Football news live: Premier League updates plus the latest on Roman Abramovich’s efforts to sell Chelsea

March 8, 2022 at 5:04 PM EST

FT and Liverpool are through!

Lautaro Martinez scored a screamer but it wasn’t to be for Inter.

A commendable 1-0 win at Anfield for Simone Inzaghi’s side but it is not enough to stop Liverpool from advancing to the quarter-finals.

That 2-0 win at San Siro doing the business for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Oh, and Bayern won 7-1 against Red Bull Salzburg to win 8-2 on aggregate, so they are also through.

Luke Bosher·

Junior Editor, News

March 8, 2022 at 4:42 PM EST

The Athletic talks to a Chelsea fan in Russia

“We are shocked, scared, sometimes we panic. We can’t live normal lives or think about anything else.”

Liam Twomey has more.

Luke Bosher

Luke Bosher·

Junior Editor, News

March 8, 2022 at 4:16 PM EST

Second half underway in Liverpool

It’s goalless going into the second 45 and Inter have it all to do – they need at least two goals to even things up.

Live updates right here.

Luke Bosher

Luke Bosher·

Junior Editor, News

March 8, 2022 at 3:47 PM EST

Updates to the World Cup play-offs

FIFA has confirmed that Poland will be given a bye to their play-off final instead of facing Russia, where they will take on the winner of Sweden vs Czech Republic.

It has also been announced that Scotland’s play-off semi-final against Ukraine will take place in June, with the final of that bracket postponed too.

Scotland will play a friendly against the losing semi-finalist of Austria or Wales on March 29, the day the play-off final from that path was due to be played.

For more details on Scotland’s play-off against Ukraine, click here.

Luke Bosher

Luke Bosher·

Junior Editor, News

March 8, 2022 at 3:01 PM EST

Liverpool vs Inter has just kicked off!

Luke Bosher

Luke Bosher·

Junior Editor, News

March 8, 2022 at 2:01 PM EST

Grealish’s selection paid off against United

Find out why with the latest Why Always Us podcast with Sam Lee and David Mooney.

Luke Bosher

Luke Bosher·

Junior Editor, News

March 8, 2022 at 1:32 PM EST

Why are Real Madrid the world’s premier destination?

Luke Bosher

Luke Bosher·

Junior Editor, News

March 8, 2022 at 12:39 PM EST

Follow our Liverpool vs Inter Milan live blog

We will be providing live updates on the second leg of Liverpool’s Champions League tie with Inter Milan.

Jurgen Klopp’s side go into the match at Anfield with a two-goal advantage following their 2-0 victory at the San Siro in February.

Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah scored the goals on that occasion.

Join Jack Drury for all the build up to tonight’s big Champions League clash by clicking here.

Anthony Hay

Anthony Hay·

EPL Staff Editor

March 8, 2022 at 11:54 AM EST

Russian football federation appeals against FIFA and UEFA bans

The Russian Football Union (RFU) has appealed to The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision by governing bodies FIFA and UEFA to ban Russian teams from international competitions due to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

CAS confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that an appeal has been lodged with the RFU hoping to return to FIFA and UEFA competitions.

The RFU has filed an appeal against FIFA and UEFA as well as the football associations belonging to the countries who have said they would refuse to compete against Russian sides.

Click here for the full story.

(Photo: Getty Images)

Anthony Hay

Anthony Hay·

EPL Staff Editor

March 8, 2022 at 11:14 AM EST

Listen to our latest The View From The Lane podcast

Join James Maw, Charlie Eccleshare and Danny Kelly for our latest podcast on all things Tottenham Hotspur. I’m sure they were in a buoyant mood after last night’s result…

Anthony Hay

Anthony Hay·

EPL Staff Editor

March 8, 2022 at 10:42 AM EST

BREAKING: Premier League pulls plug on this season’s Russian TV deal

Premier League games will not be shown on Russian television after the English top-flight suspended its agreement with broadcast partner Rambler.

Clubs are yet to take a decision on what will happen to a deal agreed with a Gazprom Media-owned organisation that is due to start next season, however.

The decision was made at a shareholders’ meeting on Tuesday as football continues to react to Russia’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

Click here to read the full story.

(Photo: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Anthony Hay

Anthony Hay·

EPL Staff Editor

March 8, 2022 at 10:10 AM EST

Chelsea’s new owners will face no more Premier League scrutiny than Newcastle

The spotlight is now firmly on Roman Abramovich, who has put Chelsea up for sale after bankrolling the club for 19 years, further scrutiny has been levelled at the Premier League as a new owners’ and directors’ test is yet to be signed off — even though a year has almost passed since the failed Super League attempt.

The Athletic understands that there is nothing in place to stop any controversial consortium or individual from buying the club from the Russian oligarch.

Furthermore, the Premier League is yet to put any new measures to a vote among its shareholders and is still going through the review process, so a change to the rulebook is not thought to be imminent and no timeframe has been given.

More below.

Dan Sheldon

Dan Sheldon·

Southampton Correspondent

GO FURTHER

Chelsea’s new owners will face no more Premier League scrutiny than Newcastle

March 8, 2022 at 9:51 AM EST

Why the world’s best players still dream of joining Real Madrid

Over the years it has been easy to lose track of the number of players who have shared their “dream” of playing for Real. Some, like Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard in their Chelsea days, said so as part of what seemed like a well-established courtship ritual, knowing that their affection was reciprocated.

For all the schmaltzy talk surrounding his return to Manchester United last summer, Cristiano Ronaldo spent much of his first spell at Old Trafford longing to move to Spain.

Why is there still this allure? Oliver Kay investigates.

Jacob Whitehead

Jacob Whitehead

GO FURTHER

Why the world’s best players still dream of joining Real Madrid

March 8, 2022 at 9:22 AM EST

Steven Gerrard on Philippe Coutinho

Coutinho was in fine form as Aston Villa dispatched Southampton 4-0 at the weekend, and manager Steven Gerrard has been effusive in his praise of the Barcelona loanee.

“All good teams have game-changers who the opposition are really concerned about before a ball is kicked. Phil has that status and he is giving belief to his team-mates.

“Our strikers Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings want him alongside them because he delivers on the big stage. I don’t control transfer fees or wages.

“All I can do is give my opinion to (sporting director) Johan Lange, (chief executive) Christian Purslow and the owners. They are watching the games and they will make the final decision. Phil has shown what he is capable of so far.”

(Photo: Getty Images)

Luke Bosher

Luke Bosher·

Junior Editor, News

March 8, 2022 at 8:37 AM EST

Cancelo ill for City game vs Sporting

Means that Oleksandr Zinchenko will likely start. Remember – Manchester City hold a 5-0 lead from the first leg.

Jacob Whitehead

Jacob Whitehead

March 8, 2022 at 8:20 AM EST

The talking points from this weekend’s PL games

Mark Carey has analysed the nine Premier League matches from the weekend, here’s what he found out.

Luke Bosher

Luke Bosher·

Junior Editor, News

March 8, 2022 at 7:55 AM EST

Jeremy Sarmiento to make injury comeback

Jeremy Sarmiento will make his comeback from a three-month injury absence in Brighton’s under-23s at home to Everton on Friday night.

The 19-year-old attacker sustained hamstring damage which required surgery 13 minutes into his full Premier League debut at West Ham in December.

Sarmiento, signed from Benfica last summer, has been fast-tracked into first-team contention by head coach Graham Potter.

The former Charlton prospect has also broken into the senior side of World Cup-bound Ecuador, the home country of his parents, having previously represented England from under-16 to under-18 level.

(Photo: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

Andy Naylor

Andy Naylor·

Brighton & Hove Albion Correspondent

March 8, 2022 at 7:34 AM EST

An injury blow for Leeds

Forward Tyler Roberts has been ruled out for three months.

Roberts had successful hamstring surgery after picking up an injury against Leicester on Saturday.

A blow for Wales too, who face Austria in a few weeks’ time in a World Cup play-off semi-final.

More here from Phil Hay.

(Photo: Getty Images)

Luke Bosher

Luke Bosher·

Junior Editor, News