Liverpool Wage Bill Revealed
Liverpool, the reigning Premier League champions, reported the highest wage bill in the league last season, increasing by £42 million to a total of £428 million, according to the club’s latest financial accounts. Andy Hunter provides the details.
Newcastle United Injury Update
Newcastle United, managed by Eddie Howe, will host Everton at St James’ Park tomorrow. Ahead of the match, Howe offered an update on midfielder Bruno Guimaraes’ injury status. Similar to his predecessor Arne Slot, Howe remains uncertain about the return date of one of the team’s key midfielders.
“I have had some good contact with Bruno,” he told reporters. “He seems very positive with his injury and how he feels. He has done a lot of work. He is being well looked after as well. We hope that he can come back and give us a push at the back end of the season. We have to treat his injury carefully.”
The 28-year-old Brazilian, who is usually an ever-present when fit, has missed Newcastle’s last four games due to a hamstring injury and was ruled out for at least eight weeks just over two weeks ago.
Champions League Round of 16 Draw
The Champions League Round of 16 draw is scheduled to commence shortly. For those still unsettled by the World Cup draw, this event promises a more straightforward setup. The top eight teams from the league phase, seeded, will be paired against the eight winners of the play-offs. The bracket is divided into four sections with the following potential matchups:
- Arsenal or Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta
- Liverpool or Tottenham vs Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray
- Barcelona or Chelsea vs Newcastle or Paris Saint-Germain
- Sporting or Manchester City vs Real Madrid or Bodø/Glimt
The first legs are scheduled for 10 and 11 March, with the second legs on 17 and 18 March. The seeded teams will host the second legs.
Liverpool Injury News Ahead of West Ham Match
In Liverpool news, manager Arne Slot shared disappointing updates ahead of their match against West Ham tomorrow. Florian Wirtz will not be fit to play, and there is no confirmed timeline for his return. Wirtz missed Liverpool’s recent win against Nottingham Forest after withdrawing during the warm-up.
“I don’t expect Florian to be available,” Slot said. “It’s a disappointment. Every time a player is not available is a disappointment, it’s something that I didn’t expect after last week. At this moment time, I don’t know [when he will return]. Usually when I say that, I do know and I don’t want to share. But this time, I honestly don’t know.
“It’s a big accomplishment for Wirtz to stay fit for such a long time because he had to make a step up from where he played to the Premier League and Liverpool. It tells a lot about his mentality and work rate that he has stayed fit for so long. It is a disappointment for him and for us, because he has played really, really well lately.”
Slot also confirmed that Jeremie Frimpong will be available for the upcoming match after being sidelined since late January.
Europa League and Europa Conference League Updates
In the Europa League, Celtic secured a 1-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart in the second leg, though they were eliminated 4-2 on aggregate. This match is likely to be Martin O’Neill’s final European game as a head coach. Ewan Murray reports from the MHP Arena.
In the Europa Conference League, Crystal Palace defeated Zrinjski Mostar 2-0 at Selhurst Park, winning 3-1 on aggregate. Oliver Glasner’s side will face either Larnaca or Mainz in the Round of 16. Ed Aarons reports from Selhurst Park.
Nottingham Forest faced a challenging second leg against Fenerbahce but advanced to the Round of 16 with a 4-2 aggregate win. They will play Midtjylland or Real Betis next, two teams they did not beat in the league phase. Ben Fisher reports from the City Ground.
Weekend Football Preview
Football fans can look forward to the weekend after a night of European drama. Celtic’s Europa League exit, Nottingham Forest’s narrow survival against Fenerbahce, and Crystal Palace’s comfortable win over Zrinjski Mostar were among the highlights. The Champions League Round of 16 draw will take place at 11am GMT, adding further excitement.
Alongside European updates, coverage will return to the Premier League with reports from press conferences across the country, providing the latest team news from top-flight managers.
The Friday blog remains the comprehensive source for all football news, including unexpected developments such as late injury updates or managerial changes, delivering every relevant story and more.
