🚨 Núñez goal is 1000th under Klopp, Haaland triggered by Trent, West Ham/Brighton beaten, Lukaku makes pointed Chelsea remark and more
Today's round-up, featuring Europa League news clips and the latest transfer news...
Good morning everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - thanks for reading and hope you enjoy! :-)
Today’s top stories:
Messi and Suárez help Inter Miami to a 2-2 draw after two-goal deficit
Plus more from Liverpool, Real Madrid and Tottenham
AS ROMA
Romelu Lukaku: “Here at AS Roma it’s all different, here the fans love me. I’m doing my best as this club helped me. My future and the loan from Chelsea expiring in June? I have to be careful with those answers. I don’t want any controversy with them in England. I have to be smart, you know what I mean.”
Cristante: “De Rossi is getting the best out of Roma” [Sky Sports Italia]
Atlético Madrid
Stefan Savić has had his contract extended until June 2025 automatically. His deal was originally valid until the end of this season.
César Azpilicueta has already signed his contract extension until June 2025 at Atlético Madrid.
Atlético closer than ever to agreeing contract with club captain [Relevo]
Bayern Munich
Alphonso Davies’ agent Nedal Huoseh: “There is nothing agreed or concrete with any club. Alphonso’s focus at this time is FC Bayern. We will consider all our options for the future in the next months.”
Chelsea
Chelsea add Ben Chilwell to their injury report as “undergoing specialist medical assessment.” Reece James, Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia are continuing to undergo a rehabilitation programme.
Pochettino: “Nothing to complain or say. We completely understand the situation and frustration. We need to accept that we have to try to improve in the way we play and get results. We need to try to change this feeling. We need our fans. Hopefully Monday, the fans will be behind us.”
Pochettino on big spending in the summer: “I don't know if we can spend lots in the summer. I didn't see the financial announcement. For sure, today or tomorrow I will have better information.”
Si Phillips does a deep dive on the transfer rumours surrounding Chelsea’s next manager.
Chelsea keep monitoring Nico Williams as he was already on the list last summer before the Blues signed Cole Palmer. Chelsea are informed on €50m release clause but there are more clubs interested. Race still open.
Inter Miami
Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez were on target for Inter Miami against Nashville in the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 first leg. Jacob Shaffelburg had given Nashville a two-goal advantage before a typical Messi finish on 52 (watch below, pictures from Fox Sports) and a 95th-minute Suárez equaliser restored parity. Messi’s goal meant he’s now scored in 13 different tournaments throughout his career; CONCACAF Champions Cup, La Liga, Ligue Un, MLS, Leagues Cup, Champions League, World Cup, French Super Cup, Copa America, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, Club World Cup and European Super Cup.
Lazio
Lazio club statement reports that “all links with other coaches are not true as we are happy with Maurizio Sarri. Rumours are fake as we give our total trust to Sarri, who is under contract until June 2025.”
Liverpool
Klopp: “Darwin Núñez is not at his peak yet! He can improve, he’s always a threat. He loves playing for this club, he’s a wonderful boy really.”
Darwin Núñez sets epic Liverpool milestone under Klopp [Liverpool.com]
Richard Hughes remains a strong candidate for a role on the new Liverpool board. Interest has been there for months, and he's now confirmed his plan to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season. It will depend on other appointments in Liverpool’s new structure, but Hughes is on the club's list.
Manchester City
Rodri is now unbeaten in his last 60 matches in all competitions. It’s the most ever for a player in Premier League history. Next up: Liverpool-Man City, Sunday.
Erling Haaland on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s comments about Liverpool’s trophies ‘meaning more’ than City’s: “If he wants to say that, okay. I’ve been here one year and I’ve won the treble and it was quite a nice feeling, I don’t think he knows exactly this feeling… Liverpool can talk as much as they want, or Trent Alexander-Arnold can talk as much as he wants... I don't know why he does that, but I don't mind.”
Ruben Dias on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s comments: “A Treble is a feeling that you only know how it feels when you actually do it. It’s pretty certain between us, between our fans, how much it meant for all of us.”
Man City will sell €40m star this summer [Sport]
Nashville
Hany Mukhtar has signed a new deal at Nashville until 2026 with an option until 2027.
Real Madrid
Bellingham: “Suspension? I don't think I said anything offensive, I didn't say anything different from what my teammates said. If I have to miss the games, I accept it and I will support the team from the stands.”
Real Madrid to welcome back two big names before the end of March [Mundo Deportivo]
The Debrief Podcast
Who is Victor Osimhen, The Biggest Transfer Prize this Summer? Angus and Ben are joined by Guillem Balague and Fabrizio Romano to delve into Victor Osimhen's talent, future, price tag and personality. Fellow Nigerian, Mikel John Obi makes a brief appearance to talk about Osimhen's chances of landing at Chelsea. Plus, the very latest on Kylian Mbappe's negotiations with Real Madrid.
Tottenham Hotspur
Sergio Reguilón on his Tottenham exit: “I didn’t understand and still don’t understand the situation. During pre-season I was very happy and Postecoglou was happy with me. I was playing like a normal player, all the games. The week before, I went to see him. ‘You want me at the club?’ ‘Yes, I have to do a list and you are in my squad’. It was strange. The next day I was out of training and I didn’t know what had happened. I know I can play at Spurs, but in many aspects in football the player doesn’t have control - and I don’t want to stay to sit in the stadium watching. I am 27, I have too much football to experience. I don’t understand why one day it’s ‘yes’ and the next day it’s ‘no’ but . . . I don’t think it’s a performance reason, I think it’s another reason. This is football, this is business.”
Tottenham will enter race for brilliant player that Arsenal covet [Give Me Sport]
UEFA Europa Conference League Round of 16 First Leg Results
Sturm Graz vs LOSC: LOSC will feel they’ve already got one foot in the quarter-finals after Jonathan David’s brace and Edon Zhegrova’s third gave them a comfortable 3-0 win.
Olympiacos vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv: This game was almost over by half-time as the visitors raced into a 3-1 lead, Eran Zahavi bagging a brace and Ido Shahar another. Ayoub El Kaabi’s reply is all Olympiacos could muster, and Dor Peretz’s 74th-minute fourth for Maccabi means the second leg should be a foregone conclusion.
Molde vs Club Brugge: A tie that is still very much in the balance. Halldor Stenevik had given Molde the lead before Maxim De Cuyper’s 85th minute penalty looked like it had earned Club Brugge a draw. However, Fredrik Gulbrandsen’s 92nd-minute second means Molde head to Belgium with a 2-1 advantage.
Ajax vs Aston Villa: Unai Emery’s side were held to a goalless draw in Amsterdam, though Ezri Konsa received his marching orders in the 83rd-minute, and he was followed by Tristan Goojier on 86 [pictures from TNT Sports].
Union Saint-Gilloise vs Fenerbahçe: It will be difficult to imagine Union SG coming back from a 3-0 first leg humbling against the Turkish giants. Stranger things have happened, but goals from Michy Batshuayi, Jayden Oosterwolde and Dušan Tadić should see Fenerbahçe into the hat.
Servette vs Viktoria Plzeň: No action of note to report in a game which finished 0-0 and where there were just four shots on target all night.
Dinamo Zagreb vs PAOK: Bruno Petković was the hero for Dinamo, as his two goals give the Croatian side a 2-0 lead to take into the second leg next week.
Maccabi Haifa vs Fiorentina: Game of the night! Seven goals were shared, and it was last season’s beaten finalists that came out on top; 4-3. Abdoulaye Seck, Gadi Kinda and Anan Khalaili scored for the hosts, with M’Bala Nzola, Lucas Beltrán, Rolando Mandragora all replying for Fiorentina. Antonin Barák hit the 95th minute winner.
UEFA Europa League Round of 16 First Leg Results
Sporting vs Atalanta: The only game played on Wednesday evening ended 1-1. Paulinho opened the scoring for the hosts, only for them to be pegged back by Gianluca Scamacca’s equaliser just before the break.
Roma vs Brighton: The Seagulls already look to be heading out of the competition after a devastating 4-0 defeat in the Italian capital. Paulo Dybala, Romelu Lukaku, Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante did the damage for the hosts.
Sparta Prague vs Liverpool: An open game could’ve gone either way until the Reds really took charge. Alexis Mac Allister’s penalty set Jurgen Klopp’s side on the way to a 5-1 win, a Darwin Núñez double and two more from Luis Díaz and Dominik Szoboszlai completing the scoring. Conor Bradley’s own goal was the only blot on Liverpool’s copy book. Núñez’s first was an absolute stunner and was also the 1000th goal scored under Klopp [pictures from TNT Sports].
Qarabag vs Bayer Leverkusen: Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten Leverkusen side were almost embarrassed at minnows, Qarabag. Yassine Benzia and Juninho had given the home side a shock 2-0 half-time lead, only for Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick’s 92nd minute strike to keep their record intact.
Milan vs Slavia Prague: The Italian giants were well on top throughout this game, and a 4-2 scoreline flattered the visitors. Olivier Giroud, Tijjani Reijnders, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic were on target for Milan, with David Doudera and Ivan Schranz replying for Slavia.
Freiburg vs West Ham: David Moyes’ conservative way of playing came back to haunt him again. The Hammers were always in control of the match but they switched off late on, allowing Michael Gregoritsch to score an 81st-minute winner. They were also denied a last-gasp penalty after a four-minute VAR delay resulted in the referee not changing his initial decision [pictures from TNT Sport].
Benfica vs Rangers: The Scottish Premiership leaders can consider themselves unlucky as they almost toppled the Portuguese giants in their own back yard. Tom Lawrence gave Rangers the lead before a penalty from Ángel Di Maria in first-half stoppage time restored parity. Dujon Sterling still had time to hand Rangers the advantage again before the break, however, Connor Goldson’s 67th minute own goal means that Benfica head to Ibrox next week with the tie level at 2-2.
Marseille vs Villarreal: The French giants are all but through to the quarter-finals after a magnificent performance against the Yellow Submarine. Jordan Veretout, Yerson Mosquera and two from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Marseille a comfortable 4-0 win.