Aaron Rodgers knows the Green Bay Packers need to win with what they have got following an unsuccessful push to strengthen their struggling offense.

The Packers were reportedly in the hunt for at least two offensive recruits before Tuesday's trade deadline – receiver Chase Claypool, who moved from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Chicago Bears and another unnamed player.

That left the Packers' offense without a fresh spark, but quarterback Rodgers has issued a rallying cry, highlighting how the returns of Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb can make a difference as Green Bay aim to snap a four-game losing streak when they face the Detroit Lions (1-6) on Sunday.

"That just sent the message to us that we've got to play with the guys we've got and win with the guys we've got," he said on Wednesday when asked in a press conference about the Packers' inability to conclude a trade deal.

"I think there's still a lot of confidence in the guys in the locker room. I do feel like we need to get healthy.

"We've got to hopefully get Sammy and Allen back this week, Cobb in a couple more weeks. We're hopeful that both Elgton [Jenkins] and David [Bakhtiari] will be able to go, and [that] there's no surprises on game day.

"I think that squad, when you put that together, I think we can win some football games with those guys.

"That's what we're all hoping for, is just to get a little bit healthier and then everybody play a little bit better."

The Packers (3-5) are second in the NFC North, though after taking on Detroit, Green Bay face three successive games against teams with a winning record.

World number two Ons Jabeur kept her chances of WTA Finals success intact as she came from behind to defeat Jessica Pegula.

Having lost to Aryna Sabalenka in her opening match in Fort Worth, US Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jabeur was staring down a group-stage exit from the tournament when she found herself 1-6 2-3 down halfway through the second set on Wednesday.

Yet the 28-year-old hit back to triumph 1-6 6-3 6-3 over her American opponent, the world number three, who has now lost both of her matches in the Nancy Richey group.

Jabeur reeled off four straight games to take the momentum and, after fending off four break points to hold serve in the first game of the deciding set, did not look back, clinching a decisive break to nose 5-3 ahead.

A stray Pegula cross-court forehand wrapped up Jabeur's comeback win, and the Tunisian, who is aiming to become the first African player to reach the semi-finals at the season-ending tournament, can now turn focus to her final group game against Maria Sakkari, who she has faced three times previously, losing twice. 

Jabeur's victory was her third against a top-three opponent, after beating Simona Halep in 2018 and Karolina Pliskova in 2020, while only world number one Iga Swiatek has won more matches this season (47).

BREAK POINTS WON

Jabeur - 4/10

Pegula - 4/9

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS

Jabeur - 27/29

Pegula - 11/16

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS

Jabeur - 1/2

Pegula - 0/5

Jurgen Klopp believes it is unfair to expect players to engage in political protests at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

The decision to host the tournament in Qatar – where male homosexuality is illegal – has long been criticised due to concerns about the country's human rights record.

England's Harry Kane will be among eight European captains to wear a distinctive heart-adorned armband at the tournament, in order to raise awareness of the OneLove campaign against discrimination.

Meanwhile, tennis great Billie Jean King has called on players to act as "influencers" in Qatar, but Klopp believes handing down that level of responsibility is unjust.

"I understand 100 per cent that we talk about it," Liverpool manager Klopp told Sky News after receiving the Freedom of the City on Wednesday. 

"But it's not fair to talk now to the players and give responsibility to them, because it's more than 10 years ago that other people decided [to host the World Cup in Qatar], and we all accepted the decision.

"I watched documentaries recently about the election of Russia [in 2018] and Qatar, so it's not about this generation of players to say now that 'we don't go' or 'we don't do that'.

"These are the players. The tournament is in Qatar. The players go there and play the game. 

"The decision was made by other people and if you want to criticise anybody, then criticise the people who made the decision. Not the sport, not the competition and for sure, not the players. 

"It's not fair that we expect from them that they go there and make big political statements or whatever. It's just not fair."

Klopp did offer his support when asked about the OneLove campaign, but reiterated his belief players should not be expected to protest the initial decision to stage the tournament in Qatar.

He said: "That's absolutely fine, but what I don't like is that we expect them [the players] to do something. They go there to play football. The big tournament was organised and planned by other people."

Last week, Australia's players launched a campaign to highlight World Cup host Qatar’s human rights record.

Massimiliano Allegri has urged Juventus to use anger at their Champions League failure as motivation to succeed in the Europa League.

A 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in Turin saw Juve become only the second Italian side to lose five of six group stage matches in the competition, after Roma in 2004-05 – though their elimination had already been confirmed.

Juve required a victory to cement their spot in the knockout stages of the Europa League but ultimately must be thankful to Benfica for firing five second-half goals against Maccabi Haifa to prevent the Allegri's side from exiting continental football entirely.

In the Europa League, Juve will be considered to be among the favourites to go all the way and Allegri has urged his side to use their anger to propel them to better results in UEFA's second-tier club competition.

"We played a good game, it's a shame about the result," he told reporters after the defeat.

"We are in the Europa League, from tomorrow we must turn the page for the championship. We must be angry and immediately resume work and walk.

"On one hand there is reason to be satisfied to have reached the Europa League, on the other hand there is anger for the elimination from the Champions League.

"I'm still very angry and we have to carry this anger inside us in the next games in Europe."

One positive from the defeat to PSG was the return of Federico Chiesa from injury, who had not featured since January, though his recovery will not be rushed.

"He has a lot of desire, he must be managed until the World Cup. We have to take time to have him in the best condition in January," Allegri added.

Rafael Nadal joined Daniil Medvedev in making a shock early exit from the Paris Masters on Wednesday.

While world number one Carlos Alcaraz overcame Yoshihito Nishioka 6-4 6-4 to progress to the last 16, there was no such luck for compatriot Nadal, whose chances of ending the year at the top of the ATP rankings are over after a defeat to Tommy Paul.

World number two Nadal looked well set to progress after claiming the first set 6-3 in just over 40 minutes, yet American Paul rallied to seal the biggest win of his career 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-1.

The 22-time grand slam champion said on Tuesday that he is no longer concerned with competing for the top spot in the world, though he will no doubt be frustrated at bowing out at the first hurdle ahead of the ATP Finals later this month.

Paul became the first player to defeat Nadal prior to the quarter-finals of the tournament when he sent a controlled backhand volley away from the forlorn 36-year-old.

Nadal was not the only big-name exit, with world number three Medvedev also slumping to defeat, going down 6-4 2-6 7-5 to Alex de Minaur.

For Australian De Minaur, it was his first win in 19 attempts against a player ranked in the top five and sets up a third-round clash with Frances Tiafoe, who beat Jack Draper.

"It's a good one to get, for sure," said De Minaur. "It's the end of the year, everyone's a bit tired, but I'm very proud of my performance. I just played very smart.

"I knew it was going to be a chess match out there, both baiting each other to be aggressive, but you also didn't want to be too aggressive at times. It was an absolute battle and I'm very happy I was able to come out on top."

It leaves the path open for Alcaraz to retain his place as the world's best player, and the 19-year-old said after his win: "First round in every tournament is never easy.

"You have to be really focused, you have to try to get a good rhythm, good feeling in the first round. I'm really happy with the performance, the level that I played, and I'm looking forward to getting better in the next round."

Ninth seed Taylor Fritz and 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz lost to Gilles Simon and Holger Rune respectively, their defeats ensuring Felix Auger-Aliassime, who overcame Mikael Ymer, and Andrey Rublev will feature in the ATP Finals.

Auger-Aliassime's victory took three hours and 30 minutes, and marked his 14th win in a row.

"Somehow I found a second wind after saving those break points at 4-1," said the Canadian.

"I played better and better, coming through the court much better, serving better. It was pretty epic. Three hours and 30 minutes on the court, quality rallies. He was making me work all the time. Definitely a win to remember."

Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was also a winner, seeing off Daniel Evans in straight sets.

Kylian Mbappe conceded Paris Saint-Germain did not do enough to top their Champions League group, which Benfica topped in dramatic circumstances on Wednesday.

Goals from Mbappe and Nuno Mendes at Juventus, either side of Leonardo Bonucci's equaliser, seemed to have Christophe Galtier's side on course to top Group H courtesy of a 2-1 triumph.

However, Benfica scored five unanswered second-half goals at Maccabi to win 6-1, the latter of which from Joao Mario in the 92nd minute snatched top spot on away goals scored.

For the first instance in Champions League history, PSG and Benfica could not be separated by their head-to-head record, goals scored or conceded, though Mbappe suggested his side should have done more.

"During the match, we did not know, but in the end they tried to warn us" the World Cup-winning forward told RMC Sport.

"But that was the end, it doesn't matter, we qualified. We came to do the work, that's not enough, we'll watch the draw and we'll play to win."

Galtier pinpointed PSG's 7-2 win over Maccabi on matchday five as a warning sign and lamented the fine margins that saw his side finish second.

"When we were winning 7-2 last week, we stopped playing at the 90th minute," he told Canal+. "We conceded too many goals during the group stage from set-pieces, as we did against Maccabi.

"If we'd conceded one goal fewer, we would have finished top of the group."

PSG failed to top their Champions League group for a second straight season after finishing first in each of the previous four, but Galtier insisted his side have still performed well in Europe's top competition.

"We could consider everything. We knew this possibility. Congratulations to Benfica, who scored more away goals than us," he added.

"Afterwards, I congratulate my team and my group. We had a good group. We scored a lot of goals. That's the history of the Champions League. This competition is sometimes irrational and we saw that.

"We had an exceptional journey. We've beaten Juventus twice and we were very happy until the 92nd minute.

"But if you want to go far in this competition, you have to beat big teams. Let's wait for the draw and see who we get in the last 16."

Stefano Pioli wants to see Milan enjoy a deep run in the Champions League after the Rossoneri sealed their progress from Group E in emphatic fashion.

A defeat to Salzburg on Wednesday would have seen Milan crash out, but there was never any danger of that at San Siro as Olivier Giroud scored a double and added assists for Rade Krunic and Junior Messias in a 4-0 triumph that sealed second place in the group, behind Chelsea.

Pioli, who signed a contract extension earlier this week, was delighted with his team's performance as they qualified for the knockout stages for the first time since 2013-14, though he wants his players to kick on and reach the later rounds of the competition.

"This is only the first step," Pioli told reporters. "We must not stop mentally.

"We must not be happy to have reached the second round, but aim to go further. This group is hungry and wants to do everything possible and even more.

"We are the Italian champions, we are not here by chance. I have strong players, whoever draws us will face a strong team."

At 36, Giroud became the oldest player to score a Champions League double for Milan since Filippo Inzaghi did so against Real Madrid in 2010, with the former Arsenal and Chelsea striker also setting up Milan's other two goals.

Since Opta have collected such data for the Champions League (from 2003-04), Giroud is the third-oldest player to both score and assist a goal in a match, after Didier Drogba for Chelsea v Schalke in 2014 and Edin Dzeko for Inter v Viktoria Plzen this season, and Pioli was enthused by the France international's performance. 

"He is a strong person, a great leader and a great worker," Pioli told Sky Sports.

"He does what a player of his level has to do. He is a point of reference. He is always smiling and motivated. He is helping us a lot to grow up."

Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City's record-breaker Rico Lewis after he became the youngest player to score on his first Champions League start in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Sevilla.

A much-changed City team initially fell behind to Rafa Mir's header in their final Group G fixture, but at the age of 17 years and 346 days old, Lewis hammered home to beat Karim Benzema's 2005 record and level the scores.

Lewis' effort kick-started a City comeback, as Julian Alvarez put Guardiola's team in the ascendancy before teeing up Riyad Mahrez to complete the scoring late on.

Speaking to BT Sport after the victory, Guardiola credited Lewis for his intelligence and said City's win showed the future is bright at the Etihad Stadium.

"What a goal, he's a fantastic player. He's so intelligent," Guardiola said of the right-back. "Apart from the skills, he's so intelligent, so clever.

 "He understands everything. He made a fantastic goal, high past the goalkeeper, and played really well.

"We have a young squad, we have some older players but it's a young squad. Julian is young but top-class, and Rico, and of course, Sergio [Gomez].

"They played in the Champions League against Sevilla, an experienced team, and for prestige, money, everything, it was important."

Lewis' goal came on the day he became just the fifth Englishman to start a Champions League game before turning 18, after Jack Wilshere, Josh McEachran, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham.

His strong all-round performance also earned him praise from City defender Ruben Dias, who told BT Sport: "He's an enormous talent. He's been with us a long time. 

"For him to get the opportunity of playing practically the full game and to score, you can see his quality. Brilliant things from him, he just needs to keep working.

"At this club it doesn't matter if it's a friendly, the Champions League final, or a game in the groups with everything done. We need to push each other, the same as in training.

"It was one of those games, everything is settled in the group, it's a game in which you need to perform because the rhythm is going with non-stop games."

Graham Potter fears for the fitness of Ben Chilwell after the Chelsea full-back limped off against Dinamo Zagreb, just 19 days before England start their World Cup campaign.

Denis Zakaria scored what proved to be the winner just 30 minutes into his Chelsea debut after Raheem Sterling had cancelled out Bruno Petkovic's seventh-minute opener on Wednesday.

Chelsea congratulated one another with muted celebrations at the final whistle, though, after Chilwell was helped off the Stamford Bridge pitch by the Blues medical team following a hamstring injury.

Head coach Potter conceded the left-back's injury looks "not great" and leaves both Chelsea and England concerned over the left-back's fitness.

"Not great, he pulled up like that when he turned – not positive at the moment," Potter said of Chilwell's injury after the 2-1 Champions League win.

"It's a blow for us after an otherwise positive game, to see him pull up like that is not a great sight.

"Fingers crossed when we get it scanned it isn't as bad, it can be not as severe, but clearly we are disappointed."

Potter became the first Chelsea boss since Roberto Di Matteo, who won the competition in the 2011-12 season, to go unbeaten in his first five Champions League games in charge.

The Blues had already secured progression to the knockout stages as Group E winners, but delivered a performance that matched Potter's expectations in their final group game.

"I'm really pleased to get the win. I thought Denis was really good, he played with enthusiasm, he got forward and I'm really pleased with him. It was a great debut," Potter told BT Sport.

"The worry would be if you're not creating the chances. Our intent was good, our play was good and the quality was there from the players.

"We got a win, we got a performance. We're a work in progress but we can be pleased with our Champions League performance."

Zakaria became the 15th player to score on his Champions League debut for Chelsea, with what was his first attempt for the club, though he was made to wait for his chance for the Blues after joining on loan from Juventus in the last transfer window.

"Very, very difficult I have to say. I like to play and always want to play," Zakaria told BT Sport when asked about the wait for his debut.

"When you have to see your team-mates from the bench it is not easy but I was always behind the team and was waiting for my chance. Today it came and I took my chance."

Chelsea host Arsenal in Sunday's crunch Premier League clash and Zakaria hopes an impressive debut will work him another start, adding: "I hope so but I think that is a question you will have to ask the coach!"

Carlo Ancelotti joked of reaching 200 Champions League victories with Real Madrid after he matched Alex Ferguson's record following Wednesday's win over Celtic.

First-half penalties from Luka Modric and Rodrygo, followed by second-half strikes from Marco Asensio, Vinicius Junior, and Federico Valverde saw Madrid ease to a 5-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The win was Ancelotti's 102nd in the Champions League, drawing him level with Manchester United great Ferguson for the most victories by a coach in the competition.

When asked about matching the record, Ancelotti quipped: "Let's go for the 200. Happy to do it here at Madrid!

"It's been a lot of games on the bench. I think I've done pretty well."

The result also secured top spot in Group F for the Champions League holders, who won their pool for a third successive season.

Madrid had to come through matches against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City before beating Liverpool in the final.

On who Madrid might end up facing in the next round, Ancelotti was typically laid back. 

"After last year, it's better not to look at it. Going there [to play the away fixture] first gives you a small advantage, but not too much," he said.

"The return home last year helped us a lot. The second game at the Bernabeu helps us."

Jota grabbed a late consolation for Celtic, who saw a first-half penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois. Asked by BT Sport how important the Belgium goalkeeper is for Madrid, Ancelotti said: "A good team is a good goalkeeper, good defenders, good midfielders, and a good striker – and also a good coach!"

"This is the most important thing," he added with a smirk.

Celtic had their chances aside from the penalty, though found themselves in the unprecedented position of being 2-0 down to two spot-kicks inside the first 21 minutes.

Both penalties were awarded for handball, and the decisions seemed harsh, in particular the second, with Matt O'Riley unable to move away from a shot hit straight at him.

A perplexed Joe Hart told BT Sport: "I don't think either of them intentionally used their hand, I think that goes without saying. 

"I spoke to Matt and he said his hands were inside him, and it hit him – what do they want him to do? Chop his arms off?" 

Teenager Rico Lewis kick-started a Manchester City comeback as Pep Guardiola's side beat Sevilla 3-1 to cap a successful Champions League Group G campaign.

City were without Erling Haaland through injury and rested other key players for Wednesday's meeting at the Etihad Stadium, which was stunned into silence when Rafa Mir put the visitors ahead.

However, City deservedly levelled through 17-year-old right-back Lewis when he fired home in the 52nd minute of his full debut, becoming the youngest player in Champions League history to score on his first start in the competition, breaking the record set by Karim Benzema in 2005.

Having teed up Lewis' equaliser, Julian Avarez scored with 17 minutes remaining before playing in Riyad Mahrez to round off the victory late on.

City went close within two minutes when Cole Palmer fired over following a sloppy pass from Yassine Bounou, before Stefan Ortega pushed Mir's low strike away at the other end.

Mir sent a header narrowly wide, but City didn't heed those warnings, and it was third time lucky for the Sevilla striker when he nodded Isco's right-wing delivery into the top-right corner after 31 minutes.

City piled on the pressure, which finally told when Lewis latched onto Alvarez's pass to hammer a shot into the roof of the net.

Guardiola sent on Kevin De Bruyne in a bid to complete the turnaround, and the playmaker had only been on the pitch for three minutes when he released Alvarez, who rounded Bounou before converting.

Alvarez was not done there, however, joining a high press before finding Mahrez, who fired home left-footed to complete the scoring.

Super-sub Nuno Mendes scored the winner for Paris Saint-Germain in a 2-1 victory against Juventus, though it was not enough to clinch top spot in Group H.

Kylian Mbappe fired home to open the scoring but his goal was cancelled out by Leonardo Bonucci's equaliser before the break in a tight encounter in Turin on Wednesday.

PSG looked to have secured progress to the last 16 as group winners, though, when Mendes changed the picture midway through the second half.

However, a remarkable result for Benfica against Maccabi Haifa saw the Portuguese side score the six goals they required to pull level on goal difference with PSG and snatch top spot courtesy of away goals scored.

PSG's quality showed after 20 minutes when Mbappe latched onto Lionel Messi's pass, nutmegged Frederico Gatti and drilled in off the right-hand post for his seventh Champions League goal of the season.

Yet PSG were pegged back five minutes before the break – Bonucci sliding in to meet Juan Cuadrado's diving header and convert from close range.

Chances continued to be hard to come by for both teams after the restart until the 69th minute, when Mbappe fed through substitute Mendes, who finished crisply across Wojciech Szczesny.

Manuel Locatelli saw a goal correctly disallowed for offside and Federico Chiesa – making his long-awaited return from injury as a substitute – had a penalty appeal waved away as Juve's comeback attempts proved fruitless.

Juve were at least saved the embarrassment of an exit from European football entirely thanks to Benfica's win in Israel, and the Bianconeri will fight for a place in the last 16 of the Europa League in the new year.

Olivier Giroud scored twice and assisted two others as Milan sealed their place in the Champions League knockout stages with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Salzburg at San Siro on Wednesday.

Milan knew a point would be enough to secure their progression and Giroud's early headed finish set them on their way.

Giroud's brilliant assist allowed Rade Krunic to get on the scoresheet shortly after half-time before the former Chelsea striker fired home a loose ball in the box.

Junior Messias added further gloss late on as Milan registered consecutive Champions League wins for the first time since 2011 and eased into the knockout stages at Salzburg's expense.

Theo Hernandez almost put Milan in front inside three minutes but his low effort across goal hit the post and deflected wide.

The hosts took the lead after 14 minutes, Giroud powerfully nodding Sandro Tonali's corner into the back of the net with the help of sloppy Salzburg marking.

Giroud thought he had his second when he tapped home after Salzburg goalkeeper Philipp Kohn fumbled Hernandez's shot into his path, only for the offside flag to curtail his celebrations.

Krunic made it 2-0 just after half-time with an excellent header after Giroud deftly nodded Ante Rebic's delivery back across goal to set him up.

Giroud added another in the 57th minute, smashing home after the ball rebounded kindly to him in the box.

Rafael Leao should have scored a fourth for Milan when he was picked out with a superb Hernandez cross, but his first-time effort came back off the crossbar.

Substitute Messias' curled finish in injury-time was the final dagger to Salzburg's Champions League campaign, though, as Milan cruised through.