are in no threat of losing any Champions League places anytime soon. Besides, to strengthen their hand further UEFA extended the number of associations granted four qualification places to four from the 2018/19 season onwards, ensuring the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga are all well-represented in the continent’s elite competition.
Theo Squires has the full story, here.
Liverpool striker banned for ten games after moment so shocking the Prime Minister intervened
Today marks nine years since Luis Suarez bit Branislav Ivanovic against Chelsea and was banned for ten games. On a chaotic day for the Uruguayan, Liverpool won a corner in the 69th minute and Suarez tangled with Ivanovic before sinking his teeth into the defender’s right arm.
Referee Kevin Friend didn’t see the clash but the FA investigated and subsequently banned the forward for ten games. This was a further stain on Suarez’s chastening reputation and followed a similar ban of seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal’s shoulder while playing for Ajax in 2010. The striker was condemned around the footballing world and apologised.
In an initial statement, he said: “I am deeply sorry for my inexcusable behaviour earlier today during our match against Chelsea. I apologise to my manager, playing colleagues and everyone at Liverpool for letting them down.”
After speaking to Ivanovic, he tweeted a further apology later in the evening. He said: “I am sad for what happened this afternoon, I apologize to Ivanovic and all the football world for my inexcusable behaviour. I am so sorry about it.”
The game saw Liverpool draw 2-2 with Chelsea at Anfield. After Suarez had given away a penalty that Eden Hazard scored to put the visitors 2-1 up, the bite came as his frustration.
To read the full story, click here.
