A football fan's final wish came true when four Manchester United stars paid him a visit an hour before he died.

Image source, Kayleigh Lawler Carson

Patrick Lawler, 73, wanted to meet the players before his death so his family launched an appeal on social media.

Granddaughter Kayleigh Lawler Carson posted on Sunday: "I want to get this as a surprise, he's a MASSIVE fan".

Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young and Timothy Fosu-Mensah then turned up at Mr Lawler's home in Wythenshawe before he died on Tuesday.

Speaking of former Liverpool forwards...

Milan Baros is now playing for Liberec in his homeland of Czech Republic and he has just put his side 2-1 up at Qarabag in the first group game of this season's Europa League.

Feyenoord captain Dirk Kuyt once scored a hat-trick against Manchester United, for Liverpool in a 3-1 win in March 2011.

The 36-year-old said: "It's a great chance, not only for me but for Feyenoord, for the team, we have a young team. 

"I have great memories of playing against United. We won a couple of games, I scored a hat-trick at Anfield, but I also remember a couple of games at Old Trafford, playing with Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. 

"I can remember a late goal of mine in the FA Cup, so great memories and hopefully this will be another great day to remember.

"I think United are under enormous pressure, because everyone wants them to win the league."

Image source, Getty Images

And here are the line-ups from the AFAS Stadion. Ex-Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar is AZ's captain, while the brilliantly named Fred Friday starts up front.

AZ: Rochet, Johansson, Van Eijden, Vlaar, Haps, Luckassen, Stijn Wuytens, Jahanbakhsh, van Overeem, Dos Santos Souza, Fred Friday. Subs: Olij, Rienstra, Weghorst, Bel Hassani, Ouwejan, Garcia, Lewis. 

Dundalk: Rogers, Gannon, Gartland, Boyle, Massey, Mountney, O'Donnell, Finn, Horgan, McMillan, McEleney. Subs: Sava, Shields, Grimes, Barrett, Kilduff, Benson, Shiels. 

Image source, Rex Features

Here are the full line-ups and benches for the game at De Kuip.

Feyenoord: Jones, Karsdorp, Botteghin, Kongolo, Van Der Heijden, Kuyt, El Ahmadi, Vilhena, Toornstra, Jorgensen, Berghuis. Subs: Par Hansson, Vejinovic, Basacikoglu, Woudenberg, Tapia, Nieuwkoop, Kramer. 

Man Utd: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Bailly, Rojo, Schneiderlin, Pogba, Ander Herrera, Mata, Rashford, Martial. Subs: Romero, Depay, Ibrahimovic, Carrick, Young, Fosu-Mensah, Fellaini. 

Image source, Rex Features

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is happy to discuss the fact that the Europa League is not where they want to be - but plans to show it "respect".

"This is not a competition that Man United wants," he said. "It is not the competition I want, it is not the competition the players want, but it is a competition where we are and that's the reality. 

"We have to look to the competition with respect. I think we want to do well in the competition and for a club of our dimension to do well is not to be out of the competition in the group phase.

"I know that the Europa League is not the big dream of every big player. But you are not in the Champions League, so you have to find your motivation in the competition where you are." 

Image source, Reuters

We had a Premier League on Monday, Champions League matches on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Europa League tonight and the Premier League is back tomorrow and obviously on Saturday and Sunday too.

We want to know are you loving seven nights a week of televised football or is it just too much? Do those of you who live with non-football supporters have to choose your battles carefully with the remote?

I couldn't risk asking for Sunderland v Everton to go on the TV on Monday night, in case it led to grief when I watched Barcelona v Celtic on Tuesday.

Tweet us using #bbcfootball.

Image source, PA

Dundalk winger Darren Meenan misses out with a groin injury, while striker Ciaran O’Connor stayed at home because of a rib injury.

Captain Stephen O’Donnell, who was suspended for the second leg in Warsaw, starts in the Netherlands.

Image source, Getty Images

Only 70 miles down the road from Feyenoord's De Kuip, there is a bit of history being made.

Irish champions Dundalk make their first ever appearance in the group stages of the Europa League - away to AZ Alkmaar. Stephen Kenny's side are only the second Irish team ever to reach this stage.

They beat Icelandic champions FH and then BATE Borisov of Belarus in the Champions League qualifiers, before losing to Legia Warsaw.

Since the 1-1 draw in Poland which ended their Champions League dream, they have won all six domestic games and sit 10 points clear at the top of the League of Ireland Premier Division.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have made eight changes from the 2-1 derby defeat by City.

Only David de Gea, Paul Pogba and Eric Bailly keep their place. Marcus Rashford makes his first start of the season. 

Wayne Rooney is rested and has not travelled to the Netherlands. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is on the bench. Matteo Darmian's future at the club has been in doubt but he starts.   

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Darmian, Bailly, Smalling, Rojo, Schneiderlin, Herrera, Mata, Pogba, Martial, Rashford    

Captain Dirk Kuyt starts in midfield for Feyenoord, with Steven Berghuis, on loan from Watford, on the right wing. 

Image source, Getty Images

21 May 2003 - the day FC Porto broke Celtic hearts in the Uefa Cup final, winning 3-2 in extra time. 

Sorry Celtic fans, I'm not trying to rub your European woes in after the Barcelona thrashing this week.

It's just that was the last game Jose Mourinho managed in the Uefa Cup/Europa League.

Until he took charge of Manchester United this summer.

Image source, Getty Images