Slot defends decision to leave Salah on the bench as Liverpool lose t…

Liverpool suffered a crushing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League quarter-final first-leg meeting.

Reds boss Arne Slot made the bold call to change formation to a three-at-the-back set-up, benching talisman Mohamed Salah who didn’t fit into the system.

The tactical move yielded no tangible results, and Slot still didn’t bring on Salah to turn the game around.

However, Slot defended his decision to leave the Egyptian on the bench for the entire 90 minutes, a call that has not gone down well with the fans.

Slot said (via Sky Sports), “I think the last part of the game was more about surviving for us than there was ever a chance we could score.

“I think this was a 20 to 25 minutes where we were only defending.

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“Mo has so many qualities, but him defending for 20 to 25 minutes in his own box, it’s better to save his energy for the upcoming games.”

Slot can try to justify it however he wants, but the reality is this experiment backfired badly.

The switch to a back three looked unnecessary at best and reckless at worst, stripping Liverpool of their usual structure and leaving players visibly unsure of their roles.

The midfield lost its rhythm, the wing-backs were pinned, and the attack lacked any real focal point without Salah.

Most baffling of all was the decision to keep the club’s most dangerous player on the bench for the entire game.

Even in a backs-to-the-wall situation, Salah’s presence offers an outlet, a threat, something for opponents to think about.

Instead, Liverpool were passive, predictable, and second best throughout.

In truth, the 2-0 scoreline flatters them. PSG were in complete control and could have put the tie to bed.

Slot must abandon this idea quickly because it clearly doesn’t work and reinstate Salah.

Eddie Howe felt a lump in his throat as the open-top bus turned the corner.

A giant tifo of the emotional Newcastle United head coach had been unfurled down the front of a city centre hotel to loud cheers and chants of "Eddie Howe's black and white army".

It was a mark of how Geordies had taken this one-time outsider to their hearts after ending Newcastle's seven-decade wait to win a major domestic trophy in March 2025.

About 150,000 supporters lined the streets to celebrate that EFL Cup win, but it was hard to imagine a more contrasting scene before the one-year anniversary last month.

St James' Park had rapidly emptied by the time Howe and his players set off on their lap of appreciation after a damaging derby defeat by Sunderland.

There were some on the terraces who stayed behind to clap the team off, but others showed their displeasure by booing after a meek display left Newcastle 12th in the Premier League.

The shift in mood was not lost on season ticket holder Adam Stoker, who feels Howe has the rest of the campaign to show he is still the "right man going forward".

"I couldn't be happier for what he has been able to provide for us," he said. "Five years ago I never expected to be sitting here having finally won a trophy and seen two more Champions League campaigns.

"Eddie Howe has been hugely responsible for that and every Newcastle fan should be incredibly grateful for everything he has done.

"But what he's done in the past doesn't necessarily mean he's the man for the future. There's a lot riding on this end to the season and there needs to be an improvement when it comes to both results and performances.

"If we don't see signs of future progress then, absolutely, there should be pressure."

So what do the hierarchy think? What is in store for Newcastle this summer? And would a strong end to the season change things?

Another testing summer to come

Those at the top remain behind Howe.

Chief executive David Hopkinson was hardly unequivocal in his backing last week and made it clear he expected a strong finish to the campaign.

But the Canadian stressed Newcastle were "not having those conversations" about a change of manager "at the moment".

With Newcastle estimated to have the eighth-highest wage bill in the top flight, whether or not the club are getting enough bang for their buck would be a consideration when the season is reviewed after a £100m-plus net spend last summer.

Howe has credit in the bank, but the hierarchy have been vocal in their ambition to become one of the world's top clubs by 2030.

Change is already afoot elsewhere.

Last weekend's announcement that defender Kieran Trippier is leaving at the end the season felt like a sign of things to come.

Newcastle are gearing up for another busy summer and are preparing for separate scenarios in the transfer market, depending on whether they qualify for Europe or not.

If Newcastle fail to maintain their Champions League status, and lose out on the associated financial benefits, it is understood they willneed to sell at least one - potentially two - prized assets in order to strengthen for the 2026-27 campaign.

Strategic trading is going to become a key part of Newcastle's model as the club look to boost revenues to reinvest in the squad while still complying with financial rules.

Some of their best players - Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Tino Livramento - are already attracting Premier League interest.

With Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal all eyeing central midfielders, Tonali will generate a market Newcastle can use to their financial benefit.

Livramento is of long-term interest to Arsenal and City, although the England full-back's injury disrupted season may create difficulties for any sale.

Gordon, too, is rated highly by Arsenal, who have identified a new left-winger as a priority position this summer.

Howe is experienced enough to know selling is a necessity at certain clubs and in certain situations.

Sources insist the head coach's appetite to rebuild the squad has not waned. When he is in, he is all in.

But after experiencing the most difficult summer of his career last year, Howe will know another draining window awaits.

'We want to keep fighting for him'

Howe cannot afford to think that far ahead, given the games to come.

A late push for Europe would put a different complexion on a bruising domestic campaign.

But Newcastle must go on a run to do so, which they have failed to do all season.

When Anthony Elanga openly asked whether the dressing room could show they were fighting for the head coach "again, again and again", in a previous interview with BBC Sport, the forward was alluding to his side's inconsistency.

"We want to keep on fighting for him because he's helped us so much," he said.

"I'd even go as far to say he is one of the best managers I've worked for. I'm really grateful to have him as a manager and I try to take everything he says to me on board because I know it's for my benefit.

"I know he will help me so much. All the players feel the same."

Yet you never quite know what you are going to get from Howe's team this term.

Just as Newcastle can beat Manchester United with 10 men and record a rare win at Chelsea, this leaky side can also capitulate and concede seven goals in the Nou Camp or throw away a half-time lead against Sunderland.

All in the same month.

Is there a degree of mitigation for the ups and downs of a campaign where Newcastle reached the last 16 of the Champions League and a third EFL Cup semi-final in four years, but also suffered 13 Premier League defeats?

Even as far back as the autumn, there was a belief internally there would be choppy waters to navigate following a turbulent summer.

Newcastle missed out on a host of top-choice targets, buckled and eventually sold star striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool on deadline day and tackled a crucial window without a chief executive and sporting director in place.

Also, whereas the so-called 'big six' are used to fighting on multiple fronts, with deeper squads, this has been relatively uncharted territory for Newcastle, who have played more games (51) than any other side in Europe's top five leagues this season.

Such has been the relentless nature of the schedule, there has been a feeling within the camp that they "can't breathe" at times.

But the squad will soon be lifted by the return of talisman Guimaraes, who is understood to have been "working hard every single day" after being sidelined with a hamstring issue, as well as midfielder Lewis Miley and defender Fabian Schar.

Howe will also have clear weeks to prepare for the final seven matches of the season - and a rare extended period to intensively work with record signing Nick Woltemade following the German forward's curious recent stint in midfield.

The head coach and his staff will need no reminding they need to make that time count in what feels like a defining few months on Tyneside.

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Unai Emery and his Aston Villa squad return to continental action on Thursday as they visit the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara for a high-stakes quarter-final first leg.

The Villans arrive in Italy fresh from a lengthy break following their 2–0 victory over West Ham United. While the hunt for a Premier League top-four finish remains intense, the Europa League offers a realistic path to silverware.

Emery, a four-time winner of this competition, looks to guide Villa to their first major continental trophy since the 1980s. Historically, the Birmingham side has held the upper hand in this fixture, winning both previous European meetings against the Rossoblu.

Bologna enter their first major European quarter-final since 1999 with a point to prove against their English rivals. Vincenzo Italiano’s men showed incredible grit to eliminate Roma in a 5–4 thriller during the previous round.

Although they sit nine points adrift of the European spots in Serie A, their continental form has been historic. The Italian side is currently unbeaten in 11 European matches, with their only defeat in the last 15 coming against Villa.

Bologna vs Aston Villa – Match preview and team news

• Date: Thursday, 9 April 2026
• Kick-off: 20:00 BST
• Venue: Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Bologna
• Referee: Sandro Schärer (SUI)
• VAR: Fedayi San (SUI)
• Last Meeting: Aston Villa 1–0 Bologna (August 2025, UEL)

Team news

Aston Villa

Unai Emery expects to have Youri Tielemans available for a starting role after several weeks on the sidelines. Crucially, captain John McGinn is back to full fitness and looks to become the first Villan to score 10 European goals.

However, the visitors will be without Jadon Sancho, who suffered a shoulder injury during a recent friendly. Boubacar Kamara remains injured, while Ross Barkley is ineligible for the knockout stages.

Bologna

Vincenzo Italiano manages a squad thinned by recent injuries and a defensive suspension for Martin Vitik. Federico Ravaglia continues to deputise in goal with Lukasz Skorupski still unavailable.

On a positive note, Spanish left-back Juan Miranda returns after serving a UEFA ban. Notably, English winger Jonathan Rowe poses the primary threat, having contributed to five goals in his last six European appearances.

Form

Bologna

Bologna have proven incredibly difficult to beat on home soil, losing just once in their last 15 European outings. Their recent 2–1 victory over Cremonese has provided a timely boost to squad morale. Furthermore, they are looking to become the first Italian side since Fiorentina to reach a 12-game unbeaten streak in Europe.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa travel to Italy on a seven-match winning streak in the UEFA Europa League. Another victory would see them join an elite group of English clubs to win eight consecutive major European games. Additionally, Villa’s defence has been imperious against Italian opposition, keeping four consecutive clean sheets in recent years.

Predicted lineups

Bologna Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ravaglia; João Mário, Casale, Lucumi, Miranda; Ferguson, Freuler, Pobega; Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe

Aston Villa Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendía, Rogers; Watkins

How to watch Bologna vs Aston Villa?

The match will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 2. Coverage is also available via the Discovery+ and HBO Max streaming platforms.

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Nottingham Forest have received a big injury boost ahead of the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Porto.

Chris Wood will return to the squad after remaining out injured for six months.

The 34-year-old hasn’t played since picking up a knee injury in October, which required surgery in December.

The experienced striker recently recovered to feature twice for the under-21s, and has now travelled with the first-team squad for Thursday’s European game.

Igor Jesus, who scored against Tottenham Hotspur in Forest’s last game before the international break, is set to lead the attack, but Wood will be part of the matchday squad.

“He started training with the team and he is available for the game,” manager Vitor Pereira said (per BBC Sport).

“He is working with us, we need to manage a little bit physically but he has travelled. It means he is available to be in the game tomorrow.”

Wood has been a key player for Forest since joining the club in January 2023, initially on loan that was later made permanent.

He has scored 39 goals and created four assists in 91 appearances across all competitions.

The New Zealand captain struck 20 goals last season, as the Tricky Trees qualified for Europe with a seventh-place Premier League finish.

However, Wood has been limited to only eight league appearances this campaign due to the knee injury.

Forest have struggled in his absence, as they have changed two managers but are still sitting just three points above the relegation zone.

Wood’s return will be a boost for Pereira’s side, who are fighting to reach a European semi-final for the first time in 42 years.

Stats from Transfermarkt