Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah returned to training ahead of the Europa League last-16 first leg against Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic.

The Egypt international’s presence with the rest of the squad at the AXA training complex ahead of their flight out was more significant in the context of the week, with Premier League title rivals Manchester City due at Anfield on Sunday.

Salah has played just 46 minutes since leaving the African Cup of Nations early with a hamstring injury on January 18.

Those came in one substitute appearance against Brentford in mid-February, after which the 31-year-old was sidelined with what manager Jurgen Klopp said was muscle fatigue.

Manchester City goalkeeper Khiara Keating believes she has been forced to grow up quickly since taking over as the team’s number one.

The 19-year-old, who replaced Ellie Roebuck as manager Gareth Taylor’s preferred choice in goal at the start of the season, has excelled as the team have emerged as challengers for the Women’s Super League title.

The 2-1 victory against Everton on Saturday saw her concede for the first time since January 21, bringing to an end a run of five consecutive clean sheets in all competitions, with City now level on points with reigning champions Chelsea.

They have also progressed to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup thanks in no small part of a superb individual display from Keating as the team eliminated Arsenal in February.

They will face Chelsea on Thursday for a place in the League Cup final, but it is in the WSL where City have caused the biggest disruption, helped by having the best defensive record in the league with only nine goals conceded.

“It’s gone really well,” Keating told the PA news agency. “Having so many clean sheets in a row, not just in the league but in other competitions as well, just shows how well we are doing as a unit this season.

“We’ve got the best defence stats in the league. I only play my part with those around me. It makes my job fairly easy.

“The more games you play, the more confident and used to the environment you’re going to be. Still being so young, there is a bit of a switch.

“I’ve been with the first team since I was 16. I’ve had to automatically mature and be calm way faster than other people my age did. That’s helped.”

Praise was heaped on Keating following her performance in the 1-0 cup win over Arsenal at Meadow Park, with the Gunners’ Caitlin Foord describing her display as “a worldie”.

It came after she had been at fault for both goals as her side lost the WSL meeting between sides 2-1 in November, when she left the field visibly upset.

“Having the confidence and faith in myself, especially after the Arsenal game last time, I feel like I needed a redemption game,” she said. “I was just thankful I could make those two saves to give us the win we need and send us to the next round.

“We went there and knew what we had to do. I knew my part. When the final whistle blew, I could breathe. I feel like I did have my redemption game.”

She received her first call-up to Sarina Wiegman’s England side in October, and now has her sights on somebody taking the place of Manchester United’s Mary Earps as number one for the Lionesses.

“With England, the club switch is off,” she said of her rivalry with Earps. “We know what we’re there for, for our country. We’re just there to provide the best support for each other. When we’re back at club though, it’s us against them.

“My time will come. My form for my club is very important to Sarina and hopefully I can take it into the international game.”

Jordan Henderson hopes former manager Jurgen Klopp can enjoy a “fairytale” ending at Liverpool.

The German announced his plan to leave the Reds at the end of the season at the start of 2024, bringing to an end a successful nine-year stint.

Henderson, who left Anfield in the summer for a controversial move to Saudi Arabia, was a massive part of Klopp’s success at Anfield, winning eight trophies, including the Champions League and Premier League.

Klopp’s farewell tour has already seen Liverpool win silverware as they lifted the Carabao Cup last month and they are still gunning for the Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup.

And 33-year-old Henderson, who was speaking ahead of Ajax’s Europa Conference League game with Ajax in Amsterdam on Thursday, wants Klopp to enjoy the perfect send off.

“Jurgen has had an amazing time at Liverpool, everything we achieved was because of him,” he said. “He achieved everything when he came in and I just hope the end of the story is a fairytale for him and the boys because they all deserve it.

“They all work so hard, last season was so tough on many different aspects on and off the field so for this season to be going as well as it has, I’m so proud of them.

“I was a captain for a long time there. All of the team still feel like my brothers really.

“To watch them do so well, I’m so proud of how they’re doing and I really want to see them end the season the way they have been playing the whole year.

“Let’s hope they can end the season on a high and win as many trophies as possible.”

Henderson had his own emotional exit from Anfield in the summer, leaving after 12 seasons for a highly criticised move to Saudi Arabia.

His stay in the Middle East was short-lived as he returned to Europe with a move to Ajax in the January transfer window.

But the midfielder, who would certainly have been given game-time owing to Liverpool’s injury crisis, has no regrets.

“Looking back I think it was the right time for me as a player but also for them as a team and for them as a club, as much as that hurt at the time,” he said.

“I was very emotional. Looking back at that period of time now, it is easy to see that it was the right decision made by the manager and the club.

“It was the best decision to freshen things up.”

Henderson’s move to Ajax could keep his hopes of making England’s Euro 2024 squad in tact.

Boss Gareth Southgate watched Henderson’s debut and remains in regular contact but has not given any assurances he will be in the squad for this month’s friendlies with Brazil and Belgium or beyond.

“It was really nice for Gareth to come over and watch the game, it was my debut against a good side,” Henderson said.

“It was good for him to come and watch to see that he’s keeping an eye on me.

“I definitely feel I can offer something to the national team, but I have got to be playing and doing my job here, that is my main focus.

“But of course I feel I can help the squad and the team going forward in the next camp and hopefully in the summer.

“But I have just got to continue to play well here and stay fit and hopefully I will get the opportunity to do that because playing for my country is a huge thing and always has been.”

Jude Bellingham has been suspended for Real Madrid’s next two league matches after his red card against Valencia at the weekend.

The 20-year-old England midfielder was sent off after he remonstrated with referee Jesus Gil Manzano, who blew for full-time seconds before Bellingham headed in what would have been a winner for Real.

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) competitions committee confirmed Bellingham had been banned for two matches for “attitudes of contempt or disregard towards referees, directors or sports authorities”.

It confirmed Bellingham had also been fined 600 euros (£513), with his club fined 700 euros.

(NB: The Nations League semi-finals will be broadcast live on Sportsmax)

Reggae Boyz head coach Heimer Halgrimsson has openly expressed his keen interest in inviting Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood to join Jamaica's national football team. Greenwood, currently on loan at Getafe, faces limited prospects for an England call-up ahead of Euro 2024, paving the way for potential international representation elsewhere.

The 22-year-old, who earned a single cap for England against Iceland in September 2020, found himself on loan at Getafe after Manchester United deemed it necessary for him to continue his career away from the club.

The decision followed the dropping of charges, including attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behavior, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, all of which Greenwood denied, by the Crown Prosecution Service in February 2023.

Eligible to play for Jamaica through his father, Andrew, Greenwood's potential representation for the Caribbean nation has been a topic of discussion, with reports suggesting the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) is open to the idea. According to current FIFA rules, the Manchester United academy graduate would be within his rights to change his international allegiance.

Speaking at a CONCACAF Nations League press conference in Dallas on Tuesday, Hallgrimsson confirmed the ongoing discussions about Greenwood's potential inclusion in the Reggae Boyz squad. "I really don't like to talk about 'what if,' but this, of course, has come to our mind,"  the coach said.

"I would love to have him in my team. Like all coaches, I would like to have the best players in our team, but it's always up to the player himself if he wants to do it," added Hallgrimsson, highlighting the player's autonomy in making such a significant decision regarding his international career.

Jamaica plays the USA on March 21, 2024.

 In a thrilling display of dominance, Slingerz FC secured a resounding 4-1 victory over Fruta Conquerors in the second week of action in Guyana's KFC Elite League. The match, which unfolded on Tuesday night at the National Training Centre, was another demonstration of the prowess and potential of Slingerz FC, but coach Alex Thomas insists that his team has yet to hit their peak.

Darren Niles emerged as a star for Slingerz FC, netting two goals, while Leo Lovell and Jeremy Garrett each contributed one to seal the comprehensive victory. Despite Dwayne Jones managing to pull one back for Fruta Conquerors, the defeat marked their second consecutive loss of the season.

Slingerz FC, under the guidance of Jamaican coach Alex Thomas, celebrated their second win in as many starts this season. Thomas, who took over the team in February following Charles Pollard's departure, has been steering his squad to success. Their impressive campaign began with a commanding 7-0 triumph over Monedderlust FC on February 25.

However, despite the early triumphs and a goal tally of 11 for and only one against in two matches, Coach Thomas believes there is still room for improvement. In a post-match interview with Sportsmax.TV, he stated, "The team’s performance tonight was average. We didn’t play up to expectations. Nevertheless, we came out on top."

Thomas acknowledged that the players are gradually understanding his coaching philosophy and instructions. He expressed satisfaction with their progress but emphasized the need for continuous improvement, particularly in the mental aspect of the game.

Slingerz FC currently holds the second position in the league with a perfect six points, trailing Western Tigers FC on goal difference. The latter secured a 4-0 victory over Ann’s Grove United FC on Sunday. The Guyana Defence Force is also at the top with six points after a convincing 6-1 win against Buxton United SC.

In another match on Tuesday night, Den Amstel SC clinched their first win of the season with a narrow 1-0 victory over Santos FC.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes under-fire successor Erik ten Hag comes good and says Sir Jim Ratcliffe is unlikely to have a “magic wand” to immediately turn around Manchester United’s fortunes.

This has been a miserable second season in the hotseat for the Dutchman, whose stuttering side are 11 points off the Premier League top four and have the FA Cup as their only remaining route to silverware.

But Ratcliffe’s recent minority purchase of the club from the Glazer family offers hope of long-term improvement, with the Ineos chairman also taking control of football operations.

Rumours continue about Ten Hag’s future as the summer approaches and Solskjaer, United’s previous permanent manager, would like to see him succeed at Old Trafford.

“I don’t think there’s a magic wand (at United) as in, ‘We’ve changed the owners’,” the 1999 treble hero said in the latest episode of Stick to Football in partnership with Sky Bet.

“Obviously, they’ve got their ways of working – the Glazers have still got their commercial – who knows how it’s going to be in football with that side of it.

“Obviously Erik, I hope he’s going to be successful. We hope he’s going to make it, but you never know what the new owners are thinking. It’s about results and consistency the rest of the season.”

Solskjaer knows all about any difficulties working under the Glazer family and with many of the current United squad, having been in charge between December 2018 and November 2021.

The Norwegian kept his counsel for a long time but is beginning to speak publicly again, including recently revealing some United players did not want to be captain for certain matches.

“No one said ‘no’ to being the club captain, it was just for certain games,” Solskjaer said.

“Yes, but they didn’t want to say it themselves, they had other people come up to me and say it. It was disappointing. It’s a different generation, its Gen Z. It’s petty and shows a lack of ambition.”

United players have not only been turning down the chance to skipper the side but even face a handful of underarm questions in a pre-match host broadcast interview.

“Many players said no to doing the pre-match interviews, the three questions,” Solskjaer said.

“You had the go-to’s, Bruno (Fernandes) always did it, Harry (Maguire) always did it, Victor (Lindelof) did it, David (De Gea) did it, Luke Shaw did it.

“The others were worried about the questions, so preferred not to do it. You’re scared of the whole reaction maybe, but you also understand some of the players’ mental health.”

Solskjaer has focused on the wellbeing of himself and his family since being sacked by United, turning down numerous opportunities to return to the game.

“I needed time out, and I have properly enjoyed it. Just prioritised myself, family – and I have had a few offers with (other clubs) and it’s like, ‘Nah, I’m not ready’,” he added.

“It’s one of them, it’s got to be somewhere where I can be myself, not like anyone dictating, ‘You need to do this, you need to do this’, because when you’ve been at United, you manage them, you learn a few things, and you want to do it your way next time. So, yeah, I’ve enjoyed myself.

“That’s the thing, you think, ‘I don’t really need a job’, but then if something pops up then yeah, why not?”

What the papers say

The Telegraph reports signs are increasing that Crystal Palace are looking to sell defender Marc Guehi in the summer. The paper says club bosses have begun to draw up a list of centre-back targets to pursue in the next transfer window. Summer will be Palace’s last chance to sell the in-demand 23-year-old for a significant fee, as he enters the final two years of his Palace contract.

Newcastle are in talks to sign Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer, according to the Daily Mail. The 25-year-old is set to be out-of-contract in the summer.

i sport says Championship side Hull intend to pursue a permanent deal for on-loan Liverpool winger Fabio Carvalho. However, the club would only make the move if they win promotion to the Premier League.

And The Independent reports Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim is Barcelona’s top target to succeed outgoing boss Xavi at the end of the season.

Social media round-upPlayers to watch

Joshua Kimmich: Manchester City lead Liverpool in the chase for the Bayern Munich midfielder, according to the website Caught Offside.

Joshua Zirkzee: Italian outlet Tuttosport says Manchester United recently sent scouts to watch the Bologna striker.

MK Dons boss Mike Williamson said his promotion-chasing side had shown real character to come from behind to win 2-1 away at Sky Bet League Two leaders Mansfield.

Dons were smarting from Saturday’s defeat by rivals AFC Wimbledon but bolstered their promotion hopes as Stags lost at home for only the second time this season.

“I thought it was a fantastic game between two good teams and you could see from the first whistle that both sides wanted to win,” said Williamson.

“I thought we showed every area of our character today and we played as much as we were allowed.

“We were under a lot of pressure as they are a really high-intensity, hard-working team. And we had to put bodies on the line as well.

“It was a good response from Saturday’s defeat and that is what these players are about and the chemistry they have in there.

“We had to play with a lot of courage and bravery today.

“Ultimately we had to respect who we are playing – they are top of the league for a reason. So I am proud of the boys tonight. They all put a real shift in.”

Mansfield went ahead after 15 minutes when MJ Williams’ handball gifted them a penalty.

Michael Kelly kept out Lucas Akins’ spot-kick and he then also saved the former Burton forward’s follow-up but could not stop Stephen Quinn burying the loose ball at the third time of asking.

However, five minutes later Lewis Brunt’s powerful header unluckily hit the onrushing Alex Gilbey who raced onto the gift and crashed home a fine 20-yard finish.

The winner came on 54 minutes through Matthew Dennis, who had cleared an Aden Flint header off the line and missed a six yard header in the first half.

He cut in from the left and saw his low finish take a deflection past Christy Pym.

Mansfield manager Nigel Clough said: “I don’t think we got a break tonight playing against an extremely good team – technically they are probably the best in the league.

“But I thought we were a bit unlucky with both goals tonight.

“For the first Lewis Brunt won a brilliant header and it just went straight to their lad off his thigh into his path and he’s put a great finish in.

“For the second Louis Reed’s had a shot from outside the box, it’s been blocked and gone in their lad’s path again and they have broken away and scored.

“There was bags of effort tonight but not a break. The lads gave absolutely everything.

“It took us three go’s to score from a penalty which probably summed up the night after scoring 14 goals here in the last couple of home games. We were maybe due one of these sorts of days.”

Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl will celebrate his side’s 1-0 home win against Plymouth by de-briefing with former boss Hansi Flick.

Former Germany boss Flick was at Hillsborough to see Djeidi Gassama score a second-half winner to give Rohl’s relegation battlers real momentum.

Rohl, who worked as Flick’s assistant at Bayern Munich as well as with the Germany national team, has guided the Owls to five wins in their last six Sky Bet Championship matches and to within sight of safety.

“Yesterday we had dinner together,” Rohl said. “It was nice to see him again after five months and we spoke just now and he will come in my room.

“It’s good to have him here. When you have been assistant coach to him it’s good to show him you can do it. It’s fantastic. He’s a good guy.

“You can speak about the football side and speak about the private side and this is helpful.”

Wednesday remain in the bottom three, but having been there since the second game of the season only goal difference now separates them from the two sides immediately above the drop zone – Huddersfield and QPR.

Rohl said: “In the last few weeks we’ve invested a lot of things to come to this point now. We come closer. We’ve closed the gap and it’s an unbelievable race at the bottom of the table, maybe eight or nine teams around us.”

Next up for Wednesday is the visit to Hillsborough of Yorkshire rivals Leeds on Friday and Rohl is relishing the prospect of giving Owls fans more to cheer.

Rohl added: “This is the outcome from the last few weeks and I hope we can recover for a big game on Friday. I hope we are sold out and everybody comes to push us forward.

“We have to really enjoy it. It is my wish on Friday we have a great atmosphere and this power from the stands to the pitch and from the pitch to the stands. It could be massive on Friday.”

Plymouth remain in 16th place, but sit just two points above the Owls after slipping to their fifth defeat in seven league games.

Ian Foster’s side rallied after going behind to Gassama’s 60th-minute strike, but failed to create any clear-cut chances.

Foster said: “Our reaction is one of bitter disappointment. We didn’t feel it was a game we ought to have lost.

“It’s really unfortunate the manner of the goal – Adam (Randell) has made an honest mistake, he should have cleared his lines and unfortunately for Adam he slipped over and they’ve scored on the transition.

“It’s bitterly disappointing for us. Second half I thought the team were perfect in terms of their approach, I thought we bossed the second half and I can’t believe that we’ve come away having lost the game.”

Daniel Farke felt Leeds’ 1-0 victory over Stoke was his side’s “best win in 2024” as they continued their Championship automatic-promotion charge.

Dan James could have had a couple in the first half but for Daniel Iversen’s saves before the Wales international put his side ahead with his 11th goal of the season just after the half-hour mark.

Stoke did not roll over and Illan Meslier kept out chances from Lewis Baker, Tyrese Campbell and Josh Laurent in the second period.

Mateo Joseph saw one blocked off the line to deny Leeds a second while substitute Ben Pearson was sent off late on for the visitors.

Farke said: “For me, it is the best win in 2024 because everyone expects us to win this home game.

“Everyone expects us at Elland Road to beat each and every opponent right now against a team not in the best position and think it should be an easy win.

“It feels like in the stadium ‘we are going there for a cup of tea and a cake’ perhaps instead of this explosion we had against Leicester where everyone was on it.”

Leeds kept the heat on top two Leicester and Ipswich and will play their third league game in six days when they travel to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night.

Farke’s side have a chance to put points on the board before their promotion rivals but the German bemoaned the congested fixture list.

He added: “Even today was our third game in six days with two tough away games and thank God the home game today.

“Four games in 10 days, I’m not sure any other teams in Europe have such a schedule but what else can we do. We have to adapt to it and try keep going and stay unbeaten.

“When you have such a schedule you cannot expect offensive fireworks and top-class games. You can’t always be at your best in this schedule – I’m happy out of the last three games we have seven points.”

Stoke boss Steven Schumacher praised his side, who remain in the bottom three of the Championship.

He said: “I think we showed some real character and stood up to some intense pressure at times.

“We didn’t fold or buckle which is a good sign from the team that they are ready for the challenge and I think in the second half we showed everyone what type of team we can be but didn’t do enough to get the equaliser we probably deserved.

“I don’t think he (Pearson) needs to get involved in the first one and the second one there is not a lot in it. It’s frustrating because we will miss Ben again.

“Iversen made some good saves tonight and he kept us in the game. He is a good goalkeeper and we will need him in the run-in.”

Boss Nathan Jones described Charlton’s 3-1 League One victory at Cheltenham as a “big, big win”.

Daniel Kanu put the Addicks on course in the first half before Liam Sercombe levelled for the home side, 20 minutes from time.

But late strikes from substitute Tyreeq Bakinson and former Robins favourite Alfie May sealed the points to lift Charlton up to 14th – seven points clear of the drop zone.

“It shows we can see out games. Even when we take a knock we can fight back,” Jones said.

“It was a big, big win and I felt we deserved it, but after they pegged us back I think everyone in the ground thought they’d go on and win it. It was the opposite.

“It’s a tough place to come to and Darrell’s (Clarke) got them playing, but I thought we were brilliant.”

Charlton are now unbeaten in six and Jones added: “We’re in a good place, we’ve got good players and I’m really enjoying it.

“I thought we were brilliant tonight – the young lads did really well and Alfie May really was a threat all night.

“Alfie’s used to scoring on this ground, so I’m pleased he scored, but I’m pleased for everyone.

“The players are buying into everything we want them to do.”

The improving Addicks took first-half lead through Daniel Kanu before Liam Sercombe’s 70th-minute leveller set up a tense finish.

But the late double lifted Jones’ side seven points clear of their hosts and the drop zone.

“It was an end-to-end game,” Cheltenham manager Darrell Clarke said.

“We have come out of it disappointed.

“It’s a disappointed changing room, obviously. But I have said to my players in there, they’ve given me absolutely everything since I have been through the door.

“It’s one of those nights when it wasn’t our night. I thought when we got the equaliser, we might go on to win it. A couple of sloppy goals from our perspective lost us the game.”

Barrow boss Pete Wild hailed his players as “outstanding” after they fired themselves back into the League Two play-off places with a fine 2-0 win over Gillingham.

Goals from experienced centre-back James Chester and Emile Acquah – his first in the league since October – ended a three-game losing streak.

It was the first game the club have played in 17 days after fixtures against Bradford and Crawley were called off due to waterlogged pitches.

“I think you’ve seen three or four lads who have played the best they ever had in a Barrow shirt,” said Wild.

“They were outstanding.

“It was really nice last Saturday when I went and had a chat with the fans and the fans who have been with us through thick and thin knew we were having a blip and we would come through it and we’ve delivered for them.

“I’m really pleased that we’ve done that because some of the things they were saying was humbling to say the least.

“I keep saying this, we must remember what this squad is doing for the football club and the distance it’s travelled.

“We’ve put a pin in the ground. Where we were 12 months ago in March we were out of the play-off picture and nowhere near it. Twelve months on we’re in the play-off picture.

“I think the staff and the squad deserve so much credit for what they’re doing for this football club.”

Stephen Clemence’s side slipped out of the play-off spots after defeat.

And frustrations boiled over as Conor Masterson and Remeao Hutton were booked for squaring up to one another at the end.

On the incident, Clemence said: “It’s an emotional game, football. You have to keep your emotions in check.

“I don’t like to see that, but I’ve nipped it in the bud. They’ve shaken hands and they’re fine.

“They both just want to win and sometimes in the heat of the moment your emotions can get the better of you, but they’re fine now.”

On the game, the Gills boss added: “I felt we were off it and we didn’t hit the levels we have set recently.

“It’s difficult when you play two away games on the spin, especially with the amount of miles we have put in in the past few days.

“I don’t want to use that as an excuse, but we were a little bit flat.

“I will go to bed wondering whether that’s my fault because you don’t want to change a team that’s done well.

“We dust ourselves down and get ready to start a new run on Saturday.

“We didn’t create enough. I have to say Barrow are very well organised. It was difficult and we didn’t have that spark that we needed.

“It is what it is, we’ve been beat. It’s one game.

“The division is the division and a lot of teams can beat each other. Is it a surprise? I came here thinking we’d win the game.

“We’ve got 10 games left and we’ll be trying to win them all.”

Mark Robins heaped praise on hat-trick hero Ellis Simms after his first-half treble set Coventry on their way to a 5-0 Championship victory over basement boys Rotherham at the CBS Arena.

Simms claimed his second hat-trick in eight days after securing the match ball during the Sky Blues’ 5-0 win over Maidstone in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Joel Latibeaudiere and Fabio Tavares were also on the scoresheet as Coventry returned to winning ways after defeats in their last two league outings.

Robins, who celebrates his seventh anniversary in charge of Coventry on Wednesday, said: “It was a good start. Within the first five minutes, the goalkeeper has dropped one onto Ellis’ head and it puts us 1-0 up and settles any nerves there may have been.

“We blew them away within the first 37 minutes or so, Ellis has scored a hat-trick, Joel’s (Latibeaudiere) got a header from a corner…Ellis’ is left foot, right foot, header, it’s the perfect hat-trick.

“He’s not scored a hat-trick and now he’s got two in a week, gets his second match ball and that’s brilliant for him, brilliant for us, brilliant for his confidence.

“When he realises his strength he’ll be absolutely awesome. You can see he can finish with his right and left foot and that’s when he’s not thinking about things. He’s got incredible pace and incredible strength.

“Fabio’s finish was outstanding, I think Joel was above the crossbar when he headed it. It was just a really good performance and it was much needed.

“We needed the three points and to get it in the style and the manner we got it was really pleasing. The clean sheet was a brilliant clean sheet.”

Rotherham boss Leam Richardson admitted the Millers’ first-half display was the worst 45 minutes of his managerial career as his side slumped to their eighth defeat in a row, leaving them 19 points from safety.

Richardson admitted: “There’s some pretty embarrassed footballers in that dressing room right now. I will always defend footballers but that’s probably the worst 45 minutes that I’ve been involved in.

“You can accept mistakes. Vik’s (Johansson) had an outstanding season but you can’t stand games like this in the Championship. You can’t be soft, conceding three or four goals in the middle of our goal.

“We’re very aware of the situation we’re in. I’ve been here a number of weeks and it became clear very quickly the amount of challenges we’ve got at the football club, where we’ve got to move it forward.

“I’ll always back myself to move football clubs forward because I’ve done it in the past and I’ve got a really strong record.

“At this level, you’ve got to be really careful you don’t open yourself up to nights like this because the level is too big and if we’re not 100 per cent we will find ourselves on the back of things like this.

“It’s the first time that I’ve experienced it in my time at the club. I can make excuses for everybody but I’ll take the full blame for it.

“I’ll take it on my shoulders because I’m the man at the front of it and I’m the man who puts them out there.”

Harry Kane fired Bayern Munich into the quarter-finals of the Champions League as the German side overturned a first-leg deficit against Lazio with a 3-0 win at the Allianz Arena.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Rome, Bayern were kept out until Kane headed home from close range – his 50th goal in European competition.

Thomas Muller doubled the lead on the night with another header seconds before the break as Matthijs de Ligt’s volley flashed across the six-yard area.

Lazio’s best chance had fallen to Ciro Immobile, their spot-kick scorer from the first game, just moments before Kane had levelled the tie.

But Immobile planted his header wide from six yards when it appeared easier to score.

Bayern sealed their progress into the last eight of a competition they have won six times after 66 minutes.

Leroy Sane’s shot was parried into the path of Kane, who had to adjust his feet sharply to score his second on the night and 33rd Bayern goal in as many appearances.

Kylian Mbappe’s brace saw Paris St Germain cruise into the quarter-finals, with a 2-1 win at Real Sociedad completing a 4-1 aggregate victory.

With a 2-0 lead in their pocket from the first leg, PSG were comfortable throughout.

Mbappe, the top scorer across Europe’s top five leagues so far this season, offered an early warning sign when he turned a shot narrowly over the bar from Fabian Ruiz’s cut-back in the fifth minute.

PSG were the dominant force and went ahead after 15 minutes through Mbappe’s fifth Champions League goal of the season, bending the ball across goal and inside the far post.

Mbappe punished Sociedad again 11 minutes into the second half, bursting on to Lee Kang-in’s through ball and whipping the ball in majestically at the near post. Mikel Merino scored a consolation for Sociedad a minute from time.