Sport

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane admits he was jealous when Barcelona lured team-mate Philippe Coutinho to the Nou Camp. The Brazil international left in January 2018 in a deal worth up to £142million after failing to force a move through six months earlier. Liverpool coped well with the disruption created by the playmaker’s transfer request and…

Roberto Firmino appears to be winning his fight to be fit for the first leg of Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. The Brazil forward, who missed last Friday’s Premier League victory over Huddersfield with a small muscle tear, was included in Jurgen Klopp’s 23-man squad to travel to the Nou Camp for Wednesday’s first…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp accepts his players will have to suffer in the Nou Camp if they are to deny Lionel Messi the opportunity to fulfil his pre-season “threat” to win the Champions League. Back in August the Argentina international, in his first public address as captain, told a packed stadium before friendly against Boca…

Ajax fans made themselves known ahead of their Champions League semi-final against Tottenham by producing a carnival atmosphere in Leicester Square. Fans of the Dutch side were in town for the first leg of the fixture, played at Spurs’ new stadium. Both teams can lay claim to being the surprise package of the tournament so…

Rio Ferdinand remained tight-lipped amid talk of a surprise return to Manchester United as sporting director. The Old Trafford giants are going through a background restructuring process, with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward looking to bring in a technical director having named Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as permanent manager. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, left, and Rio Ferdinand, right,…

Joe Ledley is determined to find a new club this summer and help Wales reach the 2020 European Championship finals. Ledley has been without a club since leaving Derby in the final hours of the January transfer window. But the 32-year-old midfielder insists he still has plenty to offer both at club and international level.…

John Hartson reiterated his backing of Neil Lennon to become permanent Celtic manager but stressed any decision should be made sooner rather than later. The Northern Irishman, 47, took over until the end of the season in February following Brendan Rodgers’ sudden departure to Leicester. Former Parkhead skipper Lennon, in his second spell in the…

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic admits the players are inspired to follow wherever Lionel Messi leads as he is “the best player in history”. Coach Ernesto Valverde sounded a note of caution by conceding Champions League semi-final opponents Liverpool are a “fearsome rival” but Rakitic suggested having Messi on their side trumped that considerably. The Argentina…