Silence critics Klopp defends Liverpool after squandering lead
Forwards score two goals each as Real Madrid demolish APOEL Nicosia to secure last16 berth
have progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League. They have done so in all of their 22 appearances has now scored in Champions League in 2017. It’s a record for a single player in a calendar year
biggest in Europe since September 1978 when they beat Luxembourg club Progres Niedercorn 7-0
has scored in the Champions League for Los Blancos so far. It made him the top scorer in UCL history for scoring for a single club. The previous leader was Lionel Messi (97 goals) ZINEDINE ZIDANE, Real Madrid manager Club: Juventus
Was the first player born in the 21st century to play in the Champions League. Made his debut during the 3-1 win over Sevilla last season. Club: Juventus
Made his debut on Matchday One of the current campaign. He appeared for the last three minutes of
Juve's 3-0 defeat at Barcelona. Club: Man City
Labelled as the one to watch out for by Pep Guardiola, he was the Player of th Tournament at the U-17 Fifa World Cup held in India last month. Yedder 51, 60-pen Pizarro 90+3
Ze Luis 82 Liverpool Sevilla Spartak Maribor Sterling 88
Insigne 56 Zielinski 81 Mertens 83 Man City* 5 5 0 0 10 15 Shakhtar 5 302 -1 9 Napoli 5 2 03 16 Feyenoord 5 0 0 5 -10 0 Talisca 41 Falcao 43 5 2 3 0 10 9 5 2 2 1 08 5 1 3 1 36 502 3 -13 2 Besiktas* 5 3 205 11 FC Porto 5 2 1 2 2 7 RB Leipzig 5 2 12 07 Monaco 502 3 -7 2 Aubameyang 31 Firmino 2, 30 Mane 22
Mesanovic 90+2 Felipe 29
Jemerson 6-og Werner 9, 31-pen Keita 45 Kane 49 Son 76
Modric 23 Benzema 39, 45+1 Nacho 41 Ronaldo 49, 54 Tottenham* 5 4 108 13 Real* 5 3 1 1 9 10 Dortmund 5 0 2 3 -5 2 APOEL 502 3 -12 2
Top two from each group qualify for knockouts SEVILLE: Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp defended his side’s mental strength despite crumbling under the pressure of an inspired second-half Sevilla comeback to throw away a threegoal lead in Spain on Tuesday.
A thrilling 3-3 draw leaves Liverpool still on top of Champions League Group E, but means they still require a point when the English side host Spartak Moscow on December 6 to book their place in the last 16 for the first time in nine seasons.
Klopp blamed Liverpool’s lack of Champions League experience in recent seasons for the way they folded after a Roberto Firmino double either side of Sadio Mane’s header had given them a 3-0 lead inside half an hour. “It is not perfect tonight but it is not a general problem,” said the German.
“It just happened. In this atmosphere we need to get more and more experience. “Could we have done better? 100 per cent, but do I think it is a mentality problem? 100 per cent not.”
Wissam Ben Yedder headed home Ever Banega’s free-kick and then slotted home from the penalty spot to reduce the arrears, before Guido Pizarro prodded home a stoppage-time equaliser to extend Sevilla’s year-long unbeaten run at home amid delirious scenes at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
GUARDIOLA SETS THE BAR HIGH FOR CITY
MANCHESTER: Pep Guardiola set Manchester City the target of becoming the first English club to win all six of their Champions League group matches after they secured top spot in Group F.
Raheem Sterling struck in the 88th minute to give City a 1-0 win over Feyenoord on Tuesday, which — allied to Shakhtar Donetsk’s 3-0 loss at Napoli — guaranteed Guardiola’s side first place in the group.
He wants his team to finish the job by winning away to Shakhtar on December 6 and is mindful that the Ukrainian club are still vying with Napoli for the one remaining last 16 berth.
“We respect the competition. We respect Shakhtar and we respect Napoli,” Guardiola said.
“We play to win the games and after we will see how we finish. We have one game left and we’re going to see what happens. The important thing is 15 points. We are now going to finish good in Shakhtar and win the game.”
RB LEIPZIG KNOCK OUT MONACO
MONACO: Devastating RB Leipzig boosted their chances of qualifying for the last 16 on Tuesday by taking Monaco apart 4-1 that saw them draw level on points with second-place Porto in Group G.
Ralph Hasenhuettl’s team stay third due their head-to-head record, which has Porto on top, 5-4 over their two matches. Monaco are out of Europe after failing to win once and picking up just two points from their five matches. “We were focused and the boys were really sharp. That was a very, very good performance,” Hasenhuettl told Sky.
“Timo Werner is deadly in front of goal. It won’t be easy to have to win at home, but we’ll do our best.”