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Alan: Whereas I can understand Spurs supporters venting their anger on anyone but the manager and also not wanting to get into the sacking game, I fear they're backing the wrong horse. Look at how Bournemouth are coping with an horrendous injury list and then look at Spurs. Levy is not deciding tactics and strategies or am I missing something and he is on the touchline? This comes down to one man and Spurs fans are in denial.

Tim, Southport: Several comments and views on here reference to the Rashford situation. Why is it considered not to be the "done thing" for a manager to openly criticise his player(s)? It's only ever the manager or coach who gets sacked for poor performances. I think Amorim is 100% within his rights to tell it how it is, he has his job, career and reputation on the line, if Rashford is on ridiculous wages, that lies solely with Man Utd for offering/agreeing to them. Rashford is accountable, in any other walk of life he would be sacked for his attitude and performance. I think it is long overdue, a manager publicly calling out players who do not put the effort in, in relation to training, attitude, lifestyle and performance.

Phil: Hello, Tim. I think public criticism of players has to be weighed up very carefully. Is Amorim likely to be able to go back to Rashford and play him ever again after what he has said about him? Will his comments put off any potential buyers? These are the risks, which also apply with public criticism of a team as well as individuals.

I will not make any judgement on Rashford's attitude in training because I do not see him in training so it would be wrong of me to do so. The same applies to his lifestyle. Some managers employ a strict policy of never criticising their players in public. This clearly does not apply to Amorim, who did also include himself in some recent criticism.

He is, as you point out, within his rights to say these things but whether his strategy will work is another discussion entirely.What I will say is that, speaking from a journalist’s point of view, Amorim is Box Office.

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Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester United pair Dan Gore and Harry Amass have both struggled to break into the first team picture at Old Trafford this season despite the change of manager.

United do have high hopes for them both but it seems a loan move for the latter part of the campaign would be the best way forward.

There is interest but now there is under a week to get something sorted out.

Liverpool

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has returned to training following seven-match absence after sustaining a hamstring injury at West Ham on December 29.

However, midfielder Curtis Jones, who missed Saturday's win over Ipswich with a groin problem, and striker Diogo Jota, who has been out for a fortnight with a muscle injury, have yet to rejoin the squad.

Stiliyan Petrov
Former Aston Villa midfielder on The Football News Show

The new format does suit the kind of clubs who never had the joy in the past years. It all depends on the draw, it seems like Celtic did have a good draw. They have managed to go through the knockout stage which was very important.

There's always questions about the Scottish league and how Celtic can do in Europe and I think Brendan Rodgers has done a tremendous job.

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What can you remember from the first phase of the Champions League so far?

Click here to test your knowledge with our quiz.

The concept is that - if league positions are valid barometers of a strength of a team - 9th or 10th will eliminate 23rd or 24th in the play-offs, 11th or 12th will eliminate 21st or 22nd and so on.

So the lowest placed side remaining after the play-offs would be the team which finished 16th.

Of course, football doesn't always work like that AND Manchester City may well end up being one of those sides who finish low down.

Stiliyan Petrov
Former Aston Villa midfielder on The Football News Show

It is a huge game. Battle of Britain, that's what they usually call these games. I've played in a couple of these games and I know the pressure and the demand.

Aston Villa are really comfortable in the Champions League, really strong performances.

They've had a few oppportunities in away games where they could make up some more points but I think they're sitting in a comfortable position and unfortunately they have to wait for other results to go through to the last eight.

I think it's been a very positive campaign for Aston Villa.

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Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery on the bonus of avoiding the play-offs:

"It could be good if we are in the top eight to rest, trying to recover players and in the training sessions.

"We can feel in our process less time to work in the training session. Of course competing as well we have to practice in official matches.

"Of course we are playing on Sunday, tomorrow, on Saturday. We have players injured but it’s a new objective for players getting less minutes. I want to get into the top eight because it’s a good opportunity."

Matt, Birmingham: Question for Phil - what does he make of Watkins and Duran battling for the lead striker role at Villa? They seem too similar to play effectively as a partnership, and I don't think Duran is content to be a bench player. Could he leave?

Phil: Hi, Matt. I think it is becoming increasingly clear that Villa manager Unai Emery does not think Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran is a viable strategy. He said as much when he commented on how Villa lacked organisation when they played together in the Champions League defeat at Monaco.

Watkins is, it seems, first choice but Duran is a real talent, albeit something of a maverick. Villa have reportedly turned down a £57m offer from West Ham for the player who is under contract until 2030, having signed a new deal earlier this season.

Emery has made it clear he wants Duran to stay at Villa, but the club’s response would be interesting if they received a blockbuster offer from somewhere in the next few days as I cannot imagine him wanting to be a player just coming off the bench.

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Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery on facing Celtic:

"They are a very prestigious club.We have 13 points with the possibility to be in the top eight and we are doing fantastic in the Champions League this year.

"Even when we lost at Monaco we played I the way I want. Tomorrow is a big incentive. It is a special match for the supporters. I played in the Champions League against them with another club."

On whether he will be keeping an eye on results elsewhere:

"I want to be active and play and enjoy the way. In case, if we are, we will see.

"Of course I want to be in the top eight. Last week I was a bit pessimistic, after the match against Monaco, but overall we are doing a fantastic way. It’s not in our hands but other teams as well have to win tomorrow and I want to play the match, enjoy it with our supporters, we are excited and motivated. The players are enjoying it in the Champions League.

"At the end of the match we will watch the other results."

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Unai Emery had a huge job on his hands when he agreed to replace Steven Gerrard in November 2022.

Villa were lurking around the relegation zone and looked a shell of the side that we have seen emerge since the Spaniard took the reins.

Emery led Villa to seventh in the Premier League in his first season and backed that up with a fourth place finish last term.

The 53-year-old has a history of success in Europe, winning the Europa League on four occasions - three times with Sevilla and once at Villarreal - while he finished runner-up during his time at Arsenal.

Villa, who won the European Cup in 1982, are now reaping the rewards of his experience.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery on the status of injured defender Tyrone Mings and whether injuries have impacted their plans in the January transfer window:

"We will see [about Tyrone Mings] this afternoon, we are going to train and decide on every player for the match tomorrow.

"Or one player like Lamare Bogarde who has played and helped us. He’s training sometimes as a centre-back and he will have to be ready but we are thinking about letting him leave on loan, he needs more experience to be ready to play with us."

On whether he has enough versatility within his squad:

"We have enough players to compete and feel confident. Some versatile players have to feel comfortable when they are playing. With Lucas Digne, he is an experienced player and he can feel confident paying as a centre back in case we need like Sunday.

"I am analysing everything, if Tyrone Mings is available he will play.

"I believe in the squad we have. We have injured players but this is something everyone has."

• Wednesday's Champions League tie between Aston Villa and Celtic will be the first time the two clubs have met in a competitive capacity.
• Villa's only previous European fixture against a fellow British club came in qualifying for the 2023-24 Conference League, winning 8-0 on aggregate against Hibernian.
• Based on the quality of shots on target faced (via expected goals on target), only Girona's Paulo Gazzaniga (+5.1) has prevented more goals than Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez in the Champions League this season (+4.7 - four conceded from 8.7 xGoT). Overall, the Villa goalkeeper has saved 31 of the 35 shots on target he has faced (88.6%).

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Aston Villa finished fourth in the Premier League last season to secure a berth in the Champions League for the first time in their history, while also ending a 41-year wait to return to European competition.

Villa flew out of the blocks in the new group phase format, winning their opening three games against Young Boys, Bayern Munich and Bologna.

They fell to a first defeat at the hands of Club Brugge, who travel to Manchester City tomorrow night, but have since recovered to take four points from their following three games - drawing with Juventus and beating RB Leipzig.

Unai Emery's side have amassed 13 points across seven fixtures to sit ninth in the standings and they look well placed to earn a play-off spot at the very least.

Victory could propel them into the top eight, guaranteeing a place in the last 16, but they would require results elsewhere to go their way.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

The overflow car park at Bodymoor Heath is in full use ahead of Unai Emery's press conference this afternoon.

Aston Villa host Celtic knowing victory could send them through to the last 16 in the Champions League, although they will need other results to go their way - including Atalanta failing to beat Barcelona.

Going into all the permutations gets convoluted but Villa, who are ninth, are already assured of a play-off spot regardless of what happens on Wednesday evening.

The knockout phase play-off draw takes place at 11:00 GMT on Friday 31 January in Nyon, Switzerland.

The top eight qualify automatically for the Round of 16 and those finishing ninth to 24th compete in a two-legged play-off.

The first legs will take place on 11/12 February followed by the second legs on 18/19 February.

Here's who will play who once the final standings are locked in.

Teams that finish between ninth and 16th will be seeded in the knockout phase play-off draw.

It means they will face a team that finishes between 17th to 24th.

Who the seeded teams will face will be determined by a draw but clubs will only have two possible opponents.

For example, the teams that finish 11th and 12th are paired together and will play a team that finishes 21st or 22nd.

Another bracket will pair the teams that finish ninth and 10th in the table, playing either the team that was 23rd or 24th.

The two pairs of fixtures will be drawn into opposite halves of the overall draw and the seeded teams will play the second leg of the play-off at home as a reward for finishing higher than their opponent in the league phase.

Unlike in previous years, teams eliminated from the Champions League - either in the group phase or via losing a play-off - will not drop into the Europa League.