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After the first legs of this season s Champions League last-16 ties there was anticipation of the Premier League recovering its dominant position of a decade ago.

In 2008, Chelsea overcame regular semi-final foes Liverpool, only to lose to Manchester United on penalties in a Moscow final.

Recent years have proved a more fallow affair but February s first legs ended with Manchester City and Liverpool all but through to a draw that would pit them mouth-wateringly together and none of Chelsea, Tottenham or Manchester United were behind – the latter two with home legs to come.

Then Lionel Messi happened, streetwise Juventus happened and nothing of any particular note happened at Old Trafford before United collapsed to a humiliating loss against Sevilla.

It …

Chelsea raided France for Ashley Lawrence and Catarina Macario from Paris St Germain and Lyon respectively.

Meanwhile, forward Mia Fishel signed from Tigres for in excess of £150k to boost a squad full of stars with Emma Hayes’ side eager to take the final step in the Champions League.

Liverpool manager Matt Beard admitted: “You just look at Chelsea’s transfer window and it’s ridiculous. They will have players in there who won’t even be named in their 25-player squad.

“We’re still a way from the top teams in regards to expenditure. You just need to look at the Alessia Russo deal and Arsenal looking to spend another record fee on Mary Earps etc. There is still a big gap.”

It would be inaccurate to state only the big four were spending in t…

Kepa Arrizabalaga looked to be yesterday s man at Chelsea, but such has been his recent form the goalkeeper might have a long-term role to play for the Blues.

He might also be a quick fix this weekend if your fantasy league goalkeeper is having a rough time of it.

In north London, title-chasing Arsenal have a pillar of strength in their backline, and a goal threat too, as Gabriel Magalhaes makes his presence felt at each end of the pitch.

Chelsea face Everton this weekend, while Arsenal tackle Crystal Palace, and away from the capital there is a chance for Ollie Watkins to show his prowess as Aston Villa take on Bournemouth.

Tottenham, still in the hunt for a Champions League place, travel to Southampton with Son Heung-min facing perhaps his favourite opp…

Arjen Robben conceded that joining Bayern Munich initially felt like a step backwards when he left Real Madrid, but feels has enjoyed the best times of his career in Germany.

The Dutch winger endured bad luck with injuries at Madrid and never truly established himself as the key player his ability suggested he might, before getting moved on in 2009.

And fitness problems have also restricted his appearances in Germany, but that has not stopped him from making a significant impression, reaching double figures in goals in six of his eight seasons there before the start of the current campaign.

The 33-year-old has also enjoyed great success in terms of trophies, winning everything on offer with Bayern, including the 2012-13 Champions League, something he was sceptica…

History will be made on Wednesday when Manchester United face Young Boys for the first time.

Jose Mourinho s side will begin their 22nd Champions League campaign against a team who have never before reached the group stage of the competition.

Not a great deal is known in wider Europe about the team from Switzerland s capital and few would give them much of a chance of claiming three points against any of United, Juventus or Valencia in Group H.

It would be unwise for Mourinho s men to underestimate their opponents, though – especially given their record on Swiss soil. Here is what United can expect from their trip to Stade de Suisse.

REPLAY: Fassnachts 2:0 in Sion.

— BSC Young Boys (@BSC_YB)

What s Young Boys record in Europe like…

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler is excited to welcome Ferdi Kadioglu to his ranks after his move from Fenerbahce was confirmed on Tuesday.

Kadioglu, who featured in all Turkiye s fixtures in their quarter-final run at Euro 2024, has signed a four-year contract for a reported £25million plus £4.2m in add-ons.

Ahead of their 4-0 victory over Crawley Town in the EFL Cup, Kadioglu was officially unveiled as a Seagulls player to those in attendance at the AMEX Stadium.

The 24-year-old offers Hurzeler another option at left-back following the departure of Valentin Barco, who joined Sevilla on a season-long loan last week.

He departs the Turkish Super Lig side after six years, making 204 appearances in all competitions, scoring 18 goals and adding 22 as…

Liverpool are racing clear at the top of the table and it will surely take a miracle for the Reds not to win their first Premier League title.

Jurgen Klopp s side face old rivals Manchester United on Sunday at Anfield, with the Red Devils the only team to have taken points off Liverpool so far this season.

Unbeaten in 38 Premier League matches, Liverpool are overwhelming favourites, though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer oversaw a 4-0 win over struggling Norwich City on Saturday.

Can United stall Liverpool s procession, or will Klopp s men continue their stroll towards Premier League glory?

104 have accrued 104 points across their last 38 Premier League matches (W33 D5 L0); this is a record total by any team across a 38-match spell in the competition’s history, …

Sergio Romero saved Manchester United from an embarrassing exit in the EFL Cup as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s side needed penalties to knock out third-tier Rochdale after a 1-1 draw.

Mason Greenwood put United in front in the second half on Wednesday, the teenager scoring for the second week in a row after netting the winner against Astana in the Europa League.

But the League One side stunned Old Trafford with an equaliser scored by 16-year-old Luke Matheson, who was set up by United academy product Ollie Rathbone.

That sent the game to penalties and when Romero kept out Jimmy Keohane s effort, Daniel James was able to convert United s last kick and complete a 5-3 shoot-out victory.

James nets our fifth and final penalty ⁠as advance to the fourth round of t…

Cristiano Ronaldo s move to Juventus opens up the opportunity for the Portugal superstar to win a league title in a third different country.

Having won three Premier League crowns with Manchester United and LaLiga twice with Real Madrid, Juve s dominance of Serie A makes racking up a league-hopping treble look likely.

The achievement would see Ronaldo move alongside the likes of David Beckham (England, Spain, France), Clarence Seedorf (Netherlands, Spain, Italy) and Thierry Henry (France, England, Spain) by enjoying success in a trio of European domestic leagues.

But as illustrious as that list of names may be soon to gain arguably its biggest star if Ronaldo can guide Juve to further glory there are a select group of players who have gone one better.

Her…

Arsenal are really happy with Alexandre Lacazette and contract talks will take place soon, according to manager Mikel Arteta.

Lacazette has just over one year left on his contract and has been regularly tipped as a candidate to leave the Gunners at the end of the season.

Arsenal would need to sell Lacazette then if they were to recoup a meaningful transfer fee for him, but while Arteta refused to rule out that possibility, he was positive about the forward.

Lacazette netted from the penalty spot in the comeback win at Leicester City on Sunday. He has 11 goals in all competitions this season and 59 since he signed from Lyon in 2017.

He s got a contract with us, Arteta said about the 29-year-old striker.

He played really well the other week. It s …