Salah defends Trent | Race for Champions League hots up | Can Palace surprise City?
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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 Chris Latcham and joining me are the Mirror's chief sports writer Andy Dunne and ESPN senior writer Mark Ogden. Welcome to you both. So let's start with Mohamed Salah and that interview that he gave to Sky Sports Gary Neville about the treatment that Trent Alexander-Arnold received from Liverpool fans last weekend against Arsenal. He was of course booed by Liverpool.

A lot of Liverpool fans, not all, we have to say that. And we all know why. He's leaving and we all know where he's going. What do you make of Salah coming out and speaking in defence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy?

I think it's incredibly interesting. He's the first Liverpool player to explicitly criticise Liverpool fans for booing Trent Alexander-Arnold. The players and the manager have trodden the fine line. Their party line has been, well, this is how we feel. The fans are fully entitled to feel how they feel and to express how they feel.

But Mo Salah has said something different, saying that as a Liverpool fan, you shouldn't boo Trent Alexander-Arnold. It's harsh and don't do it again in any of the remaining two games. I think it's interesting because how the fans will take this. I think it'll be really intriguing at Brighton on Monday night when you have the away section, which tends to be in general with football clubs, a more hardcore section of fans, how they'll react to Trent if he appears in the game, if he plays, if he comes on.

And then, of course, the final home game. That'll be intriguing. What I would say that some fans will say, Salah in that interview, it's a brilliant interview by Gary Neville. There's loads of lines. He talks about Salah, only 10% sure he was going to stay. But what he does say in that interview, he says, as a Liverpool fan, we shouldn't boot Trent. Now, what some fans will say is that Mo Salah, as much as he loves the club, he's not a Liverpool fan. First and foremost, he's a Liverpool player. And some of those fans will say we're entitled to boot.

And also, my take on it is that when they boo Trent Alexander-Arnold, they're not booing Trent, the Liverpool player, the Liverpool legend. They're booing Trent, the Real Madrid player. Real Madrid are big rivals and as far as they're concerned, he's as good as their player now. That's who they're booing. But yeah, really interesting for Salah to break with this sort of party line and come out and say, you're wrong to boo Trent. Yeah, just looking at the subheading on the Daily Telegraph's coverage of this story, Mark, is that

supporters' reaction is not the Liverpool way, says Mo Salah. Is this going to have any impact on the way that Liverpool fans feel and the way that Liverpool fans outwardly project their feelings? I think it will have an impact, yeah, because I think

I think alongside maybe Kennedy, Aglis, and Steven Gerrard, Mo Salah's as big as it gets with Liverpool players. And what he says will have an impact on their fans, certainly a lot of the fans. There will be some, as Andy says, that will do what they want to do because that's their right. But I think a lot will think, you know, if Mo Salah says we shouldn't boo, then we won't boo. And I think, obviously, the last home game is when the trophy lift will happen, when Liverpool get the Premier League trophy, and Trent will have to lift that trophy. How will they react to that? And I think this is a move by Mo maybe just to say, look, just don't spoil the occasion.

don't boo, don't cheer, don't do anything, just ignore it if you want to, but don't boo. And I think it will have an impact because, like I say, football fans idolise their biggest stars and most are as big as they come at Liverpool. So if he says don't boo Trent, I think the majority won't. Do you think he'll play on Monday, Andy?

No. Well, I think he may well come on. I don't think he'll start the game. I think that Arne Slott has made it clear. And again, when Slott today, I was at the press conference today with Arne Slott, and when he was asked about, obviously, Jeremy Frimpong and the strong links with him,

The first thing he said, well, listen, I've already got a very, very good right back who can play in that position in Conor Bradley. And I do think that in such a big game, as in big as in the occasion, obviously not in the sense of it's any importance in the Premier League, I do think he'll have a show of faith in Conor Bradley and say, listen, you're on you. You're on you guy here. You're the guy who's going to play this position. I don't think, I think it would be...

really bizarre if he actually started Trent. It'd be like ceremonial and he won't know the reaction. He may well come on to test it, but you know, I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't see him in that last game. Yeah, just picking out one of the quotes. I know these quotes have been running on Sky Sports News all throughout the day, but the Times have picked up on a quote where Salah said, Mark, it's his decision. It's not an easy decision. I said to him,

I don't want to speak to you and don't make eye contact with me in your farewell because I really love him. I think it's going to be emotional for those guys that have shared a changing room with Trent all these years. Yeah, absolutely. He's been, you know, he's been a crucial part of Liverpool's success since, what, probably 2018, 2019 when they started winning all their big trophies. But, you know, Mo Salah does say in there that he's done everything he could for Liverpool and he wants a new challenge. And he's basically saying respect that. And I think...

Mo Salah has had several different challenges at Chelsea at Roma at Fiorentina and Liverpool's latest challenge maybe his last challenge but why is Mo Salah allowed to have the right to roam around clubs and play for different clubs but Trent Alexander-Arnold isn't I understand it's because he's a homegrown player he's from Liverpool he's a lad that's living the dreams of many of their fans but that doesn't mean he has to stay at Liverpool for his career for the rest of his life you know he's

he's earned the right I'd imagine he's done more than a lot of players have left Liverpool in the past because he's delivered the trophies so desperate to win the Premier League and the Champions League so I think Mo Salah is stressing that point that Trent Alexander-Arnold should leave with his head held high in the sense that he's won everything he could win with Liverpool

and he's become one of the world's best players at Anfield. Yeah, let's stay with the Times main page. Villa rise to the occasion, Spurs beaten 2-0, Emery's team have moved into the Champions League places, so they were for a time fourth, they're now fifth because Chelsea also won. For Tottenham, though, it's a 21st Premier League defeat of the season, Andy.

And I think, Chris, that is probably, I think it's 25 across all competitions. It's a stunning amount. It really is. It's really hard to comprehend. If you'd have said at any stage, you know, prior to the start of the season,

Tottenham are going to lose 21 league games. And by the way, if you then said, and the same manager will still be in charge at the end of that 21 Premier League losing streak, then you would have been run out of town. It's just the most bizarre season that you can imagine in the sense that Ange Boston Cognitive is still bullish. He's still got the chance to get them into the Champions League to win a trophy.

But really, really, you have to say when you look at those numbers in the cold light of day, when you look at the predictability of some of these defeats, including tonight, you have to think to yourself whether or not will a Europa League win in Bilbao next Wednesday? Can that even save him? Can any manager of a club with pretensions to be part of the elite win?

an old school member of the big six can any of them survive 21 Premier League defeats yeah that has to be the question doesn't it for Aston Villa though Tottenham did play a weakened squad with more than one eye on the Wednesday Europa League final of course Aston Villa are doing everything they can to get back into the Champions League for a second season that's their third win on the bounce Mark

Yeah, I mean, Villa likely slipped out of it maybe a couple of weeks ago, but now they're really in a really good position. Their last game is Man Utd away and we don't know what sort of Man Utd that will be. Will that be a Man Utd that's lost the Europa League final so that the mood is really, really flat? Or will it be a Man Utd that's won the Europa League final and has got the feet up? So I think Villa now are really kind of

in a strong position because it looks like Forrester, they have to win at West Ham at the weekend and the Forrester got Chelsea in the final day. So I think fixtures elsewhere are probably playing in Villa's hands. So, you know, Villa have overcome the loss of Marcus Rashford who's obviously been injured for maybe two or three weeks now. They've managed to work the January market really well getting Asensio in as well. So I think they put everything into getting back in the Champions League either by winning it or getting in the top five. And I think they've just managed to turn the corner. I think that Villa will probably do it. I think they'll get a result at Old Trafford. And then it's a case of who finishes fifth.

Yeah, camera keeps the dream alive is the headline for that particular story in your newspaper, Andy. But let's focus on Chelsea as well, because the Blues are nearly in Euro Elite. A little play on words there. Mark Kukureya's goal, getting them past Manchester United. Same situation as Tottenham, really. They're not putting out their best players because they've got the Europa League final to come. But again, another bad defeat for them. And Chelsea just doing all they can to get into the Champions League.

Yeah, I actually saw them up at Newcastle on Sunday when, ironically, they played better with 10 men than they did with 11. But I still thought they looked a little bit short. But they're finding a way to do it. You know, I mean, Enzo Mouranescu has said...

you know, he hasn't really had any grand ambitions, but clearly they want to get in the Champions League and clearly they have a squad that's good enough. I mean, you mentioned he's rotated a bit, but that was quite a strong team this evening, even though they've obviously got no striker now, we didn't conco-injured and Nicholas Jackson suspended. They're almost limping into it. They had that run that took them back there into contention and now they're almost limping into it and you do get the feeling they'll complete the job at Forest next Sunday. And

When you actually think of it, Moresta obviously plays down expectations. But really, you know, Champions League really should be the absolute bottom line for their ambitions when they've spent so much money on so many players. Finishing the season really well. That's the sixth win in their last seven games in all competitions. The only defeat was that 2-0 to Newcastle. And if we look at the Telegraph front, full marks, Chelsea and also Villa winning to lift top five hopes. Which way are you leaning for,

which team do you think is going to miss out on that top five push, Mark? I think Forest will miss out. So, I mean, Forest are still in it just about, but I think they've got too much to do now. Then it's a case of, I think you're looking at Man City, Villarreal, Chelsea. I just think that, I think Villarreal get in,

I think City will probably get in. I think Chelsea might just miss out. Even though they've got a Forest on the final day and, you know, Forest are out of it, I still think Chelsea might slip up. So I'm going to say that City and Villa will get in. But City have got Bournemouth at home on Tuesday and we don't know what sort of shape. City have been after the Cup final. Who knows? But it's really exciting because it has been a season that's a lot of predictability about it. The title race has finished really early. The relegation battle has finished really early. But this battle for the Champions League, I mean, it basically covers... I mean, Arsenal are still, you know,

on the brink of missing out, but I think they'll get the point they need. But it is interesting. I think it's going to be really exciting in the final week. We're going to focus on the FA Cup now with this in The Guardian. It's Crystal Palace against Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday. And there's The Guardian back page. Third time lucky. Crystal Palace were finalists in 1990. They were finalists in 2016 against the other Manchester United club, Alan Pardew's dance, and they couldn't get over the line.

Could this be third time lucky for Crystal Palace, Andy? Absolutely, it really could. I mean, I strongly fancy Crystal Palace. I'm judging on the evidence of the two semi-finals. I thought the Palace were magnificent against Aston Villa. City got the job done against Nottingham Forest, but Palace were absolutely magnificent. Their fans were superb. They're playing well at the moment on the evidence of their last game when they beat Spurs.

City, on the other hand, struggled and couldn't beat Southampton. I look at this Palace side and I see players in form. I see Aparicio Eze, I see Sarr, I see John Paul Mateta, Philippe Mateta, I see Mark Gay. And I just see a side that looks really confident. And it's a very, very special day for them. Now, I'm not saying it's not special for City, but there's bound to be a difference. You know, they've been there in...

I think in the last 10 years or so, they've been to 12 finals or something strange, you know, something silly since 2010, 11 or whatever, EFL Cup and FA Cup finals. So there is a feeling that they're used to it. I just think that this just feels like something very special for Palace. I think they're playing very well, but they can play very well. I saw them, obviously they got hammered in the end of City, but they could have easily been

in three up, when he was actually two up, he could have been three or four up in that game at the Etihad Stadium. And I strongly believe that Palace will do it tomorrow. I really do. And what a great story that would be for the end of the season. Yeah, it certainly would. In the two games they've played each other this season, and indeed the last game of last season, Palace scored in the first 10 minutes, really went at City from the off mark. Is that the way that you would expect them to approach a big game like a final?

I'm not sure they have to make a fast start, but I think they'll go into this game with the confidence and the belief that they can do it. And I agree with Dunne in the sense that I think there's a feeling about Palace this time. You know, they're a team that have got players that will actually get in the city side. You know, Adewata, Mark Guayi, Eberichieze, they would get in the city team right now.

So they're a team of players that are full of confidence. They know they can get big results against good teams. I mean, they went to the Emirates and won a bit at Arsenal recently. They've got a manager in Oliver Glasner who won a major trophy with Antwerp Frankfurt in the Europa League three or four years ago. So I think this time, I think in the past when Palace have been to the cup final, they've been heavy underdogs. And obviously, they're underdogs against the Man City team at the weekend. But in many ways, City's biggest game is not the cup final tomorrow. It's against Bournemouth at home on Tuesday because...

If they had to pick one not to lose, it would be the Bournemouth game because that's the one, if they lose that, then their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League take a real hit. So as crazy as it sounds, that is a bigger game for Man City in the cup final tomorrow. And I'm a little peppy saying today that of course it matters to them.

I'm not sure it matters as much as Crystal Palace. There's a real sense at Palace amongst the fans, amongst the players, that this is their time. City have had their time countlessly over the last 10 years. And, you know, sometimes that edge goes missing. Erling Haaland has alluded to it in recent days that the edge hasn't been there. City haven't been the same this season. I think Palace have got every chance of winning this cup tomorrow.

Interesting. Very interesting. I like the angle that your paper, Andy, the mirror is going on. Put your shirt on us. Pep says that City want the Cup just as much as Palace, as we've both alluded to. But Glasner is going to wear his suit for the walkout and then he's going to switch to his lucky jumper. He'll be hot, I think, on FA Cup final day.

Yeah, you know, I'm trying to think now. When you mention that, I'm sure there's other people have done very similar to that. I'm not sure. Maybe Cloughy did it. I'm not sure. But I certainly think that's not the first time that's been done. I like the fact that he's going out there in a suit. I love the traditions of the FA Cup. It's a shame. It's a shame that it's not actually the last game of the season, which is one tradition I think that they should keep or should have kept. But I like that idea that you go out and I think as well,

What it adds to is the idea that actually this is a showpiece game. This is a marquee game. It is still important. Mark there referencing the fact that actually it might not be City's most important game, but it is still the FA Cup final. And you'll see what it means to Oliver Glasner when he leads that team out proudly in his suit and the Palace fans will absolutely light the place up. So it's going to be a great day. And I, for one, think it's a fascinating, fascinating game to call.

You're really looking forward to it. Are you a traditionalist as well, Mark? Do you think the FA Cup final should be the last game of the domestic season?

Yeah, absolutely. FA Cup's great. I mean, I still wish I had the tunnel behind the goals and the long walk out of the tunnel before the game. But I mean, that's kind of shown my age a little bit. But no, listen, the FA Cup is a big day. It has lost its shine a little bit over the years to the Champions League. But yeah, stick it on the last weekend of the season. And I think it's been a while since we had a real upset in the cup final. So, well, apart from last season, obviously. But I think, you know, a club that hasn't won it for a long time or never won it. So I think Palace have definitely got the

the public and the nation behind on this one. I know that Andy's expecting an upset, a Palace win. What would your prediction be? Yeah, I'm backing Palace. I think Palace will win. 2-1. Full house, right. Let's focus on the Guardian back page once again because we haven't touched on Jamie Vardy and his curious end to his time at Leicester. He's obviously been all conquering there. One last Vardy party. Leicester ready for a knees up for their club legend. He's bringing up 500. It's going to be 500, raise the bat and that's it for him.

Andy? Yeah, Andy. Is it 199 goals as well? I mean, what a career. And it's not just the end. Well, it is the end of what we don't know. I mean, it might be that a Premier League club takes a gamble on him. He wants to stay or he gets taken on as an impact player. However, if it is the end of Jamie Vardy's Premier League career, we're not going to see the like again. We're not going to see a player come from where he came from, have the impact that he had. And also, you know what? You know what I'll miss? I'll just miss his cheekiness sometimes.

You know, Jamie Vardy, I remember Jamie Vardy out in Russia when we were in camp in northern Russia, back and beyond. And Vardy was the life and soul of the camp. He was funny. He pretended to be a reporter. He revealed to us all that Harry Maguire's name was Slabhead. He was...

Absolutely hilarious round of plays. Just a real character. Just a mischievous, impish type of guy. And we don't get them anymore. We get more players who are more, well, as I think Gary Neville of Sky Sports said recently, robotic. And I just think we'll miss him dreadfully. Whether you like him or not, whether you agree with some of the things he does, we'll miss him badly. And don't forget, his record has been astonishing. Are our jobs under threat then? Is Jamie Vardy coming for one of your spots on Back Pages tonight?

In that interview, I remember him saying, we were sat down interviewing Harry Maguire and he was just wandering around. He was bored because he wasn't getting a game for England out there in Russia. He got on a couple of times. So he came and joined the pack. He said, it's Vardy of the Vardy Express. He says, I'd just like to ask Harry why we call him Slabhead. And then Harry was mortified because he didn't want this nickname out there. And of course then it stuck and that was it. It was all Jamie Vardy's fault. I also presented him with his Football Writers Football of the Year award once.

And we got down there and his first drink when he started was a port. It turns out he loves port. And apparently that was one of the secrets to his success. A glass of port before a game. He's not going to play in the final game of the season, Mark. They've decided that the final home game, his 500th game, should be symmetrical. Maybe he can get his 200th goal. But if he doesn't get it, he's missing a chance to get that milestone.

Yeah, I remember we asked Ruud van Nistelrooy a couple of weeks after the game against Southampton about, you know, will Vardy want to get his 200th goal and van Nistelrooy said he really wants to get it because he likes the number. It's a nice round number. So I'm pretty sure that if he plays at the weekend, doesn't score and he's stuck on 199, he might have second thoughts, you know, because he won't want to end up on 199. He'll want to get 200. So I'm pretty sure this is his last game. I know that Ruud van Nistelrooy didn't seem very happy about it. He basically said that's Jamie's decision. He wants to end at home. But if he's in 199 after the game at the weekend, he might just have his second thoughts. So,

to play in the final game of the season to try and get that goal. Ruud van Nistelrooy hasn't looked very happy for about five months. New stadium name for the Everton, new stadium, Andy. It's not one that rolls off the tongue. You can't imagine, can you? Next year, David Moyes saying, let's make the Hill Dickinson a fortress, can you? I mean, it has got some stick up here from Everton and Liverpool fans alike. You can imagine. No, it doesn't. What I would say is that

is that Hill Dickinson is a company that does have its roots on Merseyside, does have its base on Merseyside, does have links with the area. So in that sense, I suppose you could say it is appropriate to be going to have a stadium sponsor. You know, would you rather have, say, for example, a national airline carrier from a Middle East state? I don't know. Everton would argue, well, actually, you know, it shows our roots wherever. But you're right in terms of actually...

You can't imagine players coming out and saying, you know, we really fancy ourselves at the Hill Dickinson next year. Maybe they'll abbreviate it. Maybe it'll become the HD. Yeah, I thought you were going to abbreviate it to something else then. They'll be Kings of the Hill, perhaps. Will this draw glances from the executives at Tottenham Hotspur, who are still yet to nail down a sponsor for their wonderful stadium? Everton haven't even played a game in theirs, Mark, and they've already got one.

It could do. I mean, it is strange that Tottenham still haven't got a naming rights for their stadium, considering where it is and how big it is and how many glamorous fights and contests it has. But, you know, Everton have got theirs done and the Everton fans aren't too happy about it. Well, I suppose the club has had so many near misses recently about relegation and finances that it just helps

you know, lay those fears again in the future. But I think the timing's a bit weird, isn't it? You know, the final game at Goodison this weekend, everything's pointing towards that. And to announce on the Friday before the final game this controversial naming right for the new stadium, it's kind of on the back of saying that the ladies, that the women's team are going to play Everton at Goodison next year. It's kind of, it's been a strange week for Everton considering it's all been built up about the final game at Goodison. But it's not the final game at Goodison, it's just the final game for the men. And it's been a strange week.

It's not focused on any of the papers, but we're focusing on Sky Sports News transfer news, Andy. It looks like Dean Howson is going to be swapping his Bournemouth red and black for the regal white of Real Madrid. That is quite the move for a 20-year-old defender.

quite the move. And, and also Chris, I mean, fair evidence as if we needed it of the pulling power of real Madrid, as simple as that, because we all know that there were at least three or four, all the top clubs, let's face it in the premier league would probably been willing to activate the 50 million pounds transfer, um,

Release clause. They all would have been to do it. But Real Madrid had just come in and said, no, it's us. Obviously, the Spanish connection helps. But again, it's just a reminder, just a reminder that Premier League clubs, you know, for all their money, don't have it all their own way. Now, it is Real Madrid. And obviously, they've taken Trents, they've taken Haussmann, they've taken two great players from the Premier League. And they'll continue to do that. Now, others don't. But it's just a reminder of the pulling power of that club.

Yeah, yeah, it might be a big club Real Madrid, but will it be, you know, will it have the fans that AFC Bournemouth do? I doubt that somehow. Andy, Mark, thank you very much.