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Time to shine
Erik ten Hag has challenged his squad players to make the most of their opportunity when Manchester United face Real Betis tonight.
After winning the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie 4-1, Ten Hag will ring the changes in Spain.
His hand has been forced to a certain extent by the absence of the likes of Anthony Martial and Alejandro Garnacho but the Dutchman is keen to see others step up in their place.
The United boss, 53, said: “When players get injured, other players have to fill in.
“I think the whole season was not optimum. We lost a lot of players during the season.
“But every time we put a team on the pitch [we are] really acting as a team who can adjust and deal with setbacks.'”
Lay off Trent
Andrew Robertson cannot understand why Liverpool team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold receives so much criticism.
Speaking on Kammy and Ben’s Proper Football Podcast, 29-year-old Robertson said: “People are quick to talk players up, especially English players. But they’re also quick to knock them back down again.
“Since he’s come onto the scene, he’s been frightening… what he’s done with a football, what he’s done for the game, what he’s done for the club.
“He’s been unbelievable. We all show weaknesses. Every full-back gets beaten by a winger every now and again. We all have dips of form.
“Maybe when Trent has a wee dip in form, a lot more gets said about it than other players. I don’t know why but I know he’s a strong character and he can block it out.
“When things get said, I don’t worry about him. That’s for sure. But yeah, the criticism of him is quite heavy and I don’t really know why.”
Out of Toon
Newcastle attacker Anthony Gordon faces a fitness battle after a scan revealed his recovery from an ankle injury may not be as straightforward as hoped.
The £45million January signing from Everton sustained the damage in the 2-0 defeat at Manchester City earlier this month and is now racing to be ready for Manchester United’s visit to St James’ Park on April 2.
Asked if Gordon, 22, would be fit for that game, Toon boss Eddie Howe said: “That’s the plan. We’re trying.
“The scan wasn’t plain sailing, it wasn’t a shoo-in. It wasn’t a week or two injury.
“It’s slightly more serious than that, so we’re doing everything we can to get him back as quickly as possible.
“At the moment he’s in a period where he’s staying off the grass, staying off his feet, and the injury’s healing.
“It feels good but he’s got work to do to get ready for that game.”
Firing blanks
Patrick Vieira is concerned his shot-shy team may cost Crystal Palace their Premier League status.
The Eagles slipped to a 1-0 defeat at rivals Brighton last night as their run without a goal stretched to four games.
And Vieira admits he is beginning to worry about the fact his side have not found the net since a 1-1 draw at Brentford on February 18.
He said: “I’m concerned about scoring goals. When I look at the team performance, work ethic, our organisation and how the players execute our plan, I was pleased with that.
“The worry I have is that when you create those opportunities but don’t take them.
“We have to score those goals. The players, especially those front players, have to change their mindset.
“We have to be more aggressive going forward, we have to be more aggressive in the last third.
“I’m not going to stop putting the pressure on that until we get we want.”
Palace, who sit just three points above the drop zone in 12th, head to league leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
Look on the bright side
Michael Owen does not believe it is all doom and gloom at Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds saw their Champions League campaign come to an end last night as Real Madrid picked up a 1-0 win at the Bernabeu to seal a 6-2 aggregate victory in the last 16.
But Owen, 43, does not buy into the theory that Klopp has squeezed all he can out of his current squad.
The former Reds striker said: “Liverpool’s strength is that group of players who have been to the trenches and won together. That takes years of building. Why is everyone talking about a refresh?
“I think Liverpool have got enough. Looking through their starting XI, there’s nobody out there better than their goalkeeper.
“Their right-back is unbelievable, the left-back as well. Virgil van Dijk is probably the best in the world when he is on form. Ibrahima Konate is brilliant.
“The front five are brilliant. Darwin Nunez was the hottest striker around last year. Cody Gakpo was one of the stars of the World Cup.
“When they bought Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, they weren’t £100m players, they weren’t the best in the world at the time.
“Nunez could be anything, he could be one of the best in the world in five years.”
