Summary

  1. 'We need more points to achieve the biggest objective'published at 14:20 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    Aston Villa v Liverpool (Wed, 19.30 GMT)

    Aston Villa

    Unai Emery said that his Aston Villa side will take lessons from their 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Ipswich on Saturday as they bid to repeat last season's qualification for the Champions League.

    Villa are currently ninth in the Premier League table, six points outside the Champions League places.

    "We had enough chances against Ipswich, it was not enough but we analyse with the players and we are speaking about how we can respond for the next matches," said Emery.

    "We are being positive but we are excited and we are performing in the right direction. We need more points in case we want to achieve the biggest demand and objective we can have, which is to be in the Champions League."

    Unai EmeryImage source, Getty Images
  2. Liverpool 'most difficult match' - Emerypublished at 14:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    Aston Villa v Liverpool (Wed, 19.30 GMT)

    Aston Villa

    Aston Villa manager Unai Emery says he is looking forward to the challenge of playing "the best team in Europe":

    "For me as a coach it is a big challenge, a challenge to how we can collectively set our game plan against them. It’s the most difficult match we are going to play for the last weeks and months.

    "Liverpool are the best team in the Premier League and Europe. Our challenge is to how we face them and respond with our qualities and how we play at this level.

    "We are excited and hopefully we can share our excited moments with our fans at Villa Park."

  3. get involved

    Get Involved - What’s your longest wait for an apology?published at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    One that hurts and sticks in the mind is Sol Campbell's disallowed last-minute winner for a John Terry 'foul' in the quarter-final against Portugal at Euro 2004. Years later, the ref admitted he didn't see a foul but still didn't apologise. Our 'Golden Generation' could have won that tournament, with teams like Greece and Czech Republic in the semi-finals.

    Ewan, Stockport

    Sol Campbell's Disallowed Goal during the UEFA Euro 2004 Quarter Final match between Portugal and EnglandImage source, Getty Images
  4. Postpublished at 14:10 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    Aston Villa v Liverpool (Wed, 19.30 GMT)

    Aston Villa

    We will have full quotes from Unai Emery shortly.

    He has confirmed that Matty Cash, Leon Bailey and Ezri Konsa are all doubts for tomorrow's match, and Boubacar Kamara will definitely miss out.

  5. get involved

    Get Involved - What’s your longest wait for an apology?published at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    Waiting for an apology from my uncle for making me follow Tottenham.

    Dave

  6. No league win since mid-January for busy Villapublished at 13:56 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    Aston Villa v Liverpool (Wed, 19.30 GMT)

    Aston Villa

    Aston Villa's 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Ipswich on Saturday means the midlands club have not registered a win in the Premier League since their 1-0 win over Everton on 15 January. Their last four league matches have yielded three draws and a defeat.

    Tomorrow they will be facing league leaders Liverpool aiming to climb the table from their spot in ninth place and close the gap to the Champions League qualification spots.

    Villa re being tasked with playing five matches in just 14 days after their meeting with Liverpool was rearranged to tomorrow due to the Reds reaching the League Cup final.

    Unai Emery's side face Chelsea and Crystal Palace in the league and Cardiff City in the FA Cup before the end of February.

  7. Aston Villa injury updatepublished at 13:52 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    Aston Villa v Liverpool (Wed, 19:30 GMT)

    Aston Villa

    We wait to see if Boubacar Kamara will take a part in tomorrow's game after limping off just 15 minutes into Aston Villa's 1-1 draw with Ipswich over the weekend.

    Villa are already without defenders Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa and Matty Cash. Torres is still recovering from a metatarsal injury and Konsa is hopeful of a return next week.

  8. 'Rashford is a very good player'published at 13:48 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    Aston Villa v Liverpool (Wed, 19.30 GMT)

    Aston Villa

    At around 14.00 GMT we expect to hear from Aston Villa manager Unai Emery ahead of their Premier League meeting with Liverpool tomorrow.

    Before that, here's what Liverpool manager Arne Slot had to say about Villa arrival Marcus Rashford...

    Media caption,

    Rashford is a very good player - Arne Slot

  9. get involved

    Get Involved - What’s your longest wait for an apology?published at 13:43 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    Also waiting for Middlesbrough to apologise for their GK kits, 93/94 is a shocker, and 96/97. Who designed those?

    Matt

    Ben RobertsImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Ben Roberts modelling the 1996-97 Middlesbrough goalkeeper kit. Vintage.

  10. Real Madrid 'faster and stronger' than Man City - Benitezpublished at 13:40 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    Real Madrid v Man City (Wed, 20:00 GMT)

    Rafa Benitez and Thomas TuchelImage source, Getty Images

    Former Real Madrid head coach Rafa Benitez has told Sky Sports he believes the Spanish and European champions are "faster and stronger" than Manchester City after watching the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off, alongside England manager Thomas Tuchel.

    "The strength of Real Madrid is their attack - so they have pace, power, quality and ability - that was the best thing Real Madrid had," he said.

    "Because Manchester City were so offensive, on the day Real Madrid were comfortable playing on the counter-attack and when they were avoiding the first man pressing they could run, they could go behind defenders and they are faster, they are stronger - that's it."

  11. get involved

    Get Involved - What’s your longest wait for an apology?published at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    I would like an apology from whoever gave Gordon Banks food poisoning at the 1970 World Cup, thrusting poor old Peter Bonetti into the fray when he looked ill prepared to do so.

    Stan, Kent

    Stan setting a new benchmark with a 55-year-old grudge. Does anyone have a longer-standing wait for an apology?

  12. 'We are hopeful that Bellingham will not be sanctioned'published at 13:32 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    Real Madrid v Man City (Wed, 20:00 GMT)

    Real Madrid

    Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti on the potential outcome of Jude Bellingham's red card against Osasuna for using foul language: "Obviously we are hopeful that he will not be sanctioned."

    On his side's recent form after only one win from their past three games: "The last three games have been demanding and we have only gotten one good result, which was against City, but the team is playing well.

    "That gives us confidence and a positive spirit. We have to continue playing well, with quality and, above all, what has stood out in the last few games has been the sacrifice and collective commitment that we have been able to have."

  13. get involved

    Get Involved - What’s your longest wait for an apology?published at 13:30 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    I'm still waiting for my apology from the BBC for never putting my comments on the Get Involved section.

    Nick, London

    Better up your game, Nick.

  14. 'Mbappe handles stress very well'published at 13:27 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    Real Madrid v Man City (Wed, 20:00 GMT)

    Real Madrid

    Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti on striker Kylian Mbappe, who scored against Manchester City in the first leg: "He is motivated and physically fit, as he shows. He is a very calm and peaceful man. He handles stress very well and has good stress management skills. He is doing very well."

    Kylian Mbappe celebratingImage source, Getty Images
  15. get involved

    Get Involved - What’s your longest wait for an apology?published at 13:25 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    Still waiting for the apology from Tom Henning Ovrebo, his refusal to award Chelsea a penalty in the 2009 UCL semi against Barca is still absolutely ridiculous

    Ben

    I’m still waiting for Tom Henning Ovrebo to apologise for the four blatant penalties he waved away during the Chelsea vs Barca CL game in 2009. Still think about it now!

    Matt, Berkshire

    Any word from the referee of Chelsea v Barcelona in 2009? Robbed!

    Tom

    Tom Henning Ovrebo and Michael BallackImage source, Getty Images
  16. 'We are going to try to play the same game we did a week ago'published at 13:22 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    Real Madrid v Man City (Wed, 20:00 GMT)

    Real Madrid

    Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti on how he will approach the game against Manchester City: "It will be an entertaining, complicated and difficult match. We have tried to prepare well and we want to recover the players who can help us. We are going to try to play the same game we did a week ago.

    "We will take into account the difficulty of this type of match, a tie where we play everything in 90 minutes.

    "You can tell the players that we don’t have the advantage and that we have to approach the game as if it were 0-0, but that’s nonsense and nobody believes you. There is an objective fact and that is that we scored three goals and City two.

    "That can't be changed. What can be changed is the team’s attitude and approach to the game without making calculations. The objective is to play the same game as a week ago, but we can't forget that we have the advantage."

  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:20 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    Big Andy Morris is still waiting for David Elleray to pipe up about his 'goal' vs Middlesbrough, denying Chesterfield their FA Cup Final in 1997.

    Andy, Dronfield

    That's another thumbs down from Emma...

  18. We should try to have a beautiful night - Valverdepublished at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    Real Madrid v Man City (Wed, 20:00 GMT)

    Real Madrid

    Real Madrid's Uruguay defender Federico Valverde called on the club's supporters to help them enjoy a "beautiful night" against Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu.

    "At the moment we are maybe a little bit more relaxed about this situation, but we have to stay focused and we have to stay strong," he said.

    "We should try to have a beautiful night. We should try to have a night that is remembered by every Real Madrid supporter.

    "We want to be closer to the most beautiful title that exists.

    "We all want to win it and we all have to work together - the supporters and the team - we all have to go towards the same direction."

    Fede ValverdeImage source, Getty Images
  19. 'Jude is a player who shows character'published at 13:14 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    Real Madrid v Man City (Wed, 20:00 GMT)

    Real Madrid

    England international Jude Bellingham was sent off for using foul language during Real Madrid's 1-1 draw at Osasuna on Saturday.

    Former Birmingham City midfielder Bellingham, 21, said his language was misconstrued by referee Jose Munuera Montero.

    Madrid team-mate Federico Valverde says he does not want the midfielder to change his ways.

    "What I want is players who leave their soul out on the pitch, in this case with Jude in the last game, I always want him to be like that," Valverde told reporters.

    "Jude is a player who shows character, who always wants to win, who always wants to fight.

    "This time he got a red card, but I like that he's giving everything, his spikiness... we have to stay united as a team."

    Real Madrid's midfielder Fede ValverdeImage source, EPA
  20. Rudiger fit to startpublished at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February

    Real Madrid v Man City (Wed, 20:00 GMT)

    Real Madrid

    Carlo Ancelotti confirmed defender Antonio Rudiger will be fit to start for the holders against Manchester City after injury, meaning Aurelien Tchouameni - who had been deputising in defence - is free to move back into the midfield.

    However, the Real Madrid head coach added that right-back Lucas Vazquez would only be ready for the bench.

    "We are trying to prepare very well players to recover who can help us," said Ancelotti.

    "We try to have the same game as we played one week ago is the idea. Obviously we have to take into account every difficulty that we have in this kind of game, which is a play-off where everything is at stake in 90 minutes."

    Real Madrid's head coach Carlo AncelottiImage source, EPA