Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton moved on to seven points in Group B with a win at Ajax and could clinch their place in the next phase of the Europa League if they win at AEK Athens in their penultimate group fixture.

"I'm really delighted for the result, for the performance, for our fans," said manager Roberto de Zerbi. "I'm satisfied, but I expect always more and more."

On Ansu Fati, who scored Albion's opener, De Zerbi added: "He played very well in the first half but after the second goal I think he could play better. He could score a third goal."

West Ham United

West Ham manager David Moyes says it is good to get "back on track" after Thursday's win over Olympiakos.

Last season's Europa Conference League winners remain above German rivals Freiburg at the top of Group A based on their head-to-head record, knowing two points from their final two games will be enough to ensure Europa League action after Christmas.

"It's good to get back on track. Olympiakos are a seasoned European team and they showed that tonight," said Moyes.

"We're top of the group. We still have two matches to play but I think this is the hardest group we've had. Europe has been great for this football club, we've had some great nights and long may they continue."

On goalscorer Lucas Paqueta, Moyes added: "He took the goal brilliantly tonight but there were lots of things I wanted him to do better. We've got room for improvement."

Image source, Getty Images

We're about to hear from West Ham boss David Moyes in the first of today's news conferences but first, let's see what he and some of the other managers involved in Thursday's games had to say after the latest European matches.

Press & Journal

And the front page of today's Press & Journal says how Aberdeen were eliminated from the Europa Conference League despite a 2-2 draw at PAOK Salonika, which leaves them with two points from four group games.

Image source, Press & Journal

Daily Record

One last look at today's newspapers now, and Brazilian forward Danilo features on the front page of the Daily Record after setting Rangers on course for a 2-1 win at home to Sparta Prague in the Europa League.

Todd Cantwell also scored to give the hosts a deserved 2-0 lead at half-time, before Lukas Haraslin halved the deficit.

The Scottish giants missed several chances to kill the game off and despite a late rally by the Czech visitors, Philippe Clement's side held on for a crucial three points which leaves them second in Group C, two points behind Real Betis and three clear of Sparta.

Image source, Daily Record

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's deal to become a minority shareholder in Manchester United is expected to be agreed during this month's international break, possibly as early as next week.

It is expected Ratcliffe's Ineos Group will pay about £1.25bn to buy 25%.

United's owners the Glazer family announced on 22 November 2022 they were considering selling the club.

Ineos and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani both made offers, tabling bids of about £5bn.

However, neither bidder was willing to reach the Glazer family's valuation, with co-chairs Joel and Avram Glazer both known to be reluctant sellers.

Sheikh Jassim withdrew from the process last month, claiming his final bid, thought to be double United's $3.2bn stock market valuation, had not met the Glazers' demands.

Ratcliffe had already amended his initial plan to buy the Glazers' 69% shareholding and reduced it to a 'majority' stake.

However, it was only when he reduced it again, to an anticipated 25%, that the potential for an agreement increased.

Those difficult conditions for Erik ten Hag? Ongoing uncertainty over the club's future ownership. But we have an update coming right up from Simon Stone...

The I

That report in the i, external says that sources have been keen to stress that Manchester United's dressing room is "not lost" and there remains an overall feeling of support for "a manager having to work in such difficult conditions", but apparently some players are unhappy with some recent "tactical decisions" by Erik ten Hag.

Image source, PA Media

The I

Back to today's papers now, and the i highlights an historic achievement by Brighton.

The Seagulls' win away to Ajax on Thursday means that, during the club's first European campaign, they have done the double over a club that has been crowned European champions four times.

It also mentions Gareth Southgate being "bored" by the VAR drama at Monday's Tottenham-Chelsea game and reports that Manchester United players are starting to question the methods of manager Erik ten Hag after their latest defeat on Wednesday in Copenhagen.

Image source, i sport

Arsenal

At St James' Park on Saturday, the awarding of Anthony Gordon's controversial second-half winner for Newcastle was described as "embarrassing" and a "disgrace" by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal backed Arteta's comments in a club statement - which was called "dangerous" by pundit Gary Neville - and the Football Association has written to the club and Arteta to "seek their observations" about his comments.

Three areas around Gordon's goal were checked by the VAR to see if the ball went out of play in the build-up, if there was a foul by Joelinton on Gabriel, and if there was an offside - with all coming back in Newcastle's favour.

The panel decided by a majority of 4-1 that it was right the Newcastle goal stood because there was not enough evidence to overrule the on-pitch decisions over the ball being in play and an offside call.

The panel also noted Gabriel had gone to play the ball before Joelinton touched him, therefore no foul was committed.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

A five-person panel, which includes three former players and/or coaches, decided there was insufficient evidence to overrule the on-field decision to award Anthony Gordon's winning goal for Newcastle against Arsenal.

However, the panel ruled Arsenal's Kai Havertz should have been sent off for his tackle on Sean Longstaff, while Bruno Guimaraes should also have been shown a red card for hitting Jorginho.

The panel, which also includes one representative each from the Premier League and PGMOL, reviews major incidents to assess whether the eventual rulings, including video assistant referee checks, were correct.

The Times

The VAR debate has intensified after a series of incidents this season, most notably during Liverpool's defeat at Tottenham at the end of September.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was also aggrieved about VAR during his side's defeat at Newcastle last Saturday.

But, as the Times reports, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel has deemed that the decision to award Newcastle's winning goal was correct.

Image source, The Times

England

England manager Gareth Southgate said he was "bored" by the number of stoppages in Chelsea's chaotic 4-1 win against Tottenham on Monday.

The game had nine video assistant referee (VAR) checks, five disallowed goals, two red cards and 21 minutes of stoppage time.

"Well, I was bored watching the game. I was at the game and it just kept stopping," said Southgate. "So never mind the players. What about the fans?"

He added: "Now the flip side of that is I think all the decisions were right in the end.

"So if that's the purpose of the game, then fine, but it's sucking the enjoyment out of goals."

Southgate was speaking at the announcement of his squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta on 17 November and North Macedonia three days later.

He has previously criticised the VAR system for the negative impact it has on match-going supporters and is still not a fan of its use.

"We're looking for perfection in an imperfect world, there will always have to be decision making and interpretation," he said.

"If you search for problems in a penalty box, if you want to freeze any corner, then you could give free-kicks, penalties either way, easily.

"I wasn't for [VAR] at the start and I've seen nothing to encourage a change of opinion."

Tottenham Hotspur

We've got another injury update from north London now as Tottenham have confirmed that James Maddison has been withdrawn from the England squad due to an ankle injury.

Manager Gareth Southgate did say during his news conference on Thursday that the Spurs midfielder was one of the players he was aware was a fitness doubt.

Maddison, who along with team-mate Micky van de Ven came off injured during the first half of Monday's eventful defeat by Chelsea, will remain with Tottenham for rehabilitation with the club's medical staff.

Image source, PA Media

Daily Mirror

The Mirror has the same story on Reece James and adds that Arsenal could look to sign another new midfielder in January as Thomas Partey has undergone a specialist procedure for treatment on a thigh injury, which will rule him out until 2024., external

Image source, Daily Mirror

The Daily Star

The Star also leads on the VAR "farce" which denied Liverpool a last-gasp equaliser in France and claims that Chelsea full-back Reece James "risks" missing out on playing at Euro 2024 after telling England boss Gareth Southgate he is not quite ready to return to international duty having only just come back from injury for his club.

Image source, Daily Star

The Daily Telegraph

TV replays did show that the ball struck Alexis Mac Allister's right arm in the build-up to Jarell Quansah's disallowed equaliser for Liverpool, but as the Telegraph explains, that occurred some 13 seconds before the goal was actually scored.

It also has a story on England boss Gareth Southgate saying that Marcus Rashford "must learn to handle pressure" after naming the Manchester United striker in his latest squad on Thursday.

Image source, Daily Telegraph

The Daily Express

Now let's have a look at today's newspapers, beginning with the Express, which says how it was a "bad way Toulouse" for Liverpool as they were denied an equaliser deep into stoppage time after an VAR intervention.

It adds that Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was "left with a horror show on and off the pitch".

Image source, Daily Express

Sean McGill
BBC Sport Scotland

Aberdeen were eliminated from the Europa Conference League despite Jamie McGrath's sensational free-kick snatching a point against PAOK Salonika in Greece.

The Irishman's set-piece strike from 25 yards pulled the Scottish Premiership side level after Taison and Mbwanna Samatta had given the hosts the lead.

A delightful Duk goal early in the first half instilled confidence in imposing conditions, but Barry Robson's side ultimately came up short again in a European thriller.

Still without a win after four games in Group G, their faint hopes of progressing to the knockout stages were extinguished by Eintracht Frankfurt's win in Helsinki.

Image source, EPA

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Aston Villa all but sealed qualification to the Europa Conference League knockout stages as Ollie Watkins' late winner helped his side come from behind to beat AZ Alkmaar at Villa Park.

Watkins raced on to Douglas Luiz's chipped pass to nod Villa in front in the 81st minute.

Vangelis Pavlidis had scored AZ Alkmaar's opener early in the second half, latching on to a ball over the top and dinking a finish over Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez.

Diego Carlos equalised for Villa nine minutes later when he rose highest to meet Leon Bailey's corner and nod in his first goal for the club.

The result means Villa need just one more point from their final two matches to reach the knockout stages of the Conference League. They remain second in the group, six points above Zrinjski Mostar, who are ahead of AZ on goal difference.

Image source, EPA