List of All Articles with Tag 'ag'

Liverpool are back in Europa League action as they host Austrian side LASK an Anfield this evening hoping to get back to winning ways after a shock defeat to Toulouse in their last European outing. The Reds are top of Group E with nine points from their four matches and have a two-point buffer over the French side in second. Jurgen Klopp will have his sights set on topping the table and moving straight into the round of 16. Victory tonight would secure Liverpool’s place in that stage if Toulouse also lose to Union Saint-Gilloise but that is not a guarantee. First the need to get past LASK who are currently third in the Austrian Bundesliga. They will come to Anfield with some confidence having beaten Union Saint-Gilloise 3-0 last time out but that was their first win of the Europa League this season. Can they cause a shock on Merseyside tonight? Follow all the action as Liverpool host LASK plus get the latest odds and tips right here:

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Almost four months after his unexpected departure as Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, Julen Lopetegui is still living in the city where, for many fans, he worked a miracle. In just nine months, he pulled a team back from the brink of the abyss, bottom of the table when he took over, to 13th place at the end of the season. However, disagreements with ownership over a lack of investment grew last summer. The club, under financial pressure, sold some of its best players as Matheus Nunes, Ruben Neves, Conor Coady, Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez all departed, prompting Lopetegui to stick to his guns and follow them out the exit door. "Wolves is part of the past,” the Spaniard exclusively told The Independent. “A recent and beautiful past of which above all I have fond memories of the fans. They made me feel at home. From there I can only wish them the best because they will always be in my heart. Without the pressure of full-time management – temporarily at least – Lopetegui now takes the opportunity to squeeze the good things out of living a quieter life: "I don't miss many things about the routine. I had been working for many years and it was healthy to do a reset. “Now I have more time to spend with my family and we are enjoying England, its culture and all its corners. I really liked the south of the country and I was also pleasantly surprised by Scotland.” For a manager, however, it is impossible to completely disconnect. Lopetegui met Howard Webb, head of referees, a few weeks ago and has also recently shared some experiences with people at an LMA Masterclass and with the PFA. And, of course, he also travels often to watch matches and to meet other managers. Friends, as he likes to say. With Guardiola? "I'm not going to say any names," he adds with a smile. In the four months he has been out of the circuit, he has received several offers from different leagues, but none has convinced him to return to the sideline. Yet... "You always prefer to start from scratch, with a pre-season to prepare everything, but sometimes those circumstances don't work out. I know how this world works," he argues. A few weeks ago, after Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked by Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad, The Independent understands that Lopetegui received a call to take charge of the team – which includes players such as Karim Benzema. He refused to be tempted however, instead content to view the way the Saudi market is growing from afar. “Saudi Arabia is a league that is here to stay and to continue growing because the potential is unquestionable,” explained Lopetegui. “A lot of interesting things are happening and its commitment has to do not only with the present but also with the future because on the horizon, although still distant, is the 2034 World Cup. “There is a passion, a fervour and a chance to do important things and I can see the proof because top footballers and managers are going there. In any case, I have always expressed my interest in continuing to work in the Premier League.” That's the point: Lopetegui is still keen to return to coaching in England. That is his current dream, convinced that there is no other place in the world more attractive for his profession. Despite how much he has won in Spain, his face lights up when he talks about the Premier League and its prestige. "The competition creates an almost addictive demand on clubs, players and managers,” he said. “The fact that six games are played at the same time on a Saturday speaks well of an organisation that encourages attendance at the stadiums and that has a direct impact on the atmosphere. “The value of going to the stadium is tremendous because it generates a special energy and I think we all feel that way. I've really enjoyed the Premier League and I hope to continue to do so.” Although Lopetegui does not like to flaunt it, he knows that his name is on the potential manager list of a number of sporting directors at English clubs. "I aspire to take charge of a club where I can be happy and where I can lead a project that I feel I can develop,” he added. “I consider it fundamental that I can have a direct impact on the improvement of a dressing room with my ideas and my work. We all like to be at the top, to occupy the benches of the best clubs, but what I really want to see is that I can contribute and make a step up in level. The former Real Madrid manager, a perfectionist by nature, knows that in England he has all the ingredients to grow: "The Premier League has been nourished for years by the best and the league is the one that comes out of it all stronger. “It's a win-win situation for everyone. The more competitive you are, the more you learn. England forces us not to relax and to always look for nuances. England makes us all better.” Read More VAR costing ‘livelihoods and reputations’ fumes Wolves boss after latest problems FPL Gameweek 13: James Ward-Prowse, Luca Koleosho and five players to consider for transfers Gary O’Neil unpacks Wolves secrets on MNF to show the future of football punditry

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From hell to purgatory. Manchester United are left in limbo about their European future this season, after a game at Galatasaray where both sides left everything on the pitch. Andre Onana, however, let two free-kicks in. There was still more to an utterly thrilling 3-3 draw than that, as United lost a lead for the fifth time in five Champions League group games. This was also the second by two goals. That should torment Erik ten Hag, even as it would have delighted anyone else watching on. This was so much more entertaining than the divinely perfect football we’ve come to expect from the competition’s best level and there is, of course, a lesson in that. This might have been the way to put on a show. It isn’t the way to go about an away game in the Champions League. There should be an even greater aggravation to that for Ten Hag, though. So much of United’s attacking play looked like what you would consider his ideal. It was a long-awaited reminder of last season’s best form, particularly Scott McTominay’s counter-attacking finish that should have won it. It was all there. There was connection combined with emphatic force, as was seen with Alejandro Garnacho’s glorious strike for the first after that exquisite little through ball. There was pure individual inspiration, as seen with Bruno Fernandes’ blockbuster. There was then incision at pace, as they cut through Galatasaray for McTominay to slide in. This is the way United should be playing. The great question for Ten Hag, that is directly connected to the quandary of how they keep losing leads, is whether they can only play that way by going so open? It is some way removed from Pep Guardiola’s suffocation through possession. It is even further away from so many of United’s drab league games. There, there’s been a more dour resilience, where performance has actually obscured relatively acceptable form. This still shouldn’t be acceptable, though. United just shouldn’t be in this position. That could have been said before this game, but this made it much worse. It’s like there’s no in-between. It’s either “control” to the point of boredom or abandon to the point of this chaos. Galatasaray of course contributed. They were often as good in attack, and just as porous at the back. The number of chances they were willing to just offer up late on. It’s incredible they still came out with a draw. For that, they can look to United’s goalkeeper. One Hakim Ziyech free-kick like that would have been bad enough. Two might well be a season destroyer. It will be all the worse given he had recovered. There hadn’t really been a major error since the supposed turning point of the penalty save against Copenhagen. It was just another twist in this group stage. The one excuse that might be made for Onana is that the conditions made it especially difficult, particularly in situations like those free-kicks. It was also like a player as clever as Ziyech knew that. He went for it. Again, there was more to it than that. Like Galatasaray at the other end, United gave up so many chances that any two or three of a number of efforts could have ended up as goals. Kerem Akturkoglu's brilliant sweeping strike was one. That could have happened many times over. The chaos reduced the match to an element of blind luck – especially late on. That last proper move United had, where the ball ricocheted around Fernando Muslera’s goal, summed it up. It could have gone anywhere. As it is, United are going out. It should never have come to that. There are questions for Ten Hag there, beyond his choice of goalkeeper. How are they this erratic after a year and a half? How is it they have found a relatively forgiving group so punishing? How can translate some of this attacking to the league, without bringing that mayhem at the back? This is what United need to look to, other than a miracle. Hell, as Galatasaray still attempted to style their new Rams Park, wasn’t the place for that. Read More Arsenal through to last 16 as Manchester United squander lead again Erik ten Hag says Manchester United ‘have to learn’ from Galatasaray draw Man United suffer heavy Champions League blow in Galatasaray thriller Champions League: What do Man United, Arsenal and Newcastle need to reach last 16? Man United’s teen sensation who could offer salvation - and it’s not Garnacho Why Bruno Fernandes is the only choice as Man Utd captain

Aston Villa take on Legia Warsaw in the Europa Conference League Group E on Thursday. Villa sit second in the group, behind Legia only on goal difference, with both teams having nine points from their opening four matches. That is in addition to an impressive domestic campaign that has seen them rise up to fourth in the table and only two points behind top-placed Arsenal. But Legia got the better of Villa in the first match of the campaign, winning 3-2 in Poland. Here’s everything you need to know about the fixture and get the latest odds and tips here. When is Aston Villa vs Legia Warsaw? The Europa League Conference match takes place on Thursday 30 November at Villa Park, Birmingham with a kick off time of 8 pm GMT. How can I watch it? Aston Villa vs Legia Warsaw will be shown live on TNT Sports 2 which can be streamed via the Discovery + app, with coverage starting at 7.45pm GMT. Team news Unai Emery said in the build up to the match that they were training with everyone, but might have to be careful ahead of the congested fixture schedule. Emiliano Buendia, and Tyrone Mings remain on the long-term injured list. Predicted line-up Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, P Torres, Digne, Bailey, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, J Ramsey, Tielemans, Watkins Odds Aston Villa 1/4 Draw 7/2 Legia Warsaw 8/1 Prediction Villa to win at home. Aston Villa 2-1 Legia Warsaw Read More Son Heung-min hurt by defeats but ‘very pleased’ with way Tottenham are playing Julen Lopetegui reveals what he’s waiting for before return to management Arsenal show how Champions League should be done – Man Utd and Newcastle take note... Julen Lopetegui reveals what he’s waiting for before return to management Arsenal show how Champions League should be done – Man Utd and Newcastle take note... A genuine dream – Mikel Arteta loved Arsenal’s rout of Lens in Champions League

The Chinese government has begun reviewing its tariffs on Australian wine, with Beijing likely to remove the taxes

Rice prices are on track for a new 15-year high, threatening to spark more angst in Asia and