Rinaldi strikes first as 2022-23 Champions League begins just 24 days after Vinicius Junior´s final

Mohamed Salah is suffering after seeing Liverpool s well-drilled machine frontline disbanded this season, according to Jurgen Klopp.

Sadio Mane left for Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich prior to this term, while Roberto Firmino has seen his role diminished after the arrival of Darwin Nunez and more recently Cody Gakpo.

Egypt international Salah remains the constant in Klopp s front three, though he has struggled in front of goal this campaign – converting just 11.7 per cent of his chances for seven Premier League goals.

That mark may seem poor for the three-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, whose previous lowest conversion rate for Liverpool was 14.4 per cent when he scored 19 in the 2019-20 campaign.

Of course he is suffering, said Klopp ahead…

Karim Benzema expressed pride to have ended his near six-year exile from the France national side in Wednesday s friendly with 10-man Wales, but admitted there is room for improvement after missing a penalty in the 3-0 win.

The 33-year-old failed to convert a first-half spot-kick at the Allianz Riviera and hit the post in the build-up to Ousmane Dembele s late strike after Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann had put France on course for a routine win.

That was Benzema s third penalty miss in a row for his national side, having also failed to convert against Switzerland and Sweden in 2014.

However, on what was Benzema s first appearance for the world champions in five years and 237 days, the Real Madrid striker is pleased with how things went overall.

…

Best Odds: 8/13

Bookmaker:

With all eyes from across Europe falling on the Nou Camp this weekend, Barcelona will welcome Real Madrid to Catalonia.

Barcelona

Starting with the hosts, while Barcelona might have come under more scrutiny for their Europa League exit at the hands of Manchester United last month, Xavi’s side are in the midst of a remarkable domestic flurry. Although the Spanish heavyweights might be dealing with a string of issues behind the scenes in Catalonia, they are breezing towards a first La Liga crown since back in 2019. Last seen putting in another professional display as they claimed a 1-0 victory away at Athletic Bilbao, Sunday’s hosts open this weekend’s fixtures holding a commanding nine-point buffer over their arch-rivals. Continu…

Roberto De Zerbi hailed Brighton’s last-gasp 1-0 victory over Marseille to top Europa League Group B as a “historic moment” in the club’s history.

Joao Pedro smashed in an 89th-minute winner at the Amex Stadium to make sure the Seagulls avoided the play-off round and instead slotted straight into the last 16.

Italian De Zerbi, who masterminded progressing from a group that included Ajax and AEK Athens along with the French 1993 European Cup winners, said: “We haven’t won anything…yet, but we are really happy and proud.

“I told the players before the game that the game was more important for us than them. Marseille are used to playing in European competitions.

“To finish at the top of the table is a historical moment.

“The atmos…

Chelsea target Michael Olise has signed a new four-year deal with Crystal Palace, Eagles chairman Steve Parish has said.

The PA news agency understands Chelsea had agreed to pay the France Under-21 winger’s £35million release clause, but it appears he has now committed his future to Palace.

Parish tweeted on Thursday: “I’m absolutely delighted to announce @m.olise has decided to commit his future to Crystal Palace and this afternoon signed a new four-year deal with the club.”

I’m absolutely delighted to announce @m.olise has decided to commit his future to Crystal Palace football club and this afternoon signed a new four year deal with the club.

@m.olise is an

— Steve Parish (@CEO4TAG)

The 21-year-old, who can play…

Jurgen Klopp can help convince top transfer targets to sign for Liverpool even if they are not in the Champions League next season, according to former Reds striker Ian Rush.

Liverpool have won their last seven games and currently sit fifth, just a point behind Newcastle and Manchester United, who both have matches in hand.

However, even if Liverpool can continue their impressive run and beat Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday and then finish the campaign with another victory at relegated Southampton, there would be no guarantee of Champions League football again.

We can confirm Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave the club upon the expiry of their contracts this summer.

Special acknowledgements will be paid to …

Best odds: 1/2

Bookmaker:

Liverpool are set to welcome Bournemouth to Anfield on Saturday within the 29th round of this season s Premier League roller coaster. The Cherries produced one of the most thrilling comebacks in recent years in the English top flight against Liverpool back in December 2016, when they managed to overturn a 1-3 deficit to win 4-3 at the Vitality Stadium. They also managed to squeeze out a point in the following encounter between these two teams at Anfield, but since then, Liverpool won four times in a row, all quite convincingly. The last time happened early this season at the Vitality when strikes from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Mohamed Salah made sure Liverpool s winning start to the campaign went on uninterrupted.

Liverpool
…

West Ham are unlikely to go back in for Manchester United captain Harry Maguire after seeing a £20million bid knocked back, the PA news agency understands.

The Old Trafford giants made the England international the most expensive defender in history when bringing him in from Leicester for £80million in 2019.

Maguire was swiftly handed the captain’s armband, but a lack of form and game time led Erik ten Hag to this month name Bruno Fernandes as United’s new skipper.

After discussions with the manager today he has informed me he is changing captain. He outlined his reasons to me and whilst I’m personally extremely disappointed, I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt.

So I wanted to say a massive thank you to the…

— H…

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola doubts Sunday’s visit to Arsenal will have a significant impact on who wins the Premier League this season.

Arsenal flourished under former City assistant Mikel Arteta last season but settled up for a runners-up spot as Guardiola’s side claimed a third successive top-flight triumph en route to a historic treble.

The Gunners are unbeaten after seven matches of this campaign and lie one point behind City, who are bidding to bounce back from last weekend’s surprise 2-1 defeat at Wolves.

Guardiola, though, insisted this showdown being so early in the season places less of an emphasis on the title race, even if he regards Arsenal as one of their main rivals.

He said: “This will not define a lot. It will be different w…

With it finally confirmed last week that has made an almost immediate return to Inter Milan on a season-long loan, many are expecting what could be a hectic summer at .

Now under new leadership at Stamford Bridge after Todd Boehly s takeover was announced back in May, the American businessman has been quick to stamp down his authority.

Almost clearing house among the Chelsea hierarchy, it looks like Thomas Tuchel has been handed quite the treasure chest and the chance to add some more star names over the coming weeks.

With it looking like Manchester City s could be heading to west London ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, it is no secret that Tuchel is desperate to add some defensive reinforcements.

Watching both Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger lea…