Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s football

Xabi Alonso, the manager of Real Madrid, is receiving support from club legend as the team prepares for a crucial Champions League match against Manchester City at the Etihad. This match is pivotal for Alonso's future at the club, especially following recent disappointing performances and potential injuries to key players.

Jürgen Klopp, the former coach of Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, has been appointed to the supervisory board of Germany's Sports Aid Foundation, which supports high-performance athletes. This announcement was made on Wednesday, alongside the inclusion of German State Minister for Sport Christiane Schenderlein and two other new members.

Real Madrid and Manchester City are set to clash in a highly anticipated Champions League match, with both clubs being among the most successful in Europe in recent years. The match is particularly significant as it could impact the future of Real Madrid's manager, Xabi Alonso, who is under pressure following a series of disappointing performances and potential injuries to key players.

Dominik Szoboszlai stated that Liverpool players will not attempt to influence Mohamed Salah's future, emphasizing that the decision rests solely with the player and the club. Salah's absence from the squad during a recent Champions League match against Inter Milan followed his critical comments about the team's direction, raising questions about his future at Liverpool.

Liverpool secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Inter Milan in the Champions League, despite the absence of star forward Mohamed Salah, who has been embroiled in controversy regarding his future at the club. Chelsea faced a setback, losing to Atalanta, while Barcelona managed to defeat Eintracht Frankfurt, marking a mixed night for European football's elite.

Liverpool secured a significant victory against Inter Milan in the Champions League, marking Inter's first European home defeat since September 2022. The match saw Dominik Szoboszlai stepping up to take a crucial penalty in the absence of Mohamed Salah, who was left out of the squad amid ongoing tensions with manager Arne Slot. Fans at San Siro expressed their support for Slot during the match.

Arsenal secured a place in the Champions League knockout stage with a hard-fought victory over Twente at Meadow Park, thanks to an early goal from Beth Mead. This win guarantees Arsenal a top 12 finish in the league phase and keeps their hopes alive for a top four finish, which would allow them to advance directly to the quarter-finals depending on upcoming results.

Pep Guardiola has urged his restructured Manchester City squad to demonstrate their capabilities in the upcoming Champions League match against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, emphasizing the transitional phase the team is undergoing. The absence of key players from previous encounters adds pressure to the squad as they prepare for this significant fixture.