Merseyside giants Liverpool are closing in on the UEFA Champions League (UCL) final after beating Spanish club Villarreal 2-0 at home in the first leg of their semifinal tie. Liverpool were able to establish a two-goal lead at the end of the first 45 minutes thanks in part to the midfield duo of England international Jordan Henderson and Spanish star Thiago Alcantara. Brazilian-born Spanish international Thiago was named the best player at the end of the game, while England national team star Henderson had a hand in the first goal.
England international Mason Mount was one of the Chelsea goalscorers during the 3-2 win at Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals, but the result was not enough for a spot in the last four of the competition.
Arsenal defender Ben White has returned to the England squad for the first time since the Euro 2020 tournament last summer after he was named on the 25-man squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast. The Gareth Southgate-led England team will take on the Swiss and Ivorian teams later this month.
Liverpool and Manchester City have both qualified for the quarterfinals of this season's UEFA Champions League (UCL) despite failing to win their second leg in the round of 16. The two representatives from England had done the bulk of the job in the first leg and they could afford not to win the second leg despite playing at home.
Brighton and Hove Albion are now unbeaten in five games on the Premier League stage after they came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea. Brighton are one of the most difficult teams in the English top flight as they have tasted defeat just four times. Only the top two teams have suffered less defeat than the Seagulls in Premier League terms this season.
England international Bukayo Saka was on target for Arsenalduring their Premier League home encounter with holders Manchester City but it was not enough for the Gunners who were beaten 2-1.
Saka has been one of the most in-form players in the Premier League over the festive period and the England player was at it again when he shot Arsenal into the lead just past the half hour mark. Arsenal were the better side in the first halfand they were rewarded with a goal when England international Saka finished off a flowing move with Scottish left-back Kieran Tierney providing him with the final ball. His goal against the Premier League holders on New Year's Day made it four goals in his last three games in the top flight.Arsenalearlier had a strong penalty appeal that was waved away despite VAR check.The goal from Saka gave Arsenal an advantage at the end of the first half.
England international Jesse Lingard has been declared fit for the Champions League clash between his Manchester United side and Young Boys billed for Old Trafford on Wednesday night. The status of the England player for the visit of Young Boys was revealed by interim Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick. According to him, England attacker Lingard is fit for the Young Boys game after he missed out on his first match as a Manchester United boss due to injury.
Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe has been one of the best young players in the Premier League this season and his form has propelled the Gunners into the top five on the league table.
Smith-Rowe has been in red-hot form in front of goal for the Gunners since the start of the season and he has been rewarded with an invitation to the England senior national team squad ahead of the final two Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month. Arsenal midfielder Smith-Rowe is now expected to make his England debut in one of the two qualifiers against San Marino and Albania as the 1966 World Cup winners bid to seal their place at the tournament in Qatar at the end of next year.
Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe was the best player on the pitch as the Gunners blew Aston Villa away in the first half on the way to a 3-1 win to take them into the top half.
England junior international Smith-Rowe was the architect of the first goal scored by Ghanaian international Thomas Partey. Smith-Rowe provided the corner kick that was headed into the Villa net by Partey for his first Arsenal goal since he joined the club from Spanish champions Atletico Madrid last summer.
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Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has been recalled to the Three Lions of England squad ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers later this month. Ramsdale was one of the three goalkeepers named in the latest England squad ahead of the World Cup qualifying games against Hungary and Andorra. He joins fellow shot stoppers Jordan Pickford and Sam Johnstone in the goalkeeping department.
