Liverpool vs. Real Madrid UCL Final Delayed Due to Fan Issues Entering Stadium
May 28, 2022
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 28: The LED screen shows the message of a delayed kick off time prior to the UEFA Champions League final match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Stade de France on May 28, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
UEFA announced that the start of Saturday's men's UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool in Paris would be delayed by 30 minutes.
European football's governing body initially attributed the delay to fans arriving late, first delaying the game by 15 minutes and then again:
The Champions League final has been delayed by 15 minutes due to late fan arrivals at the stadium pic.twitter.com/9JAw5KhPsR
However, Miguel Delaney of the Independent and several others reported many fans actually arrived hours before the match but had trouble getting into the venue.
While the match had been set to begin at 3 p.m. ET, Andy Kelly of the Liverpool Echo reported on the chaotic scene outside one of the gates of the Stade de France:
Fans queuing outside with tickets for a gate that’s been shut for no reason just been tear gassed. Throughly unpleasant experience and so dangerous. This isn’t how fans should be treated in a civilised society. Unacceptable
Kristian Walsh of Reach PLC called the situation "dangerous" and "ineptitude of the highest level," scolding both UEFA and French authorities for the handling of fan entry.
Sky Sports News tweeted video of Liverpool fans struggling to make their way into the stadium:
Thousands of Liverpool fans struggle to make it into the Stade de France for the Champions League final. pic.twitter.com/dcic3dbn7L
When Saturday's match kicks off, it will be a clash between two of the most famous and successful clubs in the history of soccer.
Real Madrid own the most UEFA Champions League titles of all time with 13, including three in a row from 2016 to 2018.
Liverpool won a UCL title more recently in 2019, but they lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League final one year earlier.
All told, Liverpool have won six Champions League titles, placing them in a tie with Bayern Munich for the third-most ever.
Saturday also marks the first UCL final to be held in France since 2006, when Barcelona defeated Arsenal.
Mohamed Salah Says He's Staying with Liverpool: 'I Don't Focus About the Contract'
May 25, 2022
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool looks on during a training session at AXA Training Centre on May 25, 2022 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah reaffirmed his commitment to the club for the 2022-23 season.
The star attacker has one more year left on his contract with Liverpool, raising questions about his long-term future at Anfield.
"I am just focused on the team and don't want to talk about my contract," Salah told reporters Wednesday. "But I am staying next season for sure, that's for sure.
"In my mind, I don't focus about the contract at the moment. I don't want to be selfish. I said two months ago, it's all about the team now."
Along with Salah, Sadio Mane is approaching the final year of his contract. Liverpool chairman Tom Werner told The Athletic's James Pearce that negotiations are ongoing on both fronts.
"I'd like to keep those conversations confidential but obviously we've articulated our desire that they remain," Werner said. "Beyond that, I'll leave that to [assistant sporting director Julian Ward]."
A player of Salah's caliber is bound to be on the radar of Europe's best clubs in any summer, and his contract status might lead interested suitors to take more aggressive approaches, knowing this could be the last opportunity for Liverpool to cash in.
While at Borussia Dortmund, Jurgen Klopp resisted overtures to sell Robert Lewandowski, and the Polish striker signed with Bayern Munich on a free transfer ahead of the 2014-15 season. Klopp also took the same approach with Adam Lallana and Georginio Wijnaldum, who left Anfield on free transfers.
But it seems unlikely Liverpool would let a Salah sale pass if it didn't view the 29-year-old as a key contributor beyond 2022-23. Transfermarkt values him at $110 million, tied for the third-highest mark in the world.
Real Madrid bid €200 million for Kylian Mbappe last summer when the Paris Saint-Germain striker had one year left on his contract. While Salah won't command that much, a nine-figure fee might not be implausible.
For now, Salah isn't going anywhere. It might be premature, however, to expect the situation won't evolve once the transfer window opens if he and Liverpool remain at an impasse.
Kylian Mbappe Says He Talked to Liverpool Before Signing New PSG Contract
May 23, 2022
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 23: Kylian Mbappe of PSG during a press conference - along President of PSG Nasser Al Khelaifi - about his new contract with Paris Saint-Germain at the auditorium of Parc des Princes stadium on May 23, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by John Berry/Getty Images)
Superstar forward Kylian Mbappe revealed on Monday that Real Madrid wasn't the only club he considered signing with this upcoming offseason before he decided to stay with Paris Saint-Germain last week.
Liverpool were also in the running, though a distant third.
"We talked a little bit, but not too much. We talked a little bit," Mbappe told Jason Burt of the Telegraph. "I talked to Liverpool because it's the favorite club of my mum, my mum loves Liverpool. I don't know why, you will have to ask her! It's a good club, and we met them five years ago. When I was in Monaco, I met them. It's a big club."
Mbappe's decision capped off a year-long pursuit from Real Madrid as PSG fought to keep him and was one of the biggest stories heading into the summer, alongside Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland's next team (he chose Premier League champions Manchester City).
Kylian Mbappe isn't the first to be paid to stay. Man Utd paid Wayne Rooney not to join Man City. But this feels different. It's a message to the old order: sovereign wealth now runs the show.
Amazing to think Mbappe signing for *Madrid* would have been better for football.
Any player being paid this much, where only state clubs can compete, is a bad precedent for football. That was always the Qatari aim - raise fees/wages to such a point only a few clubs can compete.
Liverpool, who finished just one point shy of Man City in the EPL title race and is seeking its third trophy of the 2021-22 season at Saturday's Champions League final against Los Blancos, would have been quite the juggernaut had Mbappe chosen to lead the line.
The Reds already feature the devastating duo of Mohamed Salah and Madio Sane on the wing. Salah was the joint Golden Boot winner in the Premier League, tying Tottenham's Son Heung-Min with 23 goals, and also led the league with 13 assists.
Mane, meanwhile, chipped in with 16 goals (fifth in the EPL) and two assists. Add in Diogo Jota (15 goals, four assists), and Liverpool already have one of the most clinical front threes in world football.
But Mbappe would upgrade any attacking unit on the planet. He led Ligue 1 in goals (28) and assists (17) and added six goals and four assists in eight Champions League contests.
It was no surprise that Real Madrid went full press to land him, even putting aside transfer funds in previous seasons to make room for a massive transfer to secure his services.
Mbappe even left open the possibility of joining Real Madrid in the future:
Kylian Mbappe says he won't rule out a move to Real Madrid in years to come.
🗣 "You never know what can happen in the future"
Watch his interview and read more here ⤵️#BBCFootball
But PSG, despite facing the possibility of losing Mbappe on a free transfer this summer, turned away Los Blancos' reported €200 million last August. It was an enormous gamble, as Mbappe grew up a Real Madrid supporter, and PSG turned away astronomical figures without a guarantee he'd return.
But return he did, breaking the hearts of Real Madrid—and to a lesser extent, Liverpool—supporters in the process.
Liverpool Defeats Chelsea on Penalties in FA Cup Final After Mo Salah's Injury
May 14, 2022
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 14: Kostas Tsimikas of Liverpool celebrates and lift a trophy after winning a The FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on May 14, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Liverpool has won the FA Cup after defeating Chelsea in penalties on Saturday from London's Wembley Stadium.
Liverpool and Chelsea were scoreless after 120 minutes before the Reds won 6-5 in a shootout. Konstantinos Tsimikas converted Liverpool's final penalty.
"A fortnight before the Champions League final, the Egyptian pulled up with what appeared to be a groin issue, and though he pushed to stay on the pitch, Liverpool physios called for a substitution," Lusby wrote.
After the match, Carrie Brown of beIN SPORTS caught up with Salah, who is not concerned about how the injury will affect his status for the Champions League Final against Real Madrid on May 28:
As for the match, Liverpool controlled 53 percent of the possession and took 17 shots (two on goal) compared to Chelsea's 10 shots (also two on goal). Each team had five corner kicks.
This match may have finished scoreless, but it wasn't without drama.
Early on, Liverpool right back Trent Alexander-Arnold found Luis Diaz for a great chance, but Chelsea goaltender Edouard Mendy was up for the task.
During the shootout, Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta hit the goalpost early on, later giving Sadio Mane the chance to be the hero. But Mendy came up with another big save.
After the two teams traded goals, Liverpool goaltender Alisson made a big save on Mason Mount, setting up the cup-winner and keeping the Reds' quadruple chances alive.
Liverpool Withstands Villarreal's Rally, Advances to 2022 Champions League Final
May 3, 2022
Liverpool's Fabinho celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League semi final, second leg soccer match between Villarreal and Liverpool at the Ceramica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
The quadruple remains on for Liverpool.
Thanks to a second-half turnaround, the Reds beat Villarreal 5-2 on aggregate to qualify for the Champions League final.
The "game of two halves" cliche certainly applied Tuesday night at Estadio de la Ceramica. Liverpool went behind by two goals before scoring three unanswered to make the final score more one-sided than the tie was.
Villarreal was decisively beaten in the first leg, and the 2-0 final score might have slightly flattered the Spanish club. The Yellow Submarine only finished with 29 percent of possession and failed to register a shot on target.
Veteran center back Pau Torres wasn't throwing in the towel, though.
"At home we are a totally different team, we are going to go out there and play to win," he told Movistar Plus (via Reuters). "We still trust in ourselves, we have no doubt. I can promise our fans they are going to see a Villarreal that they can identify with in the second leg."
From the opening whistle, Villarreal displayed a clear sense of purpose and showed no fear in taking the match right to Liverpool. That mentality resulted in a goal straight away.
In the third minute, Pervis Estupinan hit a dangerous cross to the far post. Etienne Capoue didn't make clean contact with his attempted shot, which proved to be a blessing in disguise as the ball rolled perfectly into the path of Boulaye Dia.
Three minutes in and Villarreal already got one back 😱
The goal didn't shake Liverpool out of its early slumber as Villarreal continued to boss the game from there. An aggregate equalizer felt inevitable, and it arrived in the 41st minute on a header from Francis Coquelin.
It was a stunning turnaround from such a one-sided opening leg, both in terms of Villarreal's dominance and Liverpool's disarray.
Half time, Villarreal 2 (2) Liverpool 0 (2). The Reds playing like they have finally run out of steam after such an intense run - and like they can’t handle being played at their own game. One way to handle it is to pass the ball better, but they know that. Work for Klopp to do.
Did say earlier to @ianirvingtv that Villarreal needed a replica of the first leg first half v Bayern to get back in this tie. Did not for a second imagine that they'd actually produce it.
The abolishment of the away-goals rule meant the second half was there for the taking for the host. Under the old format, Liverpool would've needed only one goal to effectively blunt all of the momentum Villarreal had built to that point. Without that advantage for the Reds, the match continued to teeter on a knife's edge.
Whereas some were calling for Jordan Henderson to replace Naby Keita at the halftime interval, manager Jurgen Klopp opted to bring on Luis Diaz for Diogo Jota. The Liverpool manager clearly wanted to take a more aggressive approach.
Between that and whatever Klopp told his players in the dressing room, the second half was a stark contrast to the first.
Fabinho made it 2-1 in the 62nd minute on a shot that squeezed between the legs of Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. Diaz added more breathing room in the 67th minute, illustrating how much his inclusion changed the match.
Rulli could've done more to keep Fabinho's effort out of the net, and he was squarely to blame for Sadio Mane's tally in the 74th minute. The Argentine shot-stopper ran well off his line and left the goal wide open as Mane got on the end of a lofted pass from Keita.
Overcoming a two-goal deficit in a little more than 20 minutes was already a tall order for Villarreal, so going behind by three meant the end of the home side's Cinderella story.
Liverpool, on the other hand, punched its ticket to Paris for the Champions League final on May 28. The Reds await the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between Manchester City and Real Madrid.
They will either have the chance to best their biggest domestic rival or gain a measure of vengeance after losing to Madrid in the 2018 final.
Liverpool Beats Chelsea in 2022 Carabao Cup Final After Dramatic Penalty Shootout
Feb 27, 2022
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Liverpool players celebrate after victory in the penalty shoot out during the Carabao Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on February 27, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
After 120 minutes of scoreless play, Liverpool finally emerged with a Carabao Cup title after defeating Chelsea in penalties.
The squad finished with an 11-10 advantage on penalty kicks after the match finished 0-0 through regular play. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was subbed on for Chelsea at the end of extra time, but it was the goalkeeper's miss that sealed the win for Liverpool.
It came after each of the first 21 players made their attempts for the two teams.
It helped lead to Liverpool's first win in the EFL Cup since 2012, ending a stretch of four straight wins for Manchester City. This could be the start of a big 2021-22 campaign for the club, which is still in contention in Champions League, FA Cup and the Premier League.
The latest win was certainly a memorable one as either side could have come away with a victory.
There were no goals in regulation, but the match didn't lack excitement. Both sides had numerous chances, combining for 31 shots with 10 on goal.
Liverpool seemed destined to score multiple times before being denied by Edouard Mendy, who was outstanding in net for Chelsea:
Caoimhin Kelleher also played well in net for Liverpool, but Chelsea will likely regret not taking advantage of the many close chances during the match:
HOW DID PULISIC MISS?! 🤯
What an opportunity to give Chelsea an early 1-0 lead in the Carabao Cup final pic.twitter.com/hflgj14BaM
The ball did find the back of the net several times, but none of them ended up on the scoresheet.
Chelsea had several attempts called back for offsides—including a questionable flag on Romelu Lukaku—while a Liverpool goal was overturned by VAR because of a foul by Virgil van Dijk.
In a match that could have easily had five or six goals, the score remained 0-0 through 90 minutes.
The battle continued into extra time, but neither side was able to break the deadlock.
It eventually came down to penalties, with Chelsea subbing in Arrizabalaga for the red-hot Mendy. This turned out to be a regrettable call, as the backup made zero saves in 11 chances.
When it became his chance to score, Kepa sailed it well over the bar to end his team's hopes.
It was one of many missed opportunities for Chelsea as Liverpool secured the EFL Cup.
Report: Fenway Sports Group Wants to Buy NBA Team; Price to Buy Penguins Is $875M
Nov 24, 2021
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 20: A general view of Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox pitching against the Houston Astros in the third inning of Game Five of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 20, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
The Fenway Sports Group, which currently owns the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool FC and 50 percent of RFK Racing, is reportedly interested in purchasing an NBA team, per Dan Primack of Axios.
That pursuit would take place after the company's reported purchase of the Pittsburgh Penguins for $875 million.
Per Primack, Fenway Sports Group is expected to "seek out [an NBA] target in 2022."
It's all part of the organization's reported plan to buy up "marquee franchises in different geographic markets," though Primack reported the ownership group was interested in purchasing the Boston Bruins had they been made available before entering negotiations with the Penguins.
One interesting wrinkle in the group's reported interest in owning an NBA team is that the group has invested in SpringHill Company, which was founded by Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and agent Maverick Carter. Both James and Carter own small stakes in FSG.
Given that James is a current player and Carter represents a number of NBA players, it could be a violation of the collective bargaining agreement for James to be an owner and a possible conflict of interest for Carter.
LeBron James is a partner at Fenway Sports Group — which owns the Red Sox, Liverpool, and now Penguins — and reportedly has an ownership stake. Wonder how that would work if FSG tried to buy an NBA team since the CBA bars NBA players from any direct or indirect team ownership. https://t.co/Bws4H15FWh
Granted, James is 36 and only under contract with the Lakers through the 2022-23 season. It's possible he will retire before FSG is able to complete the purchase of an NBA team.
The other possibility is that James would have to divest from FSG.
Another interesting factor: Perhaps James, as part owner of the Penguins, might help influence the NBA into putting a franchise in Pittsburgh:
With LeBron James a partner in Fenway Sports Group, and FSG on verge of buying the Penguins, how soon before LeBron et al lobby the NBA for a team in PIT?
However the situation plays out, it's appears Fenway Sports Group has broad ambitions to expand its ownership stake in the world of sports.
Report: 6 EPL Clubs Fined over $31M After Intending to Break Away to Super League
Jun 9, 2021
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Richard Masters, Chief Executive of Premier League, addresses journalists during a media briefing on February 04, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images for Premier League)
The six English clubs that attempted to
join the failed European Super League—Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur—have reportedly agreed to pay
more than $31 million in combined fines to the Premier League for
their actions.
Matt Slater of The Athletic reported
Wednesday the agreement also includes a $35 million fine and a
30-point deduction in the table for any future effort to join a
conglomerate similar to the ESL. The money collected will be used for
grassroots football.
It's the latest punishment for the
clubs that swiftly abandoned the Super League idea after it was met
with resistance from UEFA and fans. The ESL was suspended April 20, just two days after it was announced, because of the mass exodus of teams.
In April, Der Spiegel (via Max Winters of MailOnline) reported ESL contracts included a $184 million "break-up
fee" for backing out of the project.
UEFA then announced in May that nine of
the 12 clubs that pulled out had agreed to "reintegration measures" that included a combined $18.3 million
donation to grassroots football, a five percent hold on revenue from
their next UEFA competition and major penalties for any future
breakaway effort.
The governing body of European football
also said the cases of the three remaining holdouts—Barcelona,
Juventus and Real Madrid—would be sent to its disciplinary bodies
for review and possible sanctions.
In addition, Premier League owners will
now be required to agree to a new rule "committing them to the core
principles" with the top division of English football or face "significant" penalties, per Slater.
The Super League was a failure
of colossal proportions, and the six Premier League clubs involved
continue to face the ramifications for the effort to create a
lucrative Champions League alternative.
A full announcement from the Premier
League about the newest punishment is expected later Wednesday.
Liverpool, Chelsea Earn Last Champions League Spots on Final Day of EPL Season
May 23, 2021
Liverpool's Sadio Mane, right, celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (Paul Ellis/Pool via AP)
Liverpool and Chelsea secured the last
two Premier League berths in next season's UEFA Champions League
during Sunday's final matches of the 2020-21 EPL campaign.
Manchester City, the previously crowned
Premier League champions, and Manchester United had already clinched
their UCL tickets in earlier weeks.
Leicester City and West Ham United, who
finished fifth and sixth in the table, respectively, will head to the
Europa League group stage for the 2021-22 season, while Tottenham
Hotspur earned seventh place and will take part in the Europa
Conference League playoff round.
The day started with a three-team race
for the final two Champions League berths. Chelsea held a one-point
advantage over Liverpool and Leicester.
While the Blues' 2-1 loss to Aston
Villa left the door open for both chase clubs to leapfrog them in the
standings, only the Reds took advantage. Liverpool scored a 2-0 win
over Crystal Palace, but the Foxes allowed three goals in the final
20 minutes in a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Spurs.
The victory by Ryan Mason's side was
crucial in their own pursuit of European football next season as
Arsenal scored a 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, which would
have pushed the Gunners into seventh place if Spurs didn't make their
comeback against Leicester.
Let's check out the full list of
results from Sunday's action:
Fulham, West Bromwich Albion and
Sheffield United were the relegated clubs.
Spurs' Harry Kane finished the season
with both the most goals (23) and assists (14) in the league. It's
just the third player in history to lead the Premier League in both
categories, joining Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (1998-99) and Andy Cole
(1993-94), per ESPN Stats & Info.
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson
paced the EPL with 19 clean sheets.
The 2021-22 Premier League season is
scheduled to get underway Aug. 14. The fixtures will be released June
16.
Liverpool's Alisson Dedicates Winning Goal to Late Father: 'I'm Too Emotional'
May 16, 2021
Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool at the Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, England, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (Laurence Griffiths/Pool via AP)
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker was emotional after his dramatic game-winning goal against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
"I hope he was here to see it, but I'm sure that he see, with a God on his side and celebrating."
Alisson opens up about his father who passed away earlier this year in an emotional interview after scoring the winner for Liverpool. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/eD0lmZ9JnX
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 16, 2021
The player's father died in February at the age of 57 years old after drowning in a dam.
"I’m too emotional, this last month for everything that has happened with me and my family, but football is my life, I played since I can remember with my father," Alisson said after Sunday's match (h/t Tom Doyle of the Evening Standard). "I hope he was here to see it, I’m sure he is celebrating with God at his side."
Alisson provided one of the biggest moments of the Premier League season with a 95th-minute header to secure a win over West Brom:
LIVERPOOL GOALKEEPER ALISSON JUST SCORED THE WINNER IN THE 94TH MINUTE 😱😱😱
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 16, 2021
The club earned a corner kick deep into extra time, allowing the goalkeeper to come up for one final chance at a goal. He came through with the winner on the pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold, becoming the first goalie to score in Liverpool history.
"I can’t be more happy than I am now," Alisson said.
While the dramatic finish would be memorable in any match, the stakes were even higher with Liverpool fighting for a top-four finish and qualification for next year's Champions League.
The Reds entered the day four points behind Chelsea for fourth place in the table, meaning a loss or tie would have been devastating for the team's chances of advancing. The win, however, puts them just one point behind Chelsea and and three behind third-place Leicester City with two matches remaining.
With Chelsea and Leicester City set to face each other Tuesday, Liverpool has the opportunity to climb the standings with two more victories.
In the meantime, Alisson's goal was enough to keep hope alive and create a moment he will never forget.
