Good day to everyone. We have concluded the first leg matches of the Champions League and Europa League. Francesco Porzio here, ready to recap the highlights and preview what`s coming up.
⚽ Key Storylines
Mo Salah Commits to Liverpool with New Contract
Liverpool fans received fantastic news this morning! The club has confirmed that Mohamed Salah has signed a new two-year contract. With his previous deal set to expire in 2025, recent reports of a contract extension have materialized. This news follows a similar pattern to Virgil van Dijk`s expected contract renewal.
Salah shared his excitement: “I`m thrilled to stay. We have an incredible team, and I believe we can win more trophies together and enjoy our football. These have been the best years of my career, and I`m eager for more success with the fans` support.”
Mohamed Salah, a global football icon, ranks third among Liverpool`s all-time top scorers with 243 goals in 394 games. During his Anfield tenure, he has achieved numerous accolades, including three Premier League Golden Boots, two PFA Player of the Year awards, and two FWA Footballer of the Year awards. His trophy cabinet with Liverpool includes seven titles, notably the 2019-20 Premier League and the 2019 UEFA Champions League, among other cup victories since joining from AS Roma in 2017.
🔗 Europa League Recap
Disappointing Draws for Manchester United and Tottenham
Manchester United and Tottenham both faced Europa League disappointments with draws in their respective first-leg quarterfinal matches. Manchester United drew 2-2 against Lyon, while Tottenham was held to a 1-1 draw at home against Eintracht Frankfurt. Both teams now face pressure to win their away fixtures next week to advance in the tournament.
Manchester United initially conceded to Thiago Almada but quickly equalized. Despite Joshua Zirkzee`s late goal for Lyon, Rayan Cherki scored in stoppage time after a mistake by goalkeeper Andre Onana, securing a 2-2 draw. Manager Ruben Amorim defended Onana, stating, “Everyone makes mistakes in football, including myself.”
Tottenham also struggled, conceding early to Hugo Ekitike before Pedro Porro leveled the score. Manager Ange Postecglou expressed frustration but praised his team`s performance, highlighting missed opportunities: “We were unlucky not to win, hitting the crossbar three times.” The return leg will be crucial for Postecglou`s future with the club.
🔗 More Football Highlights
- Champions League Rewind: A look back at the top five goals from this week`s Champions League matches.
- Champions League Power Rankings: Updated rankings of the top eight teams after the first leg of the quarterfinals.
- Road to Semifinals: Scenarios for each team to qualify for the Champions League semifinals next week.
- Messi`s Future at Inter Miami: Jorge Mas is confident Messi will extend his stay at Inter Miami.
Adrian Whitmore