Liverpool reach Champions League last 16 | Emery fumes at Villa players after defeat | Amorim’s dressing room rant at Man United stars
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Welcome to Back Pages, bringing you everything you need to know about the biggest sports stories making the headlines in the morning's newspapers. I'm Teddy Draper and joining me is sports writer and broadcaster Henry Winter and the Mirror's chief football writer, John Cross. Welcome to you both.

Well, let's start then with the Telegraph Sports supplement. We saw Harvey Elliott with the knee slide there, pictured after the deflected goal gave Liverpool their safe passage into the round of 16 in the Champions League. It's a knockout. Elliott fires reds into the last 16. I tell you what, Henry, we know with the caveat nothing has been won yet. But where does this rank in terms of first seasons in charge right now for Arnaud Slott? Have you known it to be smoother than this before?

Well, it's remarkable the impact he's had. You look at the results, you look at the performances, you look at the big boots that he's filling so effortlessly in Jurgen Klopp. You look at the players who he's improved, Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo. But you also look at, you have to give a nod to the recruitment department, and you look at the strength and depth that came off the bench tonight. Obviously, McAllister normally starts, he came off the bench, Harvey Elliott came off the bench.

And Chiesa came on, I think, midway through the half. And I thought he was outstanding, particularly sort of late on. He could easily have scored. And again, he took a little bit of time to settle in, a bit of injuries. And yet, slot is getting the best out of him. So, yeah, they're marching on. Obviously, he's got to deal with the contract situations.

But you look at the way Virgil van Dijk's playing, you look at the way that Mo Salah is playing. You know, he scored fantastic through ball from Curtis Jones and he finished it in typical Mo Salah style. But it was also the pressing and the harrying and winning a throw in in the last few minutes just showed his commitment to the cause. Trent Alexander-Arnold is obviously committed, but, you know, Real Madrid are interested in him. But,

You know, slots handling all these issues that get thrown at him in the press conferences and on the pitch effortlessly. Absolutely. Back page of the Sun, just the top of the paper it makes. I think it's pretty routine for Liverpool at this point. We knew they'd go through, but heaven and L is the headline. Harvey Elliott fired Liverpool to a seventh straight Champions League win to retain top spot and guarantee a place

in the last 16. John, is it just the understanding he's had of how to use this squad players like Harvey Elliott and how to, off the back of a summer without signings, just make it all work, make everyone seemingly be on the same page and happy despite the contract situations? Yeah, look, I would say that Slott has been lucky, but I think that actually does him a disservice and underplays it really. Because I also think...

Part of the art of management is knowing when to rest and rotate. And I think he has had numbers, as Henry rightly says. He's got a nice depth of squat. He's not leaned on too many players too much.

So he's kind of been able to kind of rest and rotate, keep players fresh, make sure that not too many have kind of repetitive strain injuries and those sort of things, really. So again, tonight, it felt like a procession at times, Teddy, to be honest. And Will had the audacity to score an equaliser when they were down to 10 men already.

It just felt, well, Liverpool just step it up, actually, and get another goal and go and win the game. Honestly, it was so easy for them. And frankly, the game was lacking a little bit of spark, excitement and anticipation simply because Liverpool, let's be honest, have run away with this situation.

I think the table, as you look at it, clearly shows what the case is, which is Liverpool the best team in Europe right now. They've got a fantastic chance of winning the Champions League and they've got a super smart manager who's just managing his players so easily, so effortlessly. He's allowing them to go and do their work, really getting the best out of them at

And as I say, he just sort of kind of dips in and out of his squad when he needs to. That midfield is forever changing, but they get through some work, don't they? They really do. And yet he's still able to kind of keep them fresh and keep them resting, rotating. I mean, they won't be worried too much about the weekend from the kind of the energy they put in tonight either. So it's back to business and trying to sort of kind of chase the other thing that they're in for the Premier League title. It's been a wonderful season.

What an incredible first debut season, really, for Slott in the Premier League. Absolutely. Home to Lille on Saturday in the Premier League. And Henry, a few times there, John referenced fresh and rest. Is that the key? We talk about luck, don't we, in terms of injuries. But do you think that Slott's tempo maybe has played into the ability to preserve the fitness of the player, just bringing it down a notch or two from Klopp?

But there's a mix. I mean, everyone sort of talks about this sort of control that they have, and it's more control and it's less heavy metal than under Jurgen Klopp. But actually, they do, you know, their speed on the counterattack, I mean, that can be pretty draining.

They don't give the ball away. Maybe they don't risk as much. But, I mean, I would dispute the word luck anywhere near slot. I think this is just experience. This is clever man management. Obviously, it's recruitment as well. But the way he's handled players who've not been in the squad, who've not been starting, and then step in, they know exactly what he wants them to do. He does improve players. We've seen that throughout.

He's taken a bit of the heat out of all the contract situations. He's sort of smiling in press conferences. He deals with it so well in television interviews. So there is no luck there. You can argue he's been, whether it's fortunate or what, that Manchester City haven't sort of started the season as we expected them to. I'm sure they'll kick on from now, particularly with their new signings.

But he's not a lucky manager. He's just a very experienced, very calm, very composed, very methodical, meticulous and a manager with great people skills. As we're seeing, you know, there's such a togetherness for the team. I mean, some of the pictures tonight, particularly in the tabloids of all the players just sort of sitting side by side, you know, as if they're on some sort of merry sort of school outing. There's a real camaraderie there.

Absolutely, a beautiful picture of them sitting on the sidelines there, and the hoardings isn't there as well. John, I just wonder with this, everything's seemingly set perfect for Liverpool, albeit they've got a slender disadvantage against Tottenham in the League Cup semi-final, but what does Slott do with that methodical approach? Is he looking at signings now, the hierarchy there, will they be considering that? Where do you think they would look to perhaps reinforce? You mentioned midfield, would that be something to look at, maybe someone to alleviate Gravenberg?

Do you know what, Tony? I'd be ever so surprised if he does a major deal in January. I just think, why? I just think, you know, he's got his wonderful dressing room at the moment. They're harmonious, they're together. Why upset and why risk that dynamic and balance? I actually think...

that Liverpool almost responded to the fans' demands for a signing and went for Chiesa. I mean, Chiesa is regarded so highly as an exceptional player in Italy, and rightly so. But basically, you know, he was on a fantastic offer. His injury record perhaps suggests why. And listen, he has, you know, missed a lot of games, but he shows, as Henry rightly pointed out, when he has had opportunities, he has shown that quality.

but it almost shows, well, the only deal that they did, was it really necessary? Was it really needed? I think he might add actually a little bit of quality going into the second half of the season, but I'm not sure he needs to upset it. It just feels that they've got this wonderful depth in midfield. I mean, what is their first choice three?

I mean, you know, I love Sir Bosley. McAllister is absolutely, you know, fantastic. Gravenberch has been one of their players of the season. But Curtis Jones got into the England squad and rightly so. He's been absolutely phenomenal. I think he's, you know, and Elliot's making strong cases, you know, as another sort of kind of emerging young player coming through. He's brilliant, honestly. I do think they've been a revelation in Liverpool. They've been the best team in the Premier League. They've been the most consistent team ever.

And time and time again, they've been the most entertaining, scoring lots of goals. Mo Salah, I think over the course of the pitch, if you like, has been the best player in the Premier League. And I'm sure that he's got the ability and quality. He's certainly got the determination to score goals, to ensure that they can actually be contenders to win both the Premier League and Champions League.

Yeah, a relatively relaxed trip to PSV Eindhoven in their final game of the Champions League leave phase next week. Not so for Aston Villa Henry. They'll have to beat Celtic, it looks like, maybe to secure that top eight spot for sure. And Unai Emery, after defeating Monaco, reports the Mail says you didn't stick to plan. Emery fumes at stars Tom Colomosi at the Stade Louis-Dur in Monaco here. And he says we're being demanding with the players and some aren't

following the plan. Henry, signs of tensions at Villa? Emery fuming? Are they just running on fumes a little bit at the moment?

Not signs of tension, just signs of Unai Emery's high demands. I mean, Crossy's been following his career for many years, as have I. And one thing we know about him is that, in a way, he doesn't really care about the feelings. He just cares about the standards, the results, the performances, the meticulous game plan that he sets out in training, and he expects them to follow all the way through

The players look at him, they see those high demands, they know he's the first one in at Bodymore Heath at the training ground, they know he's one of the last to leave, almost turning the lights out, probably goes home and puts another video of their next opposition on. So this is what elite managers do, and Unai Emery is absolutely an elite manager. So he will have gone in there and told them, as he said in the press conference, that the players hadn't stuck to the plan, and clearly they hadn't. I was sort of half watching and half an eye watching

getting ready for the Liverpool game. And they weren't really at it, you know, and it was an intimidating atmosphere. It never is at Monaco, so they can't sort of put it down to that. So I think he's got every reason to be annoyed with them. Yeah, it felt flat, didn't it? And some comments here...

John, I want to get your response to this because a lot of speculation around John Duran's future and Emery said here, we were horrible at set pieces. In the back page of the mail, we had two strikers on. We lost our positioning. I made a mistake playing with two strikers. What can we read into that potentially with the Duran-Watkins situation?

Yeah, it is interesting. I'd be ever so surprised if they did business on Duran. I do think Duran cuts to me as a little bit of a frustrated figure at times. You know, he hasn't had too much football as he had. He hasn't had too many minutes since he came back from that suspension, which you can certainly argue was harsh at Newcastle.

um a sub at arsenal on saturday you you know and again sort of emery's referring to that sort of kind of mixing up changing it watkins has been in decent form i thought he played well you know at the weekend um and looks as if he's back to sort of kind of you know towards his best he's been sort of firing again but

I'd be surprised. If you are chasing down a Champions League place, if you're also chasing down, you know, sort of kind of trying to further yourself in the competition as it stands, they're also obviously in the FA Cup and a top four place, of course. You know, I think they've got enough keeping them busy and they've got enough, you know, really to demand two top quality strikers.

I can't, you know, I mean, West Ham have what had sort of kind of 57 million turned down. You know, the talk is that Villa want them closer to 80. I'd still be surprised if they did business even at that price, to be honest, unless Duran makes it really uncomfortable for them. I thought tonight was more about, you know, you look at that, you look at the goal they conceded. That's most unlike Martinez.

Martinez, you know, I mean, it's not the worst mistake you've ever seen, but he pushes it out in a way that's uncharacteristic to him. I always regard him as one of the best three, if not the best goalkeeper in the world. And basically normally would push that away.

to safety rather than into the path of someone to put it in. So, you know, there was mistakes all over the pitch, really. And I have to say, I felt a bit sorry for Villa. They worked so hard to come back to secure a draw at Arsenal. But the demands at this stage of the season is they go straight off to Monaco for a testing, very difficult Champions League game from Saturday night to Tuesday. That's a tough ask.

No matter what sort of form you're in, how many players you've got. And I just think Emery's comments at the end of the game and after the game, just smack of a manager who's a bit disappointed. But I actually think fair play to him. He's not just criticising the players. He's actually putting it on himself, which I admire. You know, basically, we shouldn't escape that, really. I like it when a manager says, actually...

the players did wrong, but so did I. So the players won't be upset, I don't think, by his comments. He's just very frustrated. Manager with high standards. What a brilliant showdown it's going to be against Brendan Rodgers' Celtic next week as well. So, John, come to your paper. The Mirror with stories around Erling Haaland building up to a massive night for Manchester City away at Paris Saint-Germain. Both teams really up against it in terms of progressing in the Champions League. All about the contract, though. It's a

HAL of a deal. Even Norwegian A stunned by his new 10-year special. It's not normal, but I like that. And 115 charges, no issue for Erling. Do you think that shows his confidence? Of course, we know Manchester City's an eye on all the charges, John. Is that his confidence in City being all right or the fact that he'll be all right come what may?

Well, he will be all right. Let's be honest, come what may. Because, you know, even if they were punished, then I do think the clamour would be huge for Haaland. He's an absolute unstoppable goal machine. He's world-class. He's fantastic.

what an asset. I was, look, I was blown away by that. I mean, who signs a 10 year deal? I mean, what a sensational coup for, for City. And he, listen, at the end of the day, he is not going to sign that. And he makes that clear. You know, he did the press today, didn't he? He makes that clear on the eve of, of arguably the biggest game of the season so far. It's the Champions League progression, survival, if you like, riding on this one. Um,

you know, basically saying it just didn't come into my thoughts. And I do admire him and say that, look, he basically saying it just wasn't a factor. I'm confident that the club is kind of, you know, will be cleared. Obviously we stress again, sort of city, city sort of say that don't know that they're confident they'll clear that the club's reputation and name throughout this process. Um,

But he will come back, come what may, frankly. The other thing that sort of strikes me, Teddy, is that basically just look at the transfer business they're doing in January. This is a club that believe that they clearly, I think, will be found...

you know, innocent and, you know, sort of be cleared of the charges. Look at the money they're spending in January. They don't often spend in January, but they're spending it and they're going for it. They're trying to strengthen their squad. The squad definitely needs an overhaul. The first part of the seasons has shown us that there is an aging squad, particularly defensively. They're strengthened massively in defence defensively.

But they're really, really going for it at all levels. Listen, I looked at the table today and we quickly forget that with a few wins under their belt, Man City could be back into second. Absolutely no bother. I can't see anyone, let alone City, catching Liverpool. But I tell you what, I do think City are a team capable of putting the run together. And that's something, particularly with Haaland sort of spearheading the attack, will make the rest of the Premier League defences fear the worst.

Premier League looks not too bad, Henry, but this is a huge match, isn't it? Paris Saint-Germain outside the 26 as it stands and City 24th.

Yeah, it's a big match and it's a blow that Doku, I think he's out. Stones is obviously back, which is important. As John says, they've got the, you know, the signings are coming in. Obviously, they can't play at the moment. But the Haaland contract, you could say, I was at Portman Road on Sunday when Manchester City played there and won very convincingly 6-0.

You could sense a different mood there. It was like this show of confidence from their most high-profile player, their best player, Erling Haaland. You know, it just lifted all the spirits there. So in terms of his press conference today, and as you rightly emphasised, City denial charges. I mean, really, what else is Erling Haaland going to say? So, you know, and also we forget that even though we sort of obsess about all the sort of the noise and the details around a club,

Often in the dressing room, they're not talking necessarily about sort of issues that we're talking about. They're very much focused on the 90 minutes, on training, maybe on one or two players who are coming in, who's doing well at other clubs. I don't think they necessarily follow all the noise, you know, even if they go on social media and see how other people are reacting or watching sort of Sky Sports or listening to the radio.

So I think that is just Haaland. He is just an intelligent guy. I'm sure he is aware of one or two things, but he is just so focused on his football. You see it on the pitch, how single-minded he is and always how frustrated he is when he doesn't score. John's completely right. He's such an important player. He's lifted the spirits there by signing this contract.

Yep, you wouldn't back against him scoring, would you, in Paris on Wednesday night. John, quick word on your piece before we move on to Manchester United. Is this a stroke of inspiration, your piece on Mikel Arteta is going to get teaming groove? Is it inspirational or maybe a little bit partridge? What do you think?

Yeah, a little bit of partridge, Teddy. I mean, this is slightly reminiscent of something that was in the Amazon All or Nothing documentary. So basically, open training today, the Arsenal players put through their bases, had a dynamo, Zagreb tomorrow. And what do we have on the side of the pitch? Two massive speakers, basically. And as the warm-up, as they assembled, it was take me out to the ball game in proper baseball style. And then as they went through their early paces to sort of stretch

out a couple of Brazilian songs really to get them in the mood, basically. I mean, you know, Arteta, it was frustrating Saturday for the Arsenal manager, so he's really got to get a tune out of the players, see what I did there. But then basically, you know, you might remember the only thing I would say about this is it was a bit Ted Lasso-ish, wasn't it? Basically, when he basically put the speakers on the side of the pitch, played your Never Walk Alone before Arsenal went to Anfield and got absolutely smashed by

by Liverpool. That didn't work so well. So they'll be hoping for a better outcome of this. Listen, I actually think Arteta tries to do different things. It's all about making training different, interesting and inspiring. And if that gets a little bit more out of his players and makes them laugh or giggle or sort of kind of talk about it, I'm going to tell you what, as we were writing up our stuff, even in the press,

I can't imagine that it wasn't deliberate. They were pumping out the music and Club Tropicana was coming through into the press room. Made us all giggle. It's a laugh. Great atmosphere. Let's see if it pays off. Let's talk Manchester United. Their head coach taking a different approach, Henry. Ruben goes radio rental. That is a store for you youngsters where people used to be able to rent radios and televisions.

Amarine Brake's TV set in rage after the Brighton loss. Henry, good sign, bad sign, not sure about the boss?

Well, I'm sure Manchester United fans who've been kicking their television in just watching some of their performances recently, was it seven defeats in 15 under Amaran, will understand how their head coach feels. Look, it was an accident by all accounts reading the reports, but it shows how emphatic he is and how wanting to get over his message of his frustration was

from this incredibly frustrating team. I mean, one minute they're getting good results against Liverpool and then against Arsenal, and then the next minute they're maybe the worst team in Manchester United's history, which dates back to, what, 1878. So, you know...

I can understand his frustration because he absolutely needs for them to actually start delivering. I mean, it's quite interesting in a lot of the pieces, they're also mentioning that Jim Ratcliffe, as well as having to fork out for a new television in the home dressing room, is also cutting the wages of some of the most distinguished club's ambassadors. I think it's Dennis Irwin, Andy Cole and Brian Robson, if I read the reports correctly.

So, you know, this is a strange old season at Manchester United on the pitch and off it. We've got about 20 seconds just to get your thoughts on this as well. Mail John has a raging Amarim smash telly. It's old school, isn't it? Reports not sure whether he did it deliberately or not. But is anger the last resort, do you think? Is he running out of ideas or perhaps a tactic?

Do you know what, Teddy? I don't mind if he did do it deliberately. I think the fans will like it. I think the fans will like the passion and the fire in his belly showing how upset he is, how determined he is to turn it round. But yes, he has got a temper. Hey, listen, you know, he's very eloquent, isn't he, in the press conferences. But I'll tell you what, they will like the fire and his disappointment and his anger at the players and wanting to turn it round. So actually, yeah, get yourself a new telly and actually show just how much it means. John, give me 20 seconds on...

Rashford and Garnaccio on the back page of the Mirror. Do you expect both of them to be at Manchester United at the end of the month?

Well, I think Rashford still will go. I still think that Rashford, you know, by all accounts, sort of kind of his representatives have met with Barcelona in Lisbon. So let's see how that works out moving forward. Garnaccio, why would you do it? I think it's obviously to balance the books and try to drive things forward, but that would be a mistake. Yeah, profit and sustainability looms large. Thank you very much, Henry and John. Good value as ever. We'll speak to you again soon on Back Pages tonight.