Champions League last 16: What does each English team need to do in order to qualify for the quarter-finals?
Six matches, four losses – no wins. Every single English team has work to do to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals.
Liverpool need complete display to overcome dangerous Gala
- Liverpool vs Galatasaray (0-1 agg.) – Wednesday, 8pm
Liverpool firstly need to start fast in their crucial Champions League showdown with Galatasaray, pressing their opponents from the off and making life difficult by getting the home faithful roused under the Anfield lights.
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Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Tottenham in the Premier League, Dominik Szoboszlai suggested that Liverpool’s performance levels need to improve otherwise they’ll be forced to settle for Conference League football next season.
While an early goal will be the objective, patience on the night will also be crucial against dangerous opponents who have both the European experience and quality of players to be able to defend deep and then try and catch the Reds on the counterattack.
If Liverpool do manage to get ahead, one thing Arne Slot’s side must not do though is start to “sleepwalk” during the game, as Jamie Carragher has criticised the team for doing on numerous occasions this season, because an away goal will more than likely end their European dream for this season.
The Reds will ultimately need to produce the complete display at both ends of the pitch – including conceding no more stoppage-time goals – in order to overcome the Turkish champions on Wednesday night and make the last eight of Europe’s premier club competition.
The only problem is that as Carragher alluded to while commentating on Sunday’s limp home draw with Tottenham Hotspur: “I cannot think of one match all season where Liverpool have put in the perfect performance in both attack and defence and been three or four nil up, every game has been a struggle.”
Predicted team to play Galatasaray
Reds supporters will be desperate that comes on Wednesday night….
Rich Morgan
Spurs need to be perfect at either end – easy, right?
- Tottenham vs Atletico Madrid (2-5 agg.) – Wednesday, 8pm
Tottenham were undone by a number of slips and errors at Atletico Madrid last week so the first place would be – don’t make any more mistakes.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
A hard ask for anyone, let alone a team shot of confidence and likely still reeling somewhat from Tuesday’s dismal evening in Madrid where they lost 5-2 in the first leg.
What will have helped was a late draw at Liverpool, although again, this did not come without error, especially Guglielmo Vicario’s blunder for the Reds’ opener.
All eyes will be on the goalkeepers again after a horrible few days for the Spurs stoppers, but the truth remains though that Vicario is Spurs’ undisputed No1.
Then, providing that they can keep Atletico from adding any more to their three-goal lead, Tottenham need to – at the very least – score three goals to level and four to win.
They did already score twice against Atletico who, for their part, are not the most defensively-minded side, although they did keep a clean sheet against Getafe at the weekend.
Tottenham’s predicted team to face Atletico Madrid
So near-perfection at either end – easy, right?
Charlotte Marsh
Gordon to lead from the front as high-intensity Newcastle bid for glory
- Barcelona vs Newcastle (1-1 agg.) – Wednesday, 5.45pm
Eddie Howe billed the first leg as “the biggest game” in Newcastle’s history, so this is an equally huge, historical game for the club. They were gutted to have conceded a last-gasp penalty at St James’ Park but at 1-1 this tie is very much alive. A glorious night beckons.
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Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie rounds up the best of the reaction to Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the Champions League.
Anthony Gordon hit back at his critics on and off the pitch at Chelsea on Saturday, scoring in a win which boosts the Magpies’ morale for the trip to Barcelona. But his speed and directness on the counter-attack will also be crucial at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Barcelona, beaten only once at home this season, thumped Sevilla 5-2 on Sunday and will dominate possession and territory. It doesn’t need saying that this remains a huge challenge for the visitors, even with the scores level. But Hansi Flick’s high-line will play to the strengths of Howe’s Newcastle.
Joelinton’s minutes have been managed for this night, while Sandro Tonali can put transfer speculation to one side to join the Brazilian in a high-energy midfield to disrupt Barca’s technicians.
If Newcastle can deliver the intensity required over 90 minutes with and without the ball to write their names in the club’s folklore.
Predicted team to play Newcastle
Peter Smith
