⚽ Champions League and Carabao Cup match updates⚽ Live scoreboard | Read Football Daily | And mail DanielIn Barcelona, by the way, Shaqueel van Persie has come on for Feyenoord, making his European debut. Any idea who his old fella is?On which point, have you seen Liam van Nistelrooy’s running gait? Continue reading...
For PSG's UEFA Champions League debut against Slovan Bratislava, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue have been excluded from the starting lineup. Paris Saint-Germain host Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday, September 9, as their first opponent in the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League campaign. With high expectations surrounding the back-to-back defending champions, the absence of marquee wingers Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue from the starting XI raised immediate questions among supporters. Kvaratskhelia and Doue begin the match against Slovan Bratislava on the substitutes’ bench due to tactical squad management by manager Luis Enrique. Neither forward is dealing with an injury and both are 100 percent fit to feature, but the Spanish head coach opted to manage their workload for the European opener. Both the Georgian star and the young French international featured during weekend domestic action against AS Monaco, exiting in the 68th and 63rd minutes respectively as part of planned substitutions. In their absence, Ousmane Dembele occupies his usual central role in the attacking line, while Maghnes Akliouche starts on the left wing and Ferran Torres features on the right. Both Kvaratskhelia and Doue are expected to be deployed as second-half substitutes to maintain match rhythm. Le onze de départ pour notre première soirée de la saison en @ChampionsLeague ! #PSGSLB I @easportsfcfr pic.twitter.com/VsmAGuQUUm— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) September 9, 2026 *Developing story…
Cody Gakpo has made a fast start this season (Picture: AP) Andoni Iraola confirmed Cody Gakpo has missed Liverpool’s opening Champions League fixture with Atletico Madrid due to an adductor problem. Gakpo has made a fast start to the Premier League season under his new boss, with a goal and three assists in his first three matches. The Dutch forward played the full 90 minutes on Friday night and set up Alexander Isak twice as the Reds claimed a comfortable 2-0 win over Ipswich Town. However, Gakpo was not pictured in training on Tuesday and has now missed out on the matchday squad for the visit of Atletico. Sign up for In The Mixer, Metro's football newsletter Get exclusive analysis and previews of the biggest games every Friday. Sign up now for free. Asked about Gakpo’s injury pre-match, Iraola told TNT Sports: ‘Yes Cody finished the game the other day against Ipswich with some adductor issues. ‘Both sides, nothing specific and not a proper injury but we didn’t want to risk him. ‘I think it makes sense to take a rest and I hope we can recover him for the next one but I think even for the weekend he has a chance to be there.’ Gakpo picked up an injury against Ipswich Town (Picture: EPA) Bradley Barcola, signed from Paris Saint-Germain for £123million, comes in to replace Gakpo for his first Liverpool start. Elsewhere, Victor Munoz is dropped to the bench, with Rio Ngumoha instead starting on the right wing. Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid starting line-ups Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ngumoha, Isak, Barcola Liverpool subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Tsimikas, Munoz, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Chambers, McConnell, Koumas, Danns. Atletico starting XI: Oblak, Llorente, Hancko, Romero, Pubil, Barios, Koke, Simeone, Baena, Alvarez, Lee. Atletico subs: Musso, Vargas, Mendoza, Cardoso, Lookman, David, Grimaldo, Hjulmand, Le Normand, Dominguez, Martinez, Castillo. On the decision to start Barcola, Iraola added: ‘It’s true that he hasn’t had the pre-season minutes but I liked what I saw from him the other day [against Ipswich] for 30 minutes. ‘He’s been training well so I think it was a good game to put him in straight away. ‘Now I don’t think he can probably finish the game, we’ll see how he does, but we need some freshness and I think especially outside with Rio [Ngumoha] and Bradley, I think we can find these difference makers.’ Liverpool face a quick turnaround after Wednesday’s match, hosting Fulham in the league at Anfield on Saturday. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Alexis Mac Allister could leave Liverpool at the end of the season, with journalist Ben Jacobs revealing that the club are currently not planning to offer the midfielder a new contract. Speaking on The Redmen TV, the transfer insider claimed Liverpool are taking a data-driven approach to their squad decisions and could allow Mac Allister […] The post “My feeling is that…” – Ben Jacobs admits Liverpool star could leave the club at the end of the season appeared first on CaughtOffside.
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