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Andy Hunter
Twenty years on from that double save, those spaghetti legs and the miracle of Liverpool’s fifth European Cup triumph and Turkey has not lost the capacity to make a champion out of Jerzy Dudek. “I won the Turkish Open golf last week and it reminded me a bit of Istanbul,” the former Liverpool goalkeeper says. “It is my favourite place, my lucky place, and it stays with me all the time. If I go on holiday to Turkey I always go with a big smile.”
Sunday promises to have the same effect on everyone associated with Liverpool. The presentation of the Premier League trophy to Arne Slot’s champions at Anfield coincides with the 20th anniversary of the “Miracle of Istanbul”, when Liverpool overcame a 3-0 half-time deficit to defeat Milan on penalties in the Champions League final. Not that any Liverpool fan needs reminding of the details. The sights and sounds of Ataturk Stadium remain as vivid to Dudek now as they were on 25 May, 2005.
Eddie Howe, of Newcastle, has a quick chat about facing Everton at home on Sunday and trying to secure a Champions League spot: “That’s what we would ask,” he says. “To be at home in front of our fans. It’s in our hands. You have to do the difficult part, and take that opportunity.
“Everton have been in good form, they are difficult to beat, they have got threats. We have to be focused on what we need to do to win the game. Then we hope the crowd can carry us through.
“We have to focus on ourselves. We have to do our bit and not expect any favours from anyone. What will be will be … for us, we know what we have to do.”
Then a question about players’ holiday plans:
“The majority will go on their holidays pretty quick. The injured players – [such as] Lewis Hall and Joelinton – will continue to recover from injury throughout the summer.
“At the moment, we’re looking to return to training on 7 July.”
Back to prepare for the football season on 7 July? Utterly ludicrous, please make it stop. You’re probably going to tell me that’s late compared to other clubs.
An update from the Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca before Sunday’s crunch Premier League encounter at Nottingham Forest: “Reece James is OK [injury-wise]. We are trying to protect him and manage him in the training sessions.”
Has Maresca known such a close race for the Champions League, involving so many teams, on the final day?
“Probably it shows how difficult the Premier League is,” Maresca says. “The ones that have been consistent are Liverpool and that’s why they won the title … during the season the rest have been a bit up and down.
“We are happy to be there [in contention for Champions League qualification] and will try to finish in the best way.
“We are quite lucky – if we win, we do our job, we don’t need to pay attention to other results. We have the privilege that it depends on us.”
Suzanne Wrack
Arsenal will step on to the pitch at the Estádio José Alvalade on Saturday to face the most almighty challenge in their first Champions League final since 2007. Against a Barcelona side who dominate the ball like no other, opportunities will be limited and for a forward, there are few greater tests, as every fleeting chance matters.
Alessia Russo, tasked with leading the line in a stacked Arsenal attack, has the opportunity to make a statement as well as earn a place in history.
Preamble
Will football ever be the same again? Spurs have won a trophy, and will be parading their Europa League silverware through the sunny streets of Tottenham this evening.
Tomorrow, Arsenal face Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League final in Lisbon, and there is also the small matter of the Championship playoff final – Sheffield United v Sunderland – with the League one playoff following on Sunday (Charlton v Leyton Orient) and League Two on Monday (AFC Wimbledon v Walsall).
Thomas Tuchel, the England men’s coach, will also be announcing his squad for the upcoming matches against Andorra and Senegal – squad announcement at 10am UK time, and a new conference at 11am.
Also on the agenda is the pulsating climax to Serie A: Napoli v Cagliari and Como v Inter have been brought forward to this evening, with a view to accommodating a potential title playoff match on Monday (before Inter meet PSG in the Champions League final next Saturday.)
We’ll have team news, trophy parade news, other news and other stuff. Here we go!
