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The Norwegian went missing for the second Premier League game in a row, but few players distinguished themselves in a disappointing defeat

All good things must come to an end, and Manchester City's incredible run of 12 straight Premier League victories over Arsenal was finally halted thanks to a heavily-deflected Gabriel Martinelli goal.

Pep Guardiola's side played without their usual swagger and confidence, and there was an air of shyness about them without Rodri. Indeed, they have lost all three matches that the influential Spaniard has been suspended for.

But most worrying for the treble winners is the form of Erling Haaland. The Norwegian gave Arsenal almost nothing to worry about and uncharacteristically ducked out of a header which he usually would have powered straight into the net. He has now failed to score in his last three matches.

The international break comes at a good time for him and will give him time to reset for City's next matches, against Brighton and Manchester United.

GOAL rates Manchester City's players from the Emirates Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Ederson (6/10):

  Barely had to make a save until being beaten by a wild deflection.

  Kyle Walker (6/10):

  Guarded the right side of the pitch astutely. Didn't get forward much.

  Ruben Dias (7/10):

  Very assured, barely allowed Nketiah a sniff at goal.

  Nathan Ake (6/10):

  Solid for most of the game and unlucky with the goal, with Martinelli's shot just bouncing off him and into the net. Caused some danger going forward but loses a mark for not hitting the target with a good chance in the first half.

  Josko Gvardiol (7/10):

  His best game in a City shirt. Alert to the danger, physically imposing and a threat going forward. Had a shot cleared off the line by Rice.

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  Midfield

  Rico Lewis (7/10):

  Fully justified his selection for such a big game and played with maturity and bravery.

  Bernardo Silva (6/10):

  Sat very deep and acted more as a destroyer than a creator, albeit a very graceful one.

  Mateo Kovacic (5/10):

  Kept the ball well but loses marks for two rash and dangerous tackles which could have got him sent off.

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  Attack

  Julian Alvarez (6/10):

  Played with determination and almost caught Raya out when he closed him down while dribbling. Couldn't create much more danger for the rest of the game.

  Erling Haaland (4/10):

  Another really poor performance. Ducked out of a good heading opportunity in the first half and barely seen in the second.

  Phil Foden (5/10):

  Couldn't influence the game much.

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  Subs & Manager

  John Stones (6/10):

  Made his first Premier League appearance of the season but couldn't have much impact.

  Jeremy Doku (7/10):

  Looked a threat and worked hard defensively.

  Matheus Nunes (6/10):

  Could have shown more aggression and didn't look like turning the game around after Arsenal went ahead.

  Pep Guardiola (6/10):

  Surprisingly kept Kovacic on after half-time despite the risk. It made no difference in the end and his subs made sense even if they did not pay off.

Liverpool will face LASK and Union SG in the group stage of the 2023-24 Europa League, while West Ham are set to take on Olympiacos and Freiburg.

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• Reds reached the final in 2016
• Gers fell narrowly short in 2022
• Hammers won UECL last season

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Elsewhere, Brighton’s first experience of continental competition has seen them drawn against Ajax and Marseille, with Scottish giants Rangers – who failed to progress through the Champions League qualifiers – due to come up against Real Betis and Sparta Prague.

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• EUROPA LEAGUE GROUP STAGE DRAW IN FULL

  Group A

  West Ham, Olympiacos, Freiburg, TSC Backa Topola

  Group B

  Ajax, Marseille, Brighton, AEK Athens

  Group C

  Rangers, Real Betis, Sparta Prague, Aris Limassol

  Group D

  Atalanta, Sporting, Sturm, Rakow

  Group E

  Liverpool, LASK, Union SG, Toulouse

  Group F

  Villarreal, Rennes, Maccabi Haifa, Panathinaikos

  Group G

  Roma, Slavia Prague, Sheriff, Servette

  Group H

  Leverkusen, Qarabag, Molde, Hacken

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Liverpool last played in the Europa League back in 2015-16, when they made it all the way to the final before coming unstuck against tournament specialists Sevilla. West Ham reached the semi-finals back in 2022, before going one better in the Europa Conference League last season as they claimed a prestigious trophy. Rangers have also graced a final in recent times, with the Glasgow heavyweights suffering a penalty shootout defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in 2021-22.

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• WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  The first round of group stage fixtures will take place on September 21, with a further five matchdays playing out from that point – taking things through to December 14. Every team involved in the competition is hoping to steer a course to Dublin on May 22, 2024 – when major silverware will come up for grabs at the Aviva Stadium.

After years of speculation, the midfielder finally looks likely to depart West Ham this summer, with Arsenal now in pole position

Declan Rice cemented his West Ham legacy by helping his boyhood team lift the Europa Conference League against Fiorentina in early June, but it now seems inevitable that that victorious night in Prague will prove to the midfielder's final appearance for the Irons.

Rice has just one year left to run on the contract he signed back in 2018 and now looks all but certain to move on this summer – despite the club's attempt to tie him down to a new eight-year deal. Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester United were all mooted as possible destinations, but in the end, the bidding war has come down to Manchester City and Arsenal.

In a reversal of last season's Premier League title race, it is the Gunners who look set to come out on top. Their third bid, lodged on Tuesday evening, is an initial £100 million ($127m) plus £5m in add-ons, and City have made it clear that they are unwilling to match it, leaving the runway clear for Arsenal to get the deal done.

Eyebrows have been raised at that price tag, so is Rice really a player worth spending a nine-figure fee on?

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  'A £100m player'

  It's hard not to feel bad for David Moyes. Over the past few seasons, he's had to field questions about Rice's future with alarming regularity. Moyes has been consistent when quizzed about Rice's astronomical price tag, though. It's £100m+ or nothing for the Hammers. Most recently, when asked if the midfielder was worth that much he replied, quite simply: "Yeah."

  He added: "I think I've said everything there is to say about Declan. He's a really important player for West Ham, he's someone who we value greatly and you can see what he means to the team. He's a really good individual and we're enjoying having him."

  Just a few days earlier Moyes had claimed that Rice's eventual transfer fee would easily eclipse the British-record £106m Chelsea spent on Enzo Fernandez back in January. "Undoubtedly Declan is going to be a top player. He'll be a British transfer record if he ever leaves West Ham," he said. "There's a lot of talk about it and when you see what's going about for the prices, I think Dec will be blowing that out of the water, that's for sure, when it comes around."

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  It's probably time for Rice to go

  As much as Moyes would love his skipper to stick around, all of the signs have been pointing towards Rice moving on this summer. The West Ham boss admitted as much in May, telling reporters: "We hope Dec stays. We would love him to be a West Ham player but we are aware that might not be the case. That is one of the scenarios. Our plans are to have Dec here but we are also fully aware there is a good chance that we won't have him."

  Sporting director Mark Noble echoed these sentiments in February. "Dec is no different. Dec will always be hailed at West Ham as a fantastic player and such a top, top person. But I don’t think anyone begrudges him wanting to go and win things," he said.

  And Rice himself has confessed that he wants to fight for the big trophies. "One hundred percent I want to play in the Champions League. For the last two or three years I’ve been saying that. I’ve been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends who are playing Champions League and for big trophies. You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in."

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  Not everyone is convinced

  Of course, Rice is not universally appreciated for his talents. News that West Ham would be holding out for £120m this summer was greeted with widespread bemusement by fans and pundits alike. Even managers got in on the act.

  Brentford manager Thomas Frank suggested that Ivan Toney would be worth more than Rice in the current market last month, while Arsenal legend Gilberto Silva also questioned his price tag. "Normally you see this sort of price for strikers, not central midfielders. It feels quite high, even though there is no doubting the quality of the player, but it does feel like a very high price," he said.

  Supporters outside of the West Ham bubble have similar doubts about Rice. This is potentially a product of the role he plays. He is vital to the team but his performances are not in-your-face brilliant if you don't know what you're looking for.

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  Plays a vitally important role

  So, what is Rice's role? The catch-all term would be deep-lying playmaker, probably. During his time at West Ham and for England he's generally played in a double-pivot in a 4-2-3-1, or as the deepest player in a midfield three.

  His principal responsibility out of possession is providing his defenders with an extra layer of protection. When his side has the ball, he's the first port of call when building attacks, either via his passing or ball-carrying abilities.

  Players in this mould are very hard to find – that's why Arsenal are so eager to sign Rice on a long-term deal this summer. Man City took a long time to wean themselves off Fernandinho for good, with Rodri struggling to fill the void left by his absence at first. Elsewhere, Liverpool's lynchpin Fabinho was once described as a "lighthouse" for Jurgen Klopp's "organised chaos" by Pep Lijnders.

  Casemiro, another player of this ilk, has been absolutely transformative for Manchester United this season and it is little surprise that Leeds' and Leicester's downfalls coincided with the sale of Kalvin Phillips and Wilfred Ndidi's loss of form, respectively.

  Defensive midfielders tie the team together. They are the oil in the cogs and the bringers of stability. It's little wonder they're so hard to find.

A number of Crystal Palace supporters have been reacting to a report on Frank Lampard, who has supposedly been sounded out by the Eagles as a potential replacement for Roy Hodgson.

That’s according to a report from the Metro, who claim that the former Chelsea boss is a contender to take over from Hodgson.

Hodgson is out of contract at the end of the season, with the 73-year-old admitting back in February that he is ‘undecided’ on his future at the club.

The Eagles have looked at Burnley’s Sean Dyche in the past, but it seems as if they have now turned their focus to the available Lampard.

Lampard has been out of work since January and has recently admitted he has had turned down multiple offers to return to the dugout.

Palace fans react to Lampard news

@cpfc_xtra shared the Metro’s report on social media on Wednesday morning, with a number of fans giving their thoughts.

These Eagles supporters were all happy with the update, with one describing it as ‘fantastic’.

“Get in”

Credit: @RoccoSeipel

“Trust me when I say european football is coming”

Credit: @BRL__18

“Fantastic”

Credit: @PaulofEpsom

“Frank Lampard’s red & blue army!”

Credit: @iancnoble

“Get Frank in and we’ll get Tammy Abraham off Chelsea. There’s our striker.”

Credit: @Wheddsta

“Anyone but Roy”

Credit: @NicksView92

In other news: Many CPFC fans buzz at club’s official Monday post, find out more here. 

There have been plenty of top performers from all around the continent over the course of the past season – but who ranks above all others?

Which players have had the biggest impact in Europe this season? Has it been Vinicius Jr and his 40 goal contributions in all competitions? Has it been Kylian Mbappe, a winger who has dragged PSG to the Ligue 1 title? Or does Ronald Araujo deserve recognition for anchoring Barcelona's European-best defence?

There have been plenty of standouts across Europe, with talent abound at traditional powers and plucky upstarts. Certainly, the likes of Napoli, Arsenal, and, to an extent, Barcelona, have been buoyed by some top players. The likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Pedri and Victor Osimhen have all been vital for some of the continent's best teams.

So, as the season comes to a close for good, GOAL looks at the 21 best performers from around Europe in 2022-23…

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  21Kim Min-jae (Napoli)

  A lot of the focus this season has been on Napoli's attack, and for good reason: the duo of Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have been devastating in the final third. But Kim Min-jae has been Napoli's most important player otherwise, and certainly the best value-for-money defender in Europe this year.

  The Serie A winners paid Fenerbahce just €18 million (£15.7m/$19.4m) for his services last summer, and he's been worth every penny. Terrific in the air and excellent on the ball, the South Korean has made the loss of Kalidou Koulibaly seem like a positive.

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  20Pedri (Barcelona)

  Barcelona duo Gavi and Pedri are often grouped together as two similar players, but they couldn't be any more different. Gavi is all scrap, while Pedri is the epitome of finesse, and the latter's improvement in central midfield has been crucial for the Blaugrana this year.

  Pedri is still a wonderful dribbler and precise passer, but he's also started to become a more consistent attacking threat, with six goals to his name. It's a shame that the Spanish magician missed 12 games with an injury – if he'd been fit all season, Barca could have won La Liga by 20 points.

• 19Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

  In many ways, Karim Benzema has been a victim of his own success. The French striker was so good last season, that this year was always going to be underwhelming in some sense. In effect, he couldn't really improve on his Ballon d'Or-winning campaign.

  That's not for want of trying, though. Benzema has struggled with injuries, but the world-class talent is still very much there. He has bagged 29 goals in 41 games, while turning in a few vintage performances.

  He netted a brace against Liverpool in the Champions League, scored a hat-trick against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final, and scored seven in four games in a stretch in early April. Whether he can be relied on to play a full season anymore remains to be seen, but Benzema can still be a top-quality performer.

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  18Nathan Ake (Man City)

  Manchester City were never really of the title race, but Ake is one of the reasons they dragged themselves back into it. One of Pep Guardiola's masterstrokes this season was moving Ake into a modified left-back role, effectively using the Dutchman as a third centre-back when City defend.

  It shored up a backline that had struggled for a few months, and also gave City a lockdown one-on-one defender against some of the league's best attacking players. Ake was a £40m ($53m) signing nearly three years ago. This year, he has finally shown why City spent big.

How to watch Celtic vs Rangers in the Scottish Premiership in the US as well as kick-off time and team news.

Celticwill host Rangersin a top-of-the-table clash in theScottish Premiership on Saturday.

Watch Celtic vs Rangers live on Fubo today!

The hosts have already claimed two victories in the Old Firm derby this season and Celtic coach Ange Postecoglou is gunning for a third one. They have won their last 15 matches across all competitions and have been in sublime form since the new year.

They currently lead the table by nine points and another victory over the weekend would be a giant stride towards lifting the championship. They boast of a perfect record at home, winning all 15 matches at Parkhead, and are the favourites in the derby this time around.

Meanwhile, Rangers continue to chase their arch-rivals and despite winning their last 10 league matches, they are still lagging behind in the title race. Although a win would reduce the deficit, they will not have their fortunes in their hands. It will be a tough afternoon at Parkhead as there will be no away fans in the stands following a mutual agreement between the two clubs.

GOAL brings you details on how to watch the game on TV in the US as well as how to stream live online.

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  Kick-off time

  Game:	Celtic vs Rangers
  Date:	April 8, 2023
  Kick-off:	8:30 am EDT
  Venue:	Celtic Park

  The game is scheduled for April 8, 2023, at Celtic Park. It will kick off at 8:30 am EDT in the US.

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  How to watch Celtic vs Rangers online – TV channels & live streams

  TV channels & streaming options

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  U.S.	N/A	CBS Sports Network, Fubo

  In the United States (US) it will be available for streaming via CBS Sports Network and Fubo.

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  Team news & squads

  Celtic team news

  Celtic will miss Liel Abada, James Forrest and Anthony Ralston with injuries whereas, Reo Hatate remains doubtful as he is nursing a hamstring problem.

  However, they will be boosted with the return of Aaron Mooy and Greg Taylor.

  Kyogo Furuhashi, Jota, and Daizen Maeda are likely to form a three-man attack.

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Hart, Bain, Siegrist, Hazard
  Defenders	Jenz, Carter-Vickers, Bernabei, Juranovic, Kobayashi. Montgomery, Taylor
  Midfielders	Mooy, Turnbull, Abildgaard, O'Riley, Robertson, McGregor, McCarthy.
  Forwards	Furuhashi, Maeda, Jota

  Rangers team news

  Rangers also have a few injury issues and will miss Kemar Roofe, Tom Lawrence, Steven Davis, Filip Helander and Nnamdi Ofoborh.

  However, Nicolas Raskin might recover in time to make it to the matchday squad.

  Allan McGregor will keep his place in goal and will be shielded by a back four of James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Ben Davies and Borna Barisic.

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	McGregor, McCrorie, K. Wright, McLaughlin
  Defenders	Tavernier, Goldson, Barisic, King, Devine, Davies, Yilmaz.
  Midfielders	Lundstram, Hagi, Jack, Matondo, Kamara, Sands, S. Wright, McCann, Arfield, Lowry, Tillman, Cantwell, Raskin
  Forwards	Colak, Kent, Morelos, Sakala.

  Head-to-head record

  Date	Result	Competition
  26/02/2023	Rangers 1-2 Celtic	League Cup
  02/01/2023	Rangers 2-2 Celtic	Premiership
  03/09/2022	Celtic 4-0 Rangers	Premiership
  01/05/2022	Celtic 1-1 Rangers	Premiership
  17/04/2022	Celtic 1-2 Rangers	FA Cup

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  Useful links

  • Celtic team page

  • Live soccer on TV in the U.S.

  • Rangers team page

Everything you need to know about how to watch Leon vs Chivas live

Chivas de Guadalajara will have a great opportunity to be among the top four teams in Liga MX if they manage to beat Leon in their match on matchday 15 of the 2023 Clausura Tournament.

Chivas are currently in sixth spot in the general classification with 25 points, while La Fiera are in fourth place with 26.

🖥️ Watch Chivas vs Necaxa live on Sling TV!

Victory for Guadalajara could potentially see them leap into the direct playoff spots and leapfrog Club Leon and potentially Club America who currently sit in third place. While a win for Leon could see them all but secure second place in the Clausura.
There is all to play for in the last three matchdays of the Clausura for both clubs as they look to secure their direct playoff qualifications.

GOAL brings you everything you need to know about where to watch the game on TV and how to stream it live online.

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  Leon vs Chivas date & kick-off time

  Game:	Leon vs Chivas
  Date:	April 15, 2023
  Kick-off time:	9:00 pm ET / 6:00 pm PT
  Venue:	Estadio Leon

  The game is scheduled for a 9 pm PT kick-off on Saturday April 15, or 6 pm ET if you are in the East Coast.

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  Where to watch Leon vs Chivas on TV & live stream online

  TUDN and Univision will broadcast the game live on TV in the United States.

  Viewers can also live stream the game through Sling TV – sign up here!

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  US	TUDN	Sling TV

  • Check out GOAL's soccer on U.S. TV guide

• Team news & squads

  Chivas team news and squad

  Hiram Mier and Luis Olivas are the main injury doubts for Chivas.

  Possible Chivas starting XI: Jimenez; Mozo, Sepulveda, Orozco, Calderon; Alvarado, Torres, Gonzalez; C. Cisneros, R. Cisneros, Vega

  Position	Chivas players
  Goalkeepers	Jimenez, Rangel
  Defenders	Mozo, Orozco, Calderon, Briseno, Sepulveda, Mayorga, Sanchez
  Midfielders	Guzman, Alvarado, Beltran, Brizuela, Cisneros, Gonzalez, Perez, Torres, Flores
  Forwards	Vega, Macias, R. Cisneros, Rios

  Leon team news and squad

  Osvaldo Rodriguez is the main injury doubt for Leon who suffered a hamstring injury against Cruz Azul.

  Possible Leon starting XI: Cota; Moreno, Barreiro, Frias, Bellon; Mena, Ambriz, Campbell, Hernandez; Di Yorio, Davila

  Position	Leon players
  Goalkeepers	Cota, Blanco
  Defenders	Castillo, Tesillo, Frias, Celestine, Bellon, Barreiro, Rodriguez
  Midfielders	Campbell, Mena, Moreno, Romero, Ambriz, Hernandez, Moreno, Rodriguez, Diaz
  Forwards	Davila, Di Yorio, Angulo, Rubio, Alvarado

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• Useful links

  • Live soccer on U.S. TV
  • Stream Liga MX matches on Sling
  • Liga MX table
  • Where to watch Liga MX
  • Liga MX news

Tottenham Hotspur could land themselves a major midfield upgrade this summer.

According to football.london reporter Alasdair Gold, Spurs have concrete interest in signing RB Leipzig skipper Marcel Sabitzer ahead of next season.

It is thought that Daniel Levy and co will make their move for the 27-year-old talisman this summer as he enters the final 12 months of his current contract at the Red Bull Arena.

Sport Bild have fueled the fire in recent weeks too, claiming that there is a “75% chance” Sabitzer ends up in north London despite interest from Premier League rivals Manchester United and Liverpool. RB Leipzig are said to want €42m (£36m) for his signature.

Jose Mourinho isn’t short on midfield options, however, so any arrival in the role would surely spell the end for someone already at the club. As explained by Football FanCast earlier this week, Moussa Sissoko has started to regress at an alarming rate, which is hardly a surprise given that he’s now on the wrong side of 30.

Sabitzer would be a massive increase in quality, by comparison.

Indeed, Sissoko isn’t really offering much at either end of the pitch – as per WhoScored, the 31-year-old Frenchman is averaging one tackle and one interception per game defensively, whilst in attack he’s only managing 0.8 dribbles and 0.2 key passes per game, and has failed to contribute towards a goal. All of these numbers are a decrease on his 2019/20 figures.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/spurs-latest-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more” title= Read this week’s latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more…”]

The RB Leipzig sensation is a far better box-to-box option in the middle. Aside from bagging 23 goals and providing 19 assists over the past 18 months, Sabitzer is doing an industrious job in winning the ball back, averaging 1.1 tackles and. 1.4 interceptions per match, via WhoScored.

Clearly, the £36m-rated gem knows what to do in the final third, as evident by his impressive returns and the fact that he’s been dubbed a “goal threat” by his manager Julian Nagelsmann. It’s easy to see why he’s having such an impact, having averaged two shots and one key pass per Bundesliga match this term.

Spurs know just how dangerous he can be, as he absolutely tormented Eric Dier and the rest of the squad last season, knocking the north Londoners out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage.

Winning 3-0 in the second leg, Sabitzer bagged a brace and also ran the show with 67 touches (the third-most for the German outfit), three interceptions and one tackle. His subsequent 7.7 rating, as per SofaScore, far exceeded that of Dier (6.6) as the England international endured a torrid night.

The Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick gave the Spurs man a 5/10 on the night, writing: ‘No match for Leipzig’s speedy front three and nearly guilty of an awful mistake when he fired a clearance straight into Schick, forcing Lloris into a save.’

Sabitzer would also bring leadership qualities to N17. “He has clearly changed for the better and has become a leader. The way he has developed his personality is remarkable. I’ve only rarely experienced something similar,” explained his former coach Ralf Rangnick to Kicker (via Bulinews).

Levy must wave goodbye to Sissoko and clinch Sabitzer this summer.

AND in other news, Spurs could kill two birds with one stone by signing £22.5m-rated “absolute monster”…

How to watch Wales vs Latvia in the Euro 2024 qualification stage from the UK, US, and India, as well as kick-off time and team news

Wales take on Latvia in their second EURO 2024 qualificationgame at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday.

📺 Watch Wales vs Latvia live on Viaplay in the UK

💻 Watch Wales vs Latvia live on Fubo in the U.S.

Wales kicked off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a 1-1 draw against the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Croatia.

Latvia, on the other hand, will begin their qualifying campaign on Tuesday. They played a friendly match against Ireland in preparation for the qualifiers, which they lost 3-2.

GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch the Euro 2024 qualifier fixture Wales vs Latvia, plus team news, recent form and more.

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  Kick-off time

  Date:	March 28, 2023
  Kick-off time:	7.45pm GMT / 2.45pm ET / 12.15am IST (March 29)
  Venue:	Cardiff City Stadium

  The game is scheduled for March 28, 2023 at Cardiff City Stadium. It will kick off at 7.45pm GMT in the UK, 2.45pm ET in the US and 12.15am IST (on March 29) in India.

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  How to watch Wales vs Latvia online – TV channels & live streams

  TV channels & streaming options

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  UK	Viaplay Sports 2, S4C, S4C Red Button	Viaplay App, Viaplay UK
  U.S.	Fox Soccer Plus	Fubo, VIX+
  India	N/A	Sony LIV

  The Euro 2024 qualifying round match between Wales and Latvia will be broadcast on Viaplay Sports 2, S4C and S4C Red Button and can be streamed on Viaplay App and Viaplay UK in the UK.

  In the U.S., the match can be watched on Fox Sports Plus and can be streamed on Fuboand VIX+.

  Fans in India can catch all the action on the Sony Sports Network.

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  Team news & squads

  Wales team news

  Wayne Hennessey and Ben Davies have not been named in the squad due to injuries, while Brennan Johnson misses the clash due to a groin problem.

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers:	Tom King, Danny Ward, Adam Davies
  Defenders:	Morgan Fox, Neco Williams, Ben Cabango, Chris Mepham, Joe Rodon, Connor Roberts, Ethan Ampadu, Tom Lockyer
  Midfielders:	Ollie Cooper, Harry Wilson, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Morrell, Jordan James, Daniel James, Sorba Thomas, Nathan Broadhead
  Forwards:	Tom Bradshaw, Luke Harris, Kieffer Moore, Wes Burns

  Latvia team news

  There are no major injury concerns in the Latvia squad ahead of the crucial Wales clash.

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers:	Pāvels Šteinbors, Roberts Ozols, Nils Toms Puriņš
  Defenders:	Vladislavs Sorokins, Mārcis Ošs, Antonijs Černomordijs, Kristers Tobers, Maksims Toņiševs, Roberts Savaļnieks, Raivis Jurkovskis, Elvis Stuglis, Daniels Balodis
  Midfielders:	Renārs Varslavāns, Eduards Emsis, Janis Ikaunieks. Andrejs Cigaņiks, Dāvis Ikaunieks, Alvis Jaunzems, Artūrs Zjuzins, Aleksejs Saveljevs
  Forwards:	Vladislavs Gutkovskis, Raimonds Krollis, Roberts Uldriķis

  Head-to-head record

  Date	Result	Competition
  18 August, 2004	Wales 2-0 Latvia	International friendly

  Wales and Latvia have only met once before, in an international friendly in 2004 – with Wales emerging with a 2-0 victory.

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  Useful links

  • Wales team page

  • Latvia team page

  • Live football on TV in the UK

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And then there were 29.

Four matches in, and three teams have already been eliminated from this season's Champions League: Viktoria Plzen, Rangers and Celtic.

However, some of Europe's elite are teetering over the edge after another matchday filled with drama in Europe's elite club competition – one that also saw five teams book their spots in the draw for the last 16.

There was also perhaps the most dramatic group-stage match ever at Camp Nou and a shock defeat on the road for one of Italy's most storied teams, while PSG managed to play a match amid the latest Kylian Mbappe soap opera.

But who were the biggest winners and losers from matchday four?

Allow GOAL break it all down for you…

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  WINNER: Mohamed Salah

  Without an open-play goal for almost a month, and after being hauled off with the game on the line against Arsenal on Sunday, there is no question that Mohamed Salah needed even the smallest of wins.

  But when he was named on the bench against Rangers on Wednesday, it seemed like the wait for that win would last at least a few more days.

  Against a team as inferior as the Scottish side, though, Salah does not need long to make an impact.

  Despite being on the field for just 22 minutes and having only nine touches at Ibrox, the Egyptian star still found the time to not just score a hat-trick, but score the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history.

  Confidence presumably restored, his sights are now set on continuing that form against Manchester City this coming weekend.

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  LOSER: Spanish teams (again!)

  For so long, Spanish teams had a stranglehold on the Champions League. This season, though, there is a real chance that La Liga will have just one representative in the knockout stages.

  Barcelona's likely demise will take most of the headlines, with the Blaugrana now requiring favours from lowly Viktoria Plzen to qualify after their dramatic 3-3 draw with Inter.

  The potential financial disaster that elimination would spark at Camp Nou means that their exit is set to be one of the biggest footballing stories of the next few months, but that should not mean the other underperforming Spanish sides in the competition should be ignored.

  Atletico Madrid have picked up just four points from their opening four games in the competition after their goalless home draw against Club Brugge.

  Sevilla, meanwhile, showed improvements under new manager Jorge Sampaoli in earning a point away at Borussia Dortmund, but a five-point gap is a lot to make up in two matches, especially when you factor in a trip to the Etihad Stadium is still to come.

  Even Real Madrid looked ropey despite securing their passage to the next round, with the defending champions requiring Antonio Rudiger to go the extra mile in stoppage time to rescue them from defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk.

  No wonder they all keep prattling on about the Super League…

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  WINNER: English midfielders

  While there are host of question marks surrounding the England team heading into the World Cup, Gareth Southgate will have been pleased to see some of his talented midfielders proving their readiness for Qatar by starring on the European stage.

  Mason Mount put on a masterclass for Chelsea in Milan on Tuesday, playing a key role in both goals while almost getting on the scoresheet himself in a performance that showcased exactly why he is so trusted by every coach he comes into contact with, either at club or international level.

  Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, is still earning Southgate's trust, but the case for him to start against Iran on November 21 grows by the game.

  His goal against Sevilla meant he has now scored in all four of Dortmund's Champions League games this season. The only other teenagers to score in four successive top-tier European matches? Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. It's decent company to be keeping.

  There was even time for Harvey Elliott to score his first Champions League goal in the closing stages of Liverpool's thrashing of Rangers, and there is surely a case for the 19-year-old to be given a chance at senior level with the Three Lions in 2023.

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  LOSER: The Old Firm

  Four games into what was meant to be a triumphant return to the Champions League for Scotland's most iconic clubs, and both Celtic and Rangers have already been eliminated.

  Celtic will rue missed chances against RB Leipzig, as they again matched the Bundesliga side for much of the game at Parkhead, only to give up two second-half goals that sealed their exit with two games still to play.

  Rangers, meanwhile, have been a massive disappointment. Last season's Europa League finalists came into the competition with good recent memories of causing shocks on the continent, but they have been thoroughly outclassed.

  No team has conceded more than the 16 goals that they have shipped in their four matches, and with a trip to a buoyant Napoli next up, things might be about to get a whole lot worse.