Verratti in final warning
MARCO VERRATTI has told Liverpool to prepare for an in-your-face “final” showdown against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
PSG are third in Group C of the Champions League behind Liverpool and Napoli with only a point between the trio.
A win over the Reds would give the French side an advantage going into their last game, while defeat could end their hopes of making the knockout stage.
Verratti (right) said: “One of us, Napoli and Liverpool will stay out of the second round – and I don’t want PSG to be that team.
“We are excited by a very difficult match against Liverpool at home but we have confidence. Wednesday will be like a Champions League Final.”
Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are expected to be fit for PSG after picking up knocks on international duty.
PSG v Liverpool Wednesday, 8pm, BT Sport 2 SOLID CORK: Jack Cork will be up against familiar faces tomorrow Jan 2018: Newcastle 1 Burnley 1 Oct 2017: Burnley 1 Newcastle 0 Jan 2015: Newcastle 3 Burnley 3 Dec 2014: Burnley 1 Newcastle 1 Mar 1983: Burnley 1 Newcastle 0
Burnley – 42 wins Newcastle – 40 wins Draws – 20
FORGET about the Old Pals’ Act – this is the Old Pals’
AXE.
There will be no love lost when Burnley’s Jack Cork comes face to face with Newcastle pair Jonjo Shelvey and Federico Fernandez at Turf Moor tomorrow night. The three were team-mates at Swansea but this is the battle at the bottom, a scrap for Premier League survival.
And friendship off the pitch does not come into it when getting those valuable three points is all that season by the rigours of trying to repeat the heroics of the last campaign when Burnley finished seventh.
But he has found the perfect way to relax in his downtime – by making plans to buy a couple of racehorses with help from former Toon striker Michael Owen.
Cork added: “We’re going to buy a couple of two-year-olds for the new season with a couple of the lads.
“I love being involved and we went down to Michael Owen’s yard and had a look.
“We’re talking to Michael at the minute and it’s nice to be able to go down there.
“I’m just trying to do something else, especially when results aren’t ideal.
“There is a lot of focus on football and trying to get results. So it’s nice to have a day off and take your mind off football and have something else to focus on.
“I feel that something like that takes your mind off it. It’s a little bit less enjoyable when you are not winning and getting results.
“But it’s still the same club. It’s a great changing room to be in, a great staff to be working under and the fans are never negative. It’s still a good place to be.”
Cork would also love a return to the England fold.
The ex-Chelsea man made his only appearance for his country 12 months ago as a late substitute in the draw with Germany at Wembley.
And he would welcome another crack in Gareth Southgate’s new-look squad.
Cork said: “I was grateful to play, I didn’t think I was going to get a chance. I’d love to be involved again.”
Burnley v Newcastle, Tomorrow,
8pm, Sky Sports Main Event