Former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has found his home in Brugge after leaving the Reds in 2019.

The 36-year-old spent six seasons at Anfield and was part of the squad that won the Champions League in 2019.

He has played 281 times for Club Brugge, becoming a mainstay between the sticks, something he failed to do in his final two seasons at Liverpool after losing his spot to Loris Karius and then Alisson Becker.

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport

At the time it felt like a surprise appointment for semi-professional Haverfordwest County of the Cymru Premier.

Three years on, and with the manager who joined them on New Year's Eve 2021 leading his current side into a Champions League knockout tie against Aston Villa, it seems scarcely believable.

Nicky Hayen was the first Belgian to manage in the Welsh Premier League and remains one of only a handful of non-British or non-Irish managers to do so.

The 44-year-old's ascent to the latter stages of Europe's top-tier competition with Club Brugge, who knocked out Europa League holders Atalanta in the play-offs, has been as rapid as it has been impressive.

Now he is being touted as one of Europe's "hottest properties", and one pundit even suggested Hayen could be Arne Slot's replacement at Liverpool.

Few of the 273 present at Bridge Meadow Stadium when Hayen recorded the biggest home win of his Haverfordwest tenure - a 6-1 thumping of Cefn Druids - would have predicted their manager would be in such conversation only a few years later.

You can read more on Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen in Alex's feature here.

BBC 5 Live Breakfast

BBC Sport football commentator Pat Nevin spoke to BBC 5 Live Breakfast about Aston Villa's game against Club Brugge. He said it will be difficult for Aston Villa tonight because their away record is "not absolutely brilliant".

Nevin added that Club Brugge is not one of the major teams in Europe, but he was "shocked" at their result against Atalanta.

He praises forward Marco Asensio as a "grown up player" who has experience in the Champions’ League and is capable of keeping players calm. "No one is raising eyebrows at Aston bringing in Asensio – he’s an upgrade".

"I’ve got great hope for Villa tonight but it won’t be easy."

Image source, Getty Images

• Across European competition, Club Brugge have won just one of their last 16 games against English opposition (D3 L12), conceding 42 goals during that time. That win was the one over Villa in the league phase this season.
• Aston Villa will be the fourth different team Unai Emery has managed in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, following Valencia, Paris SG and Villarreal.
• No team have scored more goals from outside the box than Aston Villa's five in the Champions League this season.
• 19-year-old Chemsdine Talbi has been directly involved in three goals in his last two UEFA Champions League appearances for Club Brugge (two goals, one assist).

Aston Villa

A bizarre penalty incident cost Aston Villa as they suffered their first Champions League defeat of the season at Club Brugge after a 1-0 loss in November.

Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez nudged the ball out of the six-yard area and defender Tyrone Mings, thinking the goal-kick had not been taken, picked up the ball.

German referee Tobias Stieler awarded a penalty for handball, much to Villa boss Unai Emery’s anger with Brugge captain Hans Vanaken converting the spot kick.

For England international Mings, who had cleared an effort off the goalline in the first half, it was a horrible moment on his European debut and in only his second game back after 14 months out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Will Villa have better luck this time round?

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery spoke to the media before Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg at Club Brugge.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Emery confirmed that Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley are not available, but Villa's defence gets a significant boost with Pau Torres, Tyrone Mings, Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara all returning.
• Emery conceded Club Brugge "deserved" to beat Villa in the Champions League group stage in November because his side "didn't compete like we want to do". He is hopeful Villa will "feel strong" and "compete better" this time.
• On Villa's performances in Europe this season: "We think we can be stronger and play against every team in Europe. Tomorrow is a key moment for the season, along with the second leg. We have play in a responsible way, with maturity and being emotionally strong."
• Emery says January signings Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford have "added players with experiences in Europe and in this competition" that at this level "will help us a lot".

Aston Villa

Aston Villa captain John McGinn says they have a "no-excuse mentality" under boss Unai Emery.

Having impressed last season to qualify for the Champions League in fourth place, Villa have struggled to replicate that form in the Premier League this campaign.

"I don't know [why we are inconsistent]. You can use all the excuses like injuries, lots of games in a short space of time," McGinn said. "But, last season we adopted a no-excuse mentality. The manager didn't allow us to [have any excuses]. So not hitting the same levels as last season is on us.

"We are excited to get some players back in the squad and there is a bit more of a spark. This squad is going to get healthier towards the end of season, so we have no excuses."

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool

After a morning of BBC Sport readers predicting their round-by-round results, the final results are in.

Seventy seven percent of voters believe Liverpool will beat Barcelona in the final.

See how the voting went here.

Rory Smith
Chief Soccer Correspondent for The Athletic on BBC's Football Daily podcast

PSG are a genuine threat, they are a serious team. There is absolutely no reason why they can’t win this competition. It will be a real test for Liverpool.

If Liverpool get through, they will look at it and say "we’ve beaten PSG, they’re one of our contenders, they’re one of our rivals to win the competition". But equally I think there is every reason to believe that if PSG beat Liverpool, leaders of the Premier League, they will look at it and think OK, there is nothing left for us to fear in Europe.

Image source, Getty Images

Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa defender on The Football News Show

I think Liverpool will be slightly disappointed to draw PSG; ideally they would have liked Benfica.

But if you are going to win the Champions League, you are going to have to beat some big teams along the way.

Liverpool will fancy their chances against PSG, who have been a little bit hit and miss.

Aston Villa will be happy with Club Brugge, and boss Unai Emery has been here before in this European competition.

Usually, he has success a lot more in the Europa League but in the Champions League he had that magnificent run with Villarreal [in the 2021-22 season], so we know he's capable of balancing it.

Liverpool

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

If you're just joining us, here's the major news lines so far today:

• Liverpool's available players took part in open training ahead of facing PSG in their Champions League first leg match tomorrow.
• Opta have made Liverpool their favourites to win the Champions League this season, predicting that the Reds have a 19.% chance of lifting the trophy.
• Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola tells 5 Live Breakfast they must "earn the right to compete for European football" amid a strong Premier League campaign.
• Nottingham Forest completed the octet of clubs in the FA Cup quarter-finals last night as they beat Ipswich Town 5-4 on penaltes.
• Aston Villa and Arsenal are in Champions League round of 16 action tonight, Villa visiting Club Brugge before Arsenal take on PSV in their first leg matches.

Liverpool

And that is that for open training - cameras are turned off, and Arne Slot will continue his preparations for Liverpool v PSG tomorrow with his team in private.

Liverpool

Does wearing a bib mean you are starting? I doubt it, but Mohamed Salah has one on, as does Luis Diaz. Remember that when the team comes out.

Being on Salah's team is key for that one.

Liverpool

Dominik Szoboszlai is full of energy in a game of which side can keep the ball the longest. The 24-year-old scored in Liverpool's last two games against Manchester City and Newcastle.

You can see why he is one of Arne Slot's favourites, he does not stop running.

Image source, Reuters

Liverpool

A fun game of tag is now happening. We'd fancy ourselves impressing Arne Slot in that one. If only football training was that easy.

The bibs are now going on and some proper football will commence.

Image source, Reuters

Liverpool

Diogo Jota has struggled with injuries this season, resulting in Arne Slot saying his minutes need to be managed.

The Portugal forward looks loose and sharp as he goes through some running. Staying fit has been Jota's main problem, not scoring!

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool

Some laughs between Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Nunez. The mood in camp looks good. The first drill is some stretching between poles.

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot was on the pitches before his players, chatting to his coaches and doing some keepy-ups. He wasn't bad.

Here come the players now, led by captain Virgil van Dijk.

Image source, Reuters