Key events
As always, I want to hear from you today! Are you off to a match? Are you in Lisbon for the Women’s Champions League final? If so, what’s the weather like? Because I can confirm that in London it’s absolutely miserable – take note if you’re heading to Wembley.
Feel free to also send in any score predictions, feelings, thoughts and all that jazz.
Klopp ‘disappointed’ with Alexander-Arnold boos
A disappointed Jurgen Klopp turned off the TV when he heard fans of his former team Liverpool booing Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is set to leave this summer after two decades at the club, during a 2-2 home draw with Arsenal earlier this month.
Liverpool-born Alexander-Arnold, who joined the club in 2004 when he was six, debuted for the senior team when Klopp was the manager.
The 26-year-old, who is regarded as one of the best right-backs in the world, has made 353 appearances for Liverpool, winning the Premier League, the Champions League and the Club World Cup during Klopp’s tenure.
“I watched the game when he came on and I heard the booing,” Klopp said at a fundraising event for the LFC foundation on Friday. “I am old so I thought it might be my hearing, so I switched up the volume … I needed another 10 seconds to realise and I switched the TV off. I honestly couldn’t have been more disappointed in this moment. This is not us, 100% not us.”
England international Alexander-Arnold also featured prominently as Liverpool won the Premier League again this season under new manager Arne Slot.
Slot earlier said he was not sure if Alexander-Arnold would make his final appearance for the club in Sunday’s home game against Crystal Palace, after which Liverpool would lift the Premier League trophy.
Klopp, who is set to attend Sunday’s match, held up an Alexander-Arnold Liverpool shirt to show his support for the player. Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, who leads the league’s scoring charts with 28 goals, also spoke out earlier in support of his teammate, saying Alexander-Arnold did not deserve the boos.
Klopp said Liverpool fans should not forget what Alexander-Arnold has done for the club. “I don’t tell you, you should not be disappointed, you should not be angry. I tell you, don’t forget. This club doesn’t forget,” he said. “Every day he gave absolutely everything for this badge … after 20 years he decided he wanted to go somewhere else. If somebody should be angry about this, it’s the owners, but they’re not.”
Preamble
Hello, good morning and welcome to another matchday live! We have some huge games to look forward to this afternoon – including a European final.
Arsenal face Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League final at Estádio José Alvalade, with Renée Slegers in search of her first major trophy as a manager. The North London side go into the match as major underdogs having not won the Champions League since 2007 – back when Leah Williamson was just a mascot. Meanwhile, the Liga F giants have their sights set on their third successive European title.
Also this afternoon is the Championship playoff final between Sheffield United and Sunderland. Fans were in full voice across London yesterday as they prepared for the highly-anticipated Wembley meeting, with a place in the Premier League at stake. Sheffield United finished 14 points above their rivals in the table earlier this month, but as we all know anything can happen at the home of English football.
And it’s the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park, where Aberdeen take on league champions Celtic. I’ll be getting you warmed up and ready for these games throughout the day with the help of Rob Smyth, so be sure to stick with us!