Thanks for joining us today. As ever, your comments really made it entertaining for us all.

We look forward to your company again tomorrow, bright and early.

In the meantime, use the links in the summary at the top of this page for a recap of the main news stories of the day.

And don't forget to join us later for our live text coverage of the Europa League and Conference League play-offs.

See you again soon.

Image source, Getty Images

Right, from Wednesday's action back to what is a big night in the Uefa Conference League play-offs for Shamrock Rovers.

The League of Ireland side beat Molde 1-0 in the first leg through 16-year-old Michael Noonan's 57th-minute winner and are hoping to become the first Irish team to reach the last 16 of a European competition since 1980.

Manager Stephen Bradley, however, says his side having to play a league game three days after their shock victory in Norway was not ideal.

Shamrock Rovers will be without the injured Danny Mandroiu and suspended pair Dylan Watts and Dan Cleary.

"They are big players but we said that we'll need everyone and we will," said Bradley.

"We are missing bodies, if you want to go into it, it's madness that we played in Molde [last Thursday] and [Bohemians on] Sunday."

These handy graphics offer a little glimpse into what else Liverpool have in their locker. Darwin Nunez, look away now...

Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

All this talk of Real Madrid's Fab Four naturally brings us back to Liverpool - and like when The Beatles met Elvis - the Reds' Egyptian King.

The question of where would Liverpool be without Mohamed Salah this season has been asked in the aftermath of last night's draw with Aston Villa; the Egypt forward adding to his tally of goals and assists on Wednesday night despite not having his best game.

Salah now has 39 goal involvements in the Premier League this season, scoring 24 times and assisting 15. He has also become just the fifth player with more than 15 goals and 15 assists in a Premier League season, along with Eric Cantona, Matt le Tissier, Thierry Henry and Eden Hazard.

And still the stats keep coming.

Salah is the first player in Premier League history to score and assist in 10 different games in one season. He is also the first player to do so in one of Europe's big-five leagues since Lionel Messi in 2014-15 for Barcelona (11).

Want to see some more Champions League goals?

Click on this link to check out the highlights of all eight knockout play-offs from Wednesday and Tuesday.

And you can also get more match action and analysis from the links below:

• No quick fixes for Man City - Match of the Day analysis
• Story of Man City's season - Guardiola reaction
• Don't dive in Josko! How not to defend against Mbappe
• Watch Ivan Perisic's brilliant equaliser for PSV against Juventus
• Champions League dives and slips
• Stunning strikes, meltdowns and silky skills

John Murray
BBC Radio 5 Live chief football correspondent

This front four, this fab four they have got at Real Madrid - with Jude Bellingham being a part of that, along with Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe - they look like they mean business.

The second goal they scored last night [against Manchester City], all four of them were involved in that before it was finished off by Mbappe.

The big story of the night was what happened with Kylian Mbappe scoring his first Champions League hat-trick for Real Madrid.

Questions were asked earlier in the season about where he would fit in and whether he would be a proper Real Madrid player? Well this run he is on now is 14 goals in his last 11 appearances and 28 in all competitions, so there is your answer, right there.

Right, we started the day heralding Real Madrid's statement win over Manchester City in the Champions League play-offs.

Their performance highlighted the gathering momentum behind Kylian Mbappe as the leader of Real's "fab front four", as dubbed by BBC Radio 5 Live's John Murray...

Brentford

A final word from Brentford boss Thomas Frank on his team selection: "I also think that the last how many games, we have played the exact same team more or less. I think maybe we made one change where Ethan came in for Sep [due to injury]. It's consistency in the team, I think and also constantly looking to see if we can add layers to improve."

Mike from Ashford: Not sure I can agree with Ali from Cov @ 13:38 - once saw “Calamity” punch a corner into his own net.

Brentford

Brentford boss Thomas Frank on Leicester City: “It’s going to be a very difficult game; they will come flying out and it will mean a lot to them to suddenly be out of the relegation zone [should they win]. That would give them a boost and we need to be aware of that.

“We respect them massively, they have got a lot of good players and a good coach, but on the flip side we have to focus on us – what we have done well. We have to trust our own processes, our own structure, and make sure we come with the right mentality and attitude.”

Brentford

Brentford boss Thomas Frank on Sepp van den Berg's fitness: "Sepp got a minor knee injury. You are always a little bit worried about the knee. We are talking about weeks, rather than months, but how many weeks depends on how quick he is recovering. It’s as positive as it can be with that injury."

Along with Sepp van den Berg being sidelined with injury, the Bees are also without Josh Dasilva (knee), Rico Henry (hamstring), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Gustavo Nunes (back) and Igor Thiago (joint infection).

Image source, Getty Images

Josh: Re Rudd 14:36 - the ball hit Konate’s arm after bouncing off Beto’s hand. Are you seriously suggesting the officials should have completely ignored the first handball and gave a penalty for the second?

Brentford

Let's start with what Brentford boss Thomas Frank wants his side to achieve over the next few weeks: "Hopefully, a lot of wins and good performances. I'm excited about how we look going forward with all our attacking players. More consistent performances and winning games."

Image source, Getty Images

Thanks Joe, the question is whether the flurry of thumbs up for his final post was as a "fond farewell" or a "glad you are going".

You never know with these thumbs.

Right, over to you Thomas Frank...

I won't be joining you for Brentford's news conference though. I'm handing over to Craig who will see you through until close.

I'm off to get some sleep and will be back online tomorrow at 07:00 GMT.

I'll sign off by pointing out that my Gareth Southgate post now has more thumbs up than thumbs down, though. What a comeback - from a hefty 30-thumbs-down deficit.

That's Southampton's news conference finished. Now on to Brentford's, our last of the day.

Southampton

Southampton manager Ivan Juric was asked if having the backing of the crowd would be important against Brighton: "At this moment, they [the fans] are perfect, more than perfect if you consider that at this moment we are bottom of the table. All that has happened and they are [still] really great."

On the reaction of supporters during their 3-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth in their last match: "Against Bournemouth, when we started to play good in the second half, the stadium was incredible. They [the fans] are pushing us. When we scored the goal it was really nice to be the coach of the team with the crowd like this."

Southampton

More from Southampton manager Ivan Juric on the comparison between his side, who won promotion via last season's Championship play-offs, and Saturday's opponents Brighton, who have been in the Premier League since the 2017-18 season:

"It's a perfect way of operating. When you are in the Premier League and you have more years you have a greater opportunity to create great players - this is the big difference to us and [fellow promoted sides] Ipswich and Leicester.

"They [Brighton] are eight years there. Every year they can buy new players, sell well and then buy more new players to create something important in the team. Even if they change their managers - from [Graham] Potter to [Roberto] De Zerbi and then now - they are still good."

Rudd there, definitely asking for himself.