Soccer

All-English European finals still possible after favourable draws

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (left) and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola could meet again in the Champions League Final.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (left) and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola could meet again in the Champions League Final. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (left) and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola could meet again in the Champions League Final.

ALL-English Champions and Europa League Finals are still possible for the second time in three seasons after the quarter-finals draws were favourable to most of that nation's sides.

Liverpool, who defeated Tottenham in the 2019 Champions League decider, face arguably the toughest test, even if Real Madrid aren't the force they were when they beat the Reds in the 2018 Final to complete a hat-trick of titles.

If they progress past the 13-time winners, Jurgen Klopp's men will meet either Chelsea or Porto in the last four, which could mean a repeat of the famous semi-final clashes in 2005 and 2007 between those English teams, both won by the Merseysiders. Chelsea's most recent European triumph came two years ago when they thrashed Arsenal in the Europa League Final but they are going well under former Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel.

High-flying Manchester City will have to beat one of last year's finalists – either holders Bayern Munich or PSG – to reach their first ever Champions League final, although before then they will have to get past Borussia Dortmund.

In the Europa League Manchester United will be happy to face lesser-known Spanish side Granada, while Arsenal were paired with Slavia Prague, conquerors of Rangers.

The Red Devils if victorious would come up against a bigger name, either Ajax or Roma, in the semi-finals, while the Gunners could then meet either Villarreal or Dinamo Zagreb, the latter having knocked out Tottenham.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola declined to comment on reports linking City with a potential move for Dortmund's much-sought after striking star Erling Haaland in the summer.

Guardiola said: "He is a player for Borussia Dortmund. I don't like it when people talk about our players so I cannot answer this question."

However, he acknowledged that he regards Norwegian Haaland as one of the game's leading attackers right now.

"The numbers speak for themselves," said Guardiola of the 20-year-old at a press conference. "He is one of the best strikers in the world right now for his age. I know the quality of this player."

Guardiola will devote plenty of time during the upcoming international break to studying Dortmund. He said: "It is a privilege to be in the last eight teams. I didn't see much of them this season because we don't have time, but in this international break will have time to see them. But Dortmund are always a good team."

With City still having a quadruple in their sights, Guardiola's immediate priority is today's FA Cup quarter-final against Everton at Goodison Park.

He said: "It is a final, away. The quality of their players is there, no doubt about it.

"But it is another incredible opportunity in a competition. It is the last game before the international break. Hopefully we can finish well and when we come back the important part of the season starts."

Manchester United have distant hopes of a treble, with their best bests in the Europa League and the FA Cup, travelling to take on Leicester City tomorrow.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is pleased with their form, having won at City and away to AC Milan on their last two travels:

"We feel, or we hope, a trophy can be a catalyst of more to come… The belief and the attitude is there," Solskjaer said.

"I have to say I'm really impressed by the way they recover and get ready for the next game because it is relentless.

"They are preparing to perform at the highest, highest level. It's not like we've had any gimmes in the draws.

"Every game has been a game you really have to dig deep to win. This is another one, Leicester away."