Football/Soccer 8-Hour Briefing
×Champions League Previews
Liverpool are preparing for a hostile atmosphere in Turkey as Arne Slot acknowledged being taken aback by Galatasaray's ear-splitting support earlier this season. The Reds face the Turkish giants in the Champions League last-16 first leg without Alisson, who sustained a training injury but is expected back for the weekend match against Tottenham.
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe challenged his players to seize the moment against Barcelona, urging them to follow in the footsteps of the 1997 side that defeated the Catalan giants. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid will welcome back defenders Cristian Romero and Djed Spence for their Champions League clash with Tottenham, with Richarlison set to start.
Domestic Cup Drama
Manchester City will host Liverpool in the pick of the FA Cup quarter-final ties after Monday's draw. The fixture adds another chapter to the rivalry between the two Premier League giants. Wayne Rooney has urged Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to ignore "very unfair" criticism of the Gunners' playing style as they prepare for their cup run.
Player News & Controversies
Harry Kane trained following a calf injury and is traveling with Bayern Munich to Italy ahead of their Champions League clash with Atalanta. In MLS, Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah received lifetime suspensions for betting on their own games, marking a significant disciplinary action by the league.
João Pedro hailed his "special" first season at Chelsea after positioning himself as a contender to lead Brazil's attack at this summer's World Cup. However, Sergiño Dest faces a potential season-ending hamstring injury that threatens the USMNT's World Cup preparations.
Management & Off-Field Issues
Paul Scholes clarified that an Instagram post about Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick was "in no way intended to be offensive" toward his former teammate. In Scotland, Police Scotland stated they would not currently support another large away allocation for the next Old Firm fixture following Sunday's trouble at Ibrox.
Kevin Nolan was sacked as Northampton Town manager after a run of one win in 16 games left the club in League One's relegation places. Meanwhile, Real Madrid have Mauricio Pochettino on their shortlist to replace Álvaro Arbeloa next season, according to sources.
International Developments
United States President Donald Trump urged Australia to grant asylum to the Iranian women's soccer team, stating the U.S. would do so if Australia declined. Back in the United States, the Vancouver Whitecaps are "absolutely purring" after three games, emerging as the early-season team to beat in MLS Power Rankings.