Football news LIVE: Spurs handed another injury blow, Maresca tips James for midfield role, Alisson ‘the best-ever Premier League goalkeeper’

Setback

Scotland and Middlesbrough have suffered a major blow after on-loan Liverpool winger Ben Doak was ruled out for a further period following an operation.

Doak has not played since January 25 because of a thigh injury and it has now emerged he has undergone surgery.

Boro manager Michael Carrick told a media conference: "He's back at Liverpool doing a bit of rehab. We'll see how that goes and how long he's going to be out for.

"It's unfortunate for us as a squad and Ben individually. He will be back stronger and he will be back soon enough."

When asked if he would return to the Championship club this season, Carrick said: "We will have to wait and see. It's hard to say either way. Liverpool are going to look after his rehab initially and see where it progresses from there."

Doak is set to miss Scotland's two-legged Nations League play-off against Greece later this month as Steve Clarke's side bid to stay in the top tier.

The 19-year-old's performances were a key factor in Scotland improving to the extent they avoided bottom spot in their group and automatic relegation. The former Celtic player set up three of Scotland's final four goals of the competition.

Doak has delivered three goals and seven assists in 24 Championship games this season and was named EFL Young Player of the Month for November.

Not long to go!

Ruben Amorim has made three changes for Man United's crunch Europa League clash with Real Sociedad tonight.

Alejandro Garnacho starts alongside Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund with Christian Eriksen dropping out.

Manuel Ugarte and Harry Maguire are injured, so Noussair Mazraoui is part of the back three and Casemiro starts.

Ruben Amorim has only been able to name seven substitutes and only two of those are senior regulars.

Kick-off is at 5.45pm with the match live on talkSPORT.

You can stay up to date with all of the action in our dedicated matchday blog HERE.

Out of this world

FIFA are considering increasing the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams to mark the centenary of the event.

The biggest tournament in world football currently hosts 48 teams after being recently increased from the traditional 32 for the 2026 competition.

The 2030 World Cup will be held in Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, where the inaugural edition was staged, set to host three games.

"A proposal to analyze a 64-team FIFA World Cup to celebrate the centenary of the FIFA World Cup in 2030 was spontaneously raised by a FIFA Council member in the 'miscellaneous' agenda item near the end of the FIFA Council meeting held on March 5, 2025," a FIFA spokesperson told Reuters.

"The idea was acknowledged as FIFA has a duty to analyze any proposal from one of its Council members."

The report stated that the suggestion was greeted with 'stunned silence'.

Postecoglou must win Europa League to keep his job

Simon Jordan believes that Ange Postecoglou's future as Tottenham boss hinges on the club winning the Europa League.

Speaking on White and Jordan, he said: “Ange Postecoglou needs it to save his job because Tottenham are built upon playing in Europe.

“I can’t see how it’s not the case. He has the built in and legitimate excuse of having massive injuries and I like Ange and want Tottenham to do well, but in the games that they’ve lost they’ve had full teams out against teams at the bottom of the league and the players on the pitch should have been enough to overcome the adversity.

“If you finish 12th in the league and don’t get anywhere in the cup competitions, how is that success?

“It’s a disaster economically. People look at Tottenham and think it’s a good club to be involved with and most managers would bite your hand off to be with a club like that.

“They’ll find a replacement a replacement for Ange Postecoglou – whether it’s the right one or they’ll go in the right direction, who knows. But if they finish 12th or 13th in the league and don’t get anywhere in the club, I’ll be surprised if he’s still in the job.”

Not done yet

Virgil van Dijk has warned Liverpool's Champions League suffering is not yet over after coming through a gruelling examination against Paris St Germain in the Parc des Princes.

"It should be a great game and we have to be ready to suffer as they are a very good team who were unbeaten for a very long time," said Van Dijk of the second leg.

"A team that has blown sides away this season and we have managed to keep a clean sheet (PSG failed to score at home for the first time this season), get a 1-0 win and put ourselves in a good position.

"I think you could see, it was not the usual game we like to play.

"We don't want to be playing this way because everyone who plays football wants to have the ball a lot and wants to be dominating opponents.

"But we played against a team with a lot of quality, world-class quality, and they made it very difficult for everyone in the world so far and they made it difficult for us but we found a way and we have to try to finish it off next week."

'It's hard to accept'

Newcastle defender Lewis Hall has admitted he is finding it hard to accept his season is over due to a broken bone in his foot.

Hall sustained the injury in his side's Premier League defeat by Liverpool at the end of last month and is set to undergo surgery.

The 20-year-old has established himself as the Magpies' first-choice left-back this season after his loan move from Chelsea was made permanent in a summer deal which could rise to £35million including add-ons.

Hall told Newcastle's official website: "It's quite hard to accept at the minute, but I'm still young and there are many opportunities ahead, I'm very confident in that.

"I haven't had it before in my career, but watching us train every day and watching the team play is something that I'm really not looking forward to, but I've got so much faith in the boys to get us over the line and do what we need to do."

Ben Doak returns to Liverpool for treatment

Michael Carrick has confirmed that Ben Doak has returned to Liverpool to undergo rehabiliatation.

The on-loan Liverpool starlet - who was the subject of significant Premier League interest in January - has undergone surgery on a problem that has ruled him out since January.

Explaining the situation, Middlesbrough boss Carrick said: "Ben's back at Liverpool doing a bit of rehab which is can be quite normal so he's back with Liverpool and we'll see how that goes and how long he'll be out for.

"For now we'll have to wait and see.

"It was quite recent, he was doing his rehab and then it came about (that he needed surgery) so it's unfortunate for all of us but it's part of the game and he'll be back stronger and soon enough."

Asked if it means he's played his last game for Middlesbrough, Carrick said: "It's hard to say either way, to be honest."

Doak has scored three goals and provided seven assists in 24 matches for the EFL side.

Adios, Alvaro!

Alvaro Negredo has announced his retirement from football.

The 39-year-old striker enjoyed one glorious season with Manchester City in which he scored 24 goals in 49 games to help City to the Premier League title in 2014.

He also helped them to League Cup glory.

Three years later he scored 10 goals and provided four assists for Middlesbrough as they battled to avoid relegation, while he also shone for Sevilla, Valencia, Besiktas and others.

He also scored 10 goals in 21 appearances for Spain, helping them to become European champions in 2012.

Tragic news from Instanbul

A Rangers supporter has died in a road traffic accident in Istanbul ahead of the team's Europa League last-16 showdown with Fenerbahce at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.

The Ibrox club announced the news in a statement on Thursday morning.

It read: "We are devastated to have learned of the passing of one of our supporters in a road traffic accident overnight in Istanbul.

"The immediate thoughts of everyone at the club are with their family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

"We are remaining in constant contact with both the Turkish and British authorities over this tragic incident."

More than 2,000 Gers fans have made the journey to Turkey to watch their team take on Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce side this evening.

Fenerbahce expressed their "condolences to Rangers FC and the community".

A statement from the Gers' hosts, translated from Turkish, read: "We have learned with deep sorrow that a Rangers FC fan who came to Istanbul to support his team in the first match of the UEFA Europa League last 16 round, where Fenerbahce will host Scottish representative Rangers FC, passed away as a result of a traffic accident.

"We would like to express our condolences to the family of the deceased fan, the Rangers club and the community."

A Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said: "We are aware of the death of a British man in Turkey and are in touch with the local authorities."

Battle of the Buffet

Rio Ferdinand has proven so committed to his verbal feud with Liverpool fans - by conceding one of his most historic Arsenal battles.

The Manchester United legend riled up Reds supporters during his live TV commentary of the club's 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain.

Ferdinand called for a red card against Ibrahima Konaté for his shove on Bradley Barcola that went unpunished by the referee and VAR.

The former England defender boldly stated: “That is a foul. The push is in the back, so it's a foul. If that's not a red card I'll be amazed.” 

Ferdinand later doubled down on his comments in a post on social media, by writing on X: "Just to clarify for all the Liverpool fans who are still tweeting me… Konate should’ve been sent off last night!"

In response, a clip of the 46-year-old's similar challenge on Freddie Ljungberg during the 'Battle of the Buffet', also known as 'Pizzagate', was shared in the comments.

Ferdinand wrote alongside a laughing emoji: "Foul, straight red. Got away with it."

Man United famously beat Arsenal 2-0 at Old Trafford in October 2004 which ended the latter's record-breaking 49-match unbeaten run.

It sparked a melee between the two sets of players in the tunnel afterwards - in which Cesc Fabregas infamously hit Sir Alex Ferguson with a slice of pizza.

Bull by the horns

Alan Brazil has claimed that Red Bull is looking to invest in Celtic.

He told talkSPORT Breakfast: “The big news, of course, Rangers, if that goes through, that will be interesting, with the San Francisco 49ers putting money in. They are part of Leeds as well.

“I was told this a few weeks ago, but I was told it was advanced talks.

“I thought, interesting. I also heard Celtic and Red Bull were interested in taking a piece of Celtic. But I don’t know if that is true or not. You get so many things sent to you, don’t you?!”

Arne Slot has 'defied a myth' with Liverpool reign

Simon Jordan believes that Arne Slot deserves huge credit for the job he's doing at Liverpool this season.

Asked if a treble for Slot would surpass Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola’s similar success, Simon Jordan said: “Of course because they built teams and he inherited one and had to stamp his personality onto it.

“He’d be setting himself a bugger of a task to emulate that because he’d have set the highest standard that he can – the only thing he can do is go and win four trophies.

“Slot was given a beautiful set of cards and people didn’t forecast that he could do this – he hasn’t added to it and so he’s defied the myth that you need to surround yourself with your own people.

“If you’re an effective manager and you point people in the right direction then you can achieve outcomes.

“There’s a whole number of defining factors: Salah is at the highest level he’s been, they’ve seen the decline of other sides in the league but that’s not to diminish Liverpool.

“They romped through the Champions League group – the only competition they didn’t turn up to was the FA Cup and that’s because they chose not to, they’ve got a League Cup to look forward to.

“This isn’t a Liverpool side that has been irreplaceable or the rock and roll era of Jurgen Klopp, but they dug in, bit down on the gum shield and ground out result against a formidable PSG side who are very difficult to play against.”

Who is the best goalkeeper right now?

Following Alisson Becker's masterclass for Liverpool, he's been tipped as the greatest goalkeeper in the world.

But how does his record compare to football's other top men between the sticks?

As it turns out, the Brazilian's record is only bettered by one man...

Xhaka - 'It shouldn't happen'

Granit Xhaka did not hold back with his comments after Bayer Leverkusen were thrashed by Bayern Munich.

The German champions slipped to a 3-0 first leg defeat away to their Bundesliga rivals on Wednesday night.

Leverkusen were also reduced to 10-men as their hopes of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals were all but ended.

With Bayern two goals up, Nordi Mukiele was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Kingsley Coman.

The sending off meant Leverkusen were forced to play the final 28 minutes with 10-men, with Xhaka slamming his team-mate after the match.

He told DAZN: "Despite going behind, we were well into the game. And then we got a stupid red card, which was totally unnecessary.

"It shouldn't happen to us. It was so far from the goal. But I think there are other stories to tell today."

Alisson 'the best in the Premier League history'

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker is 'the best goalkeeper of the Premier League era'.

That's the view of the Daily Mail's Dom King who waxed lyrical about the Brazilian goalkeeper following his heroics in Paris.

Speaking to talkSPORT Breakfast, King said: "He’s the best goalkeeper to ever play for Liverpool. He’s the best of the Premier League era.

“Last night was spectacular but Alisson doesn’t really make saves for the cameras, he’s so fast at getting into position that he makes things look routine.

“He’s absolutely fabulous and he’s every bit as important to this team as Salah and Van Dijk. He’s off-the-scale brilliant.

“I’m fully respectful of Peter Schmeichel, David Seaman and all the great goalkeepers that we’ve seen but this fella is a different level above.”

'Jose is not stupid!'

Alan Brazil says that he could see Jose Mourinho managing Rangers, even if he would prefer him to lead his beloved Celtic.

The Special One discussed the prospect of managing in Scotland and with the Gers job currently available, it provided a big talking point in the talkSPORT Breakfast studio ahead of tonight's clash between his Fenerbahce side and Rangers in the Europa League.

“Don’t even think about going there, Jose," Brazil said. "There’s only one place to go – don’t even think about it!

“You never know with the new people coming in, the San Francisco 49ers, they’re going to clear the can of worms out, put their own people in and Rangers will come back.”

Responding to Gabby Agbonlahor suggesting that Mourinho will end up in Saudi, Brazil said: “Jose’s got enough money!

“Jose will know that Rangers are a sleeping giant. He’s not stupid, he’s clever and with the right funding and his knowledge it would be interesting.”

Asked if he could see it happening, Brazil said: “Yeah, I could.”

'Best performance of my life'

Alisson Becker described his performance against Paris Saint-Germain as 'the best of his life'.

The Brazilian shot-stopper made nine saves in the Liverpool goal - joint-most as a Reds player, and the most of any goalkeeper for the club since records began in 2003.

“Yeah probably of my life, so far, hopefully,” he honestly said. 

“The manager was telling us how difficult it would be to play PSG, how good they are with the ball, we have to be ready to suffer.

“So when you see the clips as well from the opponent you know what is coming, so much quality on their side.”

'English Robbery'

Liverpool's Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain has been slated by L'Equipe.

The notoriously brutal French publication claimed that the Reds' 1-0 win over PSG was a 'robbery'.

Luis Enrique's side dominated the game with 71 per cent possession, 27 shots and 10 shots on target - a stark contrast to Liverpool's two shots and one on target.

While Alisson Becker's masterclass in goal played a key role, the Merseysiders were perhaps fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men when Ibrahima Konate avoided a red card for what appeared to be a professional foul.

But as we all know there's only one stat that matters and that was aided by Harvey Elliott's 87th minute winner as the Parc des Princes which has given Arne Slot's side the advantage in their last-16 tie.

More misery for Magpies

Just when you thought Newcastle's personnel woes before the Carabao Cup final couldn't get any worse.

The Daily Mail report star centre-back Sven Botman is set to undergo a knee operation and will miss Sunday's final against Liverpool.

Botman has not been sighted since Newcastle beat Arsenal in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on February 5.

The Dutchman has played just six matches for the Magpies all season having only returned from ACL surgery in January.

Also sidelined for Newcastle's Carabao Cup final is left-back Lewis Hall, who is out for the season with a fractured foot.

Star winger Anthony Gordon is out for Sunday's fixture too albeit due to suspension after he was shown a straight red card for striking Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke in the FA Cup.

FULL TIME!

That's tonight's Champions League action wrapped up and what a set of results that was!

A Harry Kane double and a shocking error from Matej Kovar helped Bayern Munich to a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen, gifting Vincent Kompany's side a huge advantage going into the second leg.

Leverkusen will also have to do without Nordi Mukiele, who was sent off following a second yellow card.

In Lisbon, 10-man Barcelona had Raphinha to thank as they beat Benfica 1-0.

Pau Cubarsi's red card in the 22nd minute forced Barca boss Hansi Flick into a slight re-shuffle, but Raphinha saved the day with his second-half strike.

Barcelona's Wojciech Szczesny also played a starring role, keeping out wave after wave of Benfica attacks.

The Portuguese side took a total of 26 shots but Szczesny and his backline helped keep the hosts at bay.

Harvey Elliott helped Liverpool to a major smash-and-grab 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital.

Roll on the second legs next Tuesday!

GOAL! Bayern Munich 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen - Harry Kane

KANE GETS HIS SECOND OF THE NIGHT!

He made no mistake from the penalty spot, blasting past Kovar into the top right corner.

The penalty came about after Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba had his hands all over Kane on a corner and sent him tumbling to the turf.

It was initially missed by Oliver, but after a VAR review the official was left with no choice but to award a penalty as Tapsoba received a yellow card for his troubles.

Bayern are really running away with this tie now...

GOAL! Benfica 0-1 Barcelona - Raphinha

10-MAN BARCELONA ARE IN FRONT!

It's Raphinha who have given the visitors an unlikely lead.

A careless giveaway from Antonio Silva inside his own half allowed the Brazilian to burst through and slot home into the bottom right-hand corner.

How big could that goal be for the visitors!

RED CARD! Bayern Munich 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen - Nordi Mukiele

Leverkusen's night has gone from bad to worse.

Xabi Alonso's side are now down to 10 men after Nordi Mukiele was shown a second yellow card in the 62nd minute.

Referee Michael Oliver had little choice but to give Mukiele his marching orders when he raked down the back of Kingsley Coman's leg with his studs, leaving the Bayern winger writhing in pain on the ground.

What will infuriate Alonso is the fact Mukiele's first booking came after he needlessly involved himself in a scuffle in the first half.

It's now about damage control for Leverkusen, who cannot afford to concede any more goals going into the second leg.

GOAL! Bayern Munich 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen - Jamal Musiala

MATEJ KOVAR, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!

The Leverkusen goalkeeper is squarely to blame for Bayern's second.

An in-swinging cross from Joshua Kimmich on the left looked to be an easy claim for Kovar, who was not challenged by anyone.

But the ball slipped through his fingertips and landed right at the feet of Jamal Musiala.

The German international couldn't have believed his luck as he prodded home from inside the six-yard box to give the hosts a two-goal advantage.

A costly, costly error from Kovar!

HALF TIME!

The half-time whistle has sounded in Munich and Lisbon.

Harry Kane's header has given Bayern Munich a 1-0 lead over Bayer Leverkusen, while Benfica and Barcelona's clash remains 0-0.

However, Barcelona are down to ten men following a straight red card to Pau Cubarsi in the 22nd minute.

In the other 8pm fixture, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain remains scoreless.

The Parisians had the ball in the back of the net via Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the 20th minute, but it was chalked off after the Georgian was a fraction off-side.

A brutal decision, but the correct one.

Bring on the next 45 minutes!