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4 talking points as Premier League quartet eye Champions League progression

4 talking points as Premier League quartet eye Champions League progression
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Crunch games for Liverpool and Spurs while the Manchester giants seek to secure last-16 places.

Liverpool have a huge date in Paris while the two Manchester clubs attempt to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League with a game to spare.

Tottenham seek to keep their qualification hopes alive at home to Inter Milan and know nothing other than victory will do.

Here, Press Association Sport runs the rule over an intriguing set of midweek fixtures.

Reds need to sort away-day blues

Liverpool v Paris Saint-Germain – UEFA Champions League – Group C – Anfield
Paris St-Germain's Kylian Mbappe (right) and Neymar are hoping to stand in Liverpool's way in the Champions League (Peter Byrne/PA)

Liverpool have been exceptional in the Premier League this season but it has been a different story in Europe. Away defeats in Napoli and Red Star Belgrade have come as a shock and a similar story in Paris could leave last season's finalists in danger of crashing out at the group stage. Paris St Germain – beaten 3-2 at Anfield in September – need a win to keep their own qualification hopes alive and hope star men Neymar and Kylian Mbappe are fit after the pair missed the weekend win over Toulouse through injury.

Can Tottenham replicate their Premier League form?

Tottenham Hotspur v PSV Eindhoven – UEFA Champions League – Group B – Wembley Stadium
Harry Kane celebrates the late winner against PSV Eindhoven which kept Tottenham in the Champions League (Adam Davy/PA)

Tottenham were effectively seconds away from Champions League elimination when Harry Kane claimed a last-gasp Wembey winner against PSV Eindhoven. Kane's goal offered a lifeline, although Spurs must probably beat Inter Milan on Wednesday and then Barcelona at the Camp Nou to make the last-16. Unrealistic? Possibly not if Spurs can shake off their lethargy in Europe and find the form which demolished Chelsea on Saturday and has brought seven wins in eight Premier League games.

Goals needed at Old Trafford

Manchester United v Crystal Palace – Premier League – Old Trafford
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has seen his side fail to score at Old Trafford four times this season (Martin Rickett/PA)

It was yet another day for Manchester United to forget on Saturday as Crystal Palace held them in a dour goalless draw. It was the fourth time in all competitions that United have drawn a blank at home, and Jose Mourinho's side have yet to score in the Champions League at Old Trafford. Group whipping boys Young Boys would appear to be the perfect opponents to end that run, especially as United won the reverse fixture 3-0 in September. Win, and United reach the last 16, providing Valencia do not win at Juventus. Anything else will simply increase the pressure on Mourinho.

Revenge on City agenda

Manchester City v Lyon – UEFA Champions League – Group F – Etihad Stadium
Maxwel Cornet (right) celebrates scoring in Lyon's surprise 2-1 Champions League win at Manchester City in September (Martin Rickett/PA)

It seems a long time ago that Manchester City were humbled at home by Lyon. The French side won 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium in the opening group game, but since then City have scored 11 goals in beating Hoffenheim and Shakhtar Donetsk twice. A last-16 place has yet to be secured, but that should be a formality given that Pep Guardiola's side have won 12 and drawn one (at Liverpool) since their Lyon slip. Avenging that September defeat will add extra motivation.

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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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