Girona v Liverpool: Champions League – dwell | Champions League

50 min: OOOF! Danjuama turns Szoboszlai and Gomez inside out. And then hoofs the ball into the group. From the chic to the ridiculous. Liverpool proceed to be shaky.

49 min: Danjuma – down the Liverpool proper – has been very harmful. This time he can’t maintain his shot down.

47 min: Salah will get an early contact and Jones is once more somewhat sluggish in comparison with his performances for many of the season up to now. He and Szoboszlai have actually struggled right here. Again, Spanish groups maintain the ball higher than lots of the English groups. It’s a unique self-discipline.

Back away we go in Girona

Perhaps the hairiest group of this pleasurable collection.

Peter Oh will get in contact once more: “The incongruously multinational shirt sponsor of the plucky small-town hosts made me pause mid-Xuixo and Turron fantasy. I appeared up who owns the membership and was horrified to see that the foremost shareholder is none aside from City Football Group. Forget that romantic crap I wrote earlier. ‘Underdog’ my chilly, saccharine sausage! Come on you Reds! Bring these guys to their Pyrenees!”

Evan in Ottawa will get in contact: “Good night John – watching from Ottawa, Canada and have observed that each one higher sections of Girona’s stadium seem like closed off. Not to sound a tedious EPL-centric snob, but when they’re not used for internet hosting Liverpool within the CL, simply questioning when *are* they used?”

Suspect security is perhaps a problem.

AA BB will get in contact: “Some acquisitions I believe are about snapping up nice worth when there’s a window. The fella was out there and a superb goalkeeper is without doubt one of the precedence positions oc. They don’t know the way the Kelleher state of affairs will play out in order that they’re being good.”

Half-time: Girona 0-0 Liverpool

45 min: Robertson zings to the byline however the ball is cleared away. Next, Salah – bear in mind him – will get what have to be his first contact. Salah is concerned quickly once more when Nunez – once more – fails to get sufficient on the cross. And that’s the top of the motion for the half.

44 min: Big smile and a few self-critical laughter from Danjuma as he wastes an opportunity that Romeu’s move had arrange. Romeu by no means looks as if one to harass.

43 min: Bryan Gil, a little bit of a comedy participant at Tottenham, has appeared fairly helpful for Girona. He operates as a ball-carrier and holder moderately than a dribbling winger.

41 min: Michel, Girona’s firebrand coach, desires extra from his group. They’ve been fairly good up to now so he should have excessive requirements.

39 min: Liverpool’s undoubted finest participant has been their supposedly rusty goalie. They are struggling for penetration. Nunez has had probabilities however is perhaps having one in every of *these* nights.

37 min: Curtis Jones has an opportunity now however once more, seems off his recreation. Girona determine to not pace up on the counter. Still, although, Asprilla, along with his left, lashes the ball and Alisson makes a high quality save, the ball scrabbled behind.

35 min: A Nunez probability…and, no, it simply gained’t go in. Gazzaniga’s had a superb recreation in aim, too.

34 min: Frances will get away from Diaz and extra defending to do for Liverpool. Asprilla’s cross is stopped by Alisson, who’s having a busy reintroduction.

33 min: Danjuma makes an attempt extra soloist stuff and forces a nook when he cuts in and shoots. Alisson exhibits he can nonetheless punch a ball a substantial distance.

32 min: Girona defending properly. Szoboszlai has had his issues moving into this recreation, and Curtis Jones has been quiet, too.

30 min: Nice solo run from Danjuma, however his move to Frances asks his teammate to play a move he’s maybe not absolutely able to making.

28 min: Neat ability from Gazzaniga sees him spherical Nunez. Risky enterprise, although enjoyable to observe.

27 min: Diaz and Alejandro Francés are having a ding-dong battle. Lumps being taken out of one another. Down the Liverpool left is the place the motion is. Trent tries to seek out Robertson down the flank however the ball bounces behind.

24 min: Chances at each ends: a superb recreation, this. Far more durable than it may need appeared for Liverpool.

23 min: After a primary nook is cleared, the ball drops to Szoboszlai who then loses the flight of the ball. A fast Girona counter places Liverpool underneath strain however this time it’s cleared.

21 min: Liverpool go shut. Nunez nods a Trent ball broad. That’s the perfect probability up to now.

20 min: Stephen Carr: “Hi John. To reply Mike Mackenze’s query, I’d suspect that at £30m, Marmadashvilli will value lower than Liverpool get for Kelleher who has made it very clear he desires to depart on the finish of the season. I’d argue he’s higher than Kelleher too.”

Alisson has been put by means of his paces right here, that’s for certain.

19 min: Danjuama’s offside and that’s a little bit of momentary reduction for Liverpool. They are underneath the cosh. Their followers are making some noise, too. Turns out this wasn’t only a go to to a culinary capital.

17 min: Liverpool actually combating Girona’s functionality in preserving the ball. Few groups within the Premier League do that. Miguel has a shot, and Alisson makes one other save. Gil has one other shot. Girona by far the higher group right here.

15 min: Liverpool attempt to construct up some sustained strain however fail to maintain the ball. It’s Girona who’re doing the higher job in forcing out possession.

14 min: Gil will get past the offside lure, and Alisson gallops out to make a save. Where was the flag? Gil slips over and virtually will get one other shot in. Liverpool look somewhat wobbly.

12 min: Oof! Girona go shut! The ball is performed into Gutierrez, after which Alisson is make a save to verify he’s again. Bryan Gill has a snap shot too.

11 min: Mike Mackenze will get in contact: “Not for the first time, I’m confused by a Liverpool acquisition. Is Mamadasharvilli higher than Kelleher? I don’t know however both he’s higher or worse or about the identical. If Mama is best why would he need to be in Kelleher’s spot solely enjoying when Allison is damage or else within the League Cup. If he’s the identical, then it was a waste to signal him for no achieve. If he’s worse, then why trouble? In that case would possibly as properly simply depend on Jaros.”

9 min: Long ball to Danjuma: offside. Van Dijk had referred to as it properly.

7 min: Danjuma, as soon as a wild card at Everton in addition to Spurs, units off on a run however is robbed in midfield. Gravenberch picks the ball up, jabs it ahead to Nunez, who shoots and has his shot saved. It was heading in the right direction.

5 min: The subsequent nook sees Bryan Gil requested to clear Girona strains. Joe Gomez – Liverpool’s longest serving participant? Has he ever scored? Appears not, the Des Walker of Anfield. Des’s solely aim was magnificence, thoughts.

4 min: A nook is given away, and Robertson will take. Virgil van Dijk glides up and there’s some shoving between Blind and Gravenberch. Joe Gomez makes a high quality run and the goalie saves properly.

2 min: The first assault breaks down and the ball is again with Gazzaniga, long-time affiliate of Mauricio Pochettino.

Away we go in Girona!

The group are taking to the sector at La Liga’s smallest stadium, the Estadi Montilivi. The PA system is booming out into the Catalan night time, the Champions League anthem. Not a lot cowl if it rains.

Some background on Girona from our man in Spain.

Their coach Michel.

Arne Slot has been chatting with TNT Sports: “It feels actually good to have Alisson again, we didn’t need to take any threat in any respect. Now he’s fully prepared to start out. We have all seen what a superb job Kweev has executed.

“Our gamers are so skilled, they know what it means to play Champions League for this membership. I assume they’re prepared for it, they should be. The fashion of Girona is one thing we now have to pay attention to.”

Good for Gary O’Neil. Many thought he’d be tinned in the present day. Seems not.

Gillian Kirby will get in contact: “I’m wondering if Bryan Gil will profit from a chat with Curtis Jones and TAA afterwards, in order that he can observe his accent for his side-gig with The Bootleg Beatles. “

Foodies unite.

Jeremy Boyce: “Hello Peter Oh, having been there I can inform you Girona can also be a well known and luxurious producer of that Spanish heart-attack in a slice, sugary sesame based mostly delicacy Turron. And nougat. “

Justin Kavanagh: “Peter Oh has jogged my memory of the Xuixo (pronounced Shoo-shoo) I had in Girona final 12 months. The girl who offered it to me informed me some fantastical story about its origins involving a man, a gymnast I recall, breaking right into a bakery, as he was infatuated by the baker’s daughter and being caught when the flour made him sneeze (I believe!). Girona will not be a aspect to be sneezed at both, but when the Liverpool gamers have been indulging within the Xuixos, they’ll have fats probability of victory tonight! They’re positively Proustian of their unforgettability.”

More Liverpool and Premier League heritage. More Saudi stuff, too. JL on Stevie G.

Hello, Peter Oh: “I like Liverpool however all the time preserve a tender spot for the plucky underdog. I don’t know something about Girona however a fast scan of its specialities exhibits that candy sausages (!) and cream-filled deep-fried pastries (!!) are among the many high native delicacies. It’s actually onerous to root in opposition to a spot like that. May the soccer be as satisfying as a sugary mash of meat squeezed right into a casing of gut!”

“Hi, I’m Graham up late in Shanghai prepared to observe the large match.”

Hello, Graham

“Is it simply me or does the Girona group appear to be a bunch of EPL forged offs. Gazzaniga, Blind, Romeu, Bryan Gil, Donny Van de Beek? They all got here and gave it a crack however for varied causes got the boot. Maybe they’re gelling on this lovely a part of the world?”

Girona completed third final season in La Liga, and are ninth now. One of the problems of being a sub-club of your City Football Groups is nice gamers get shunted up. Savinho has gone, and that appears a bunch of gamers loaned and cheaply added. They have struggled on this competitors. Aleix Garcia was one other good participant gone. Football company is a humorous previous recreation.

Yaser Asprilla, no relation, value £15m from Watford, the place rather a lot was anticipated of him. Watford is one other membership of strange switch enterprise, the place it in all probability is smart to somebody or different. Pau Lopez had a while at Tottenham, too.

Kev will get in contact: “The Holy Goalie is again, really feel sorry for Irish Kev. Mind you, a change of the guard subsequent season. No nickname for Mamadasharvilli but. Thought it is going to value a bit to get it on a shirt.”

Kweev had executed a high quality job. He’s set to be a first-choice some place else. Though Alisson Becker does have twangable hamstrings.

Fancy some Football Daily motion? By me, truly.

Beyond the goalies, two modifications from the Newcastle recreation for Liverpool.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai in, Alexis Mac Allister out altogether and Jarell Quansah benched after a tough night time on Tyneside.

That Girona group would do properly as a Barclaysmen group – is that also a cool factor? – Spurs legend Paolo Gazzaniga; two Manchester United legends in Daley Blind and Donny Van de Beek, a Chelsea and Southampton legend in Oriol Romeu and two extra Spurs legends in Bryan Gil and Arnaut Danjuma. All it wants is a Georgie Thompson voiceover.

The full groups through PA Media:

Girona: Gazzaniga, Frances, Juanpe, Krejci, Blind, van de Beek, Romeu, Gutierrez, Asprilla, Gil Salvatierra, Danjuma. Subs: Pau Lopez, Lucas Garcia, Arnau Martinez, David Lopez, Stuani, Abel Ruiz, Solis, Martin, Portu, Clua, Kim, Jastin Garcia.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jones, Salah, Nunez, Diaz. Subs: Jaros, Kelleher, Endo, Gakpo, Elliott, McConnell, Norris, Quansah.

Referee: Benoit Bastien (France)

Mike’s in, and he’s combating the ability: “Liverpool bench mild? Can’t be, I’ve not learn numerous feedback about an harm disaster. Unlike Arsenal and Manchester City who by no means shut up about it and so get a sympathy be aware from pundits and presenters.”

Andrew Benton has gone there: “I all the time thought this track was referred to as My Gerona – by the Knack, manner again within the good previous days…..”

Now, does anybody know every other songs by The Knack?

Jeremy Boyce will get in contact: “Looking ahead to your great-looking MBM appetiser earlier than the night’s massive one, I’m clearly speaking in regards to the main Championship mash up between high-flying Leeds and almost-as-high-flying CarrickBro. Girona will not be apparent Champions League contenders, therefore their outcomes up to now ? But it’s a stunningly lovely city when you make it in by means of the outskirts. Last time I used to be there we noticed a movie crew doing an episode of Game of Thrones. Really, THAT lovely.

“It’s additionally only a mis-shapen/adorned stone’s throw away from the Costa Brava (Wild Coast), Salvador Dali and Gaudi-land, so Slot’s lot ought to anticipate some wild, surreal architectural positioning in how their opponents set as much as take care of their attacking risk (Mo Salah). Girona have made probably the most of their Etihad sponduliks, and I’m certain it might go down properly in Manchester if they might do one on the reds tonight. All the identical, 1 – 3, eh ?”

I’ve been to the Costa Brava. Calella de la Costa. Watched the 1994 World Cup ultimate there. Apart from our celebration of six lads from Cheshire everybody else there was German or Danish. The music was both Whigfield, Gabber techno or grunge steel. A incredible fortnight. I’ve additionally been to Girona airport on various events. It’s about as close to Barcelona as London Southend is from London.

Confirmed: Alisson is again

Tonight’s Champions League fixtures, UK instances.

• Dinamo Zagreb v Celtic, 17:45

• Girona v Liverpool, 17:45

• Brest v PSV, 20:00

• Shakhtar Donetsk v Bayern Munich, 20:00

• Club Brugge v Sporting, 20:00

• RB Salzburg v PSG, 20:00

• RB Leipzig v Aston Villa, 20:00

• Bayer Leverkusen v Inter, 20:00

• Atalanta v Real Madrid, 20:00

Could this be the night time Alisson returns? Last seen at Crystal Palace in October, and out for longer than anticipated. Caoimhin Kelleher has executed simply high quality, although his error in opposition to Newcastle had Liverpool followers craving for the Brazilian.

The Champions League has been moderately totally different to what many anticipated. Has it truly been higher? There’s a case for that. Perhaps it’s the novelty worth.

Yet some voices inside European soccer urge warning and imagine greater scores are a consequence, meant or not, of the expanded format’s guidelines. The argument is persuasive: with so many groups bunched collectively, and aim distinction sure to be a deciding issue for key positions within the desk, many have merely appreciated the advantages of turning the screw. It can successfully rely for the additional level that separates success from early elimination. Previously, the restrictive head-to-head rule had been the tie-breaker for league‑section deadlocks.

Preamble