EPL trio advance to Champions League round of 16

Liverpool finished top of the Champions League table despite losing 3-2 to Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven in Matchday 8 on Thursday (AEDT) at the Philips Stadium.

The Reds found the opener in the 28th minute through a Cody Gakpo spot-kick, only for the hosts to equalise seven minutes later with a stunning strike by Johan Bakayoko.

Harvey Elliott restored Liverpool’s lead in the 40th minute, before two quickfire goals by Ismael Saibari and Ricardo Pepi settled the encounter in favour of the Dutch.

Although Liverpool’s seven-game win streak ended in the clash, Arne Slot’s men finish top of the Champions League table with 21 points, two points above Barcelona in second.

Liverpool will face either Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, AS Monaco or Stade Brestois in the last 16.

Slot was satisfied with the performance, given that he had fielded a heavily changed starting lineup.

“To end up first is always good and the performance today was also pleasing to see, with so many players either not playing in their own position or playing for the first time,” the Liverpool manager said.

Liverpool return to Premier League action this Saturday, with online bookmakers paying -140.85 for the Reds to defeat Bournemouth (+358) at Vitality Stadium.

Arsenal beat Girona 2-1 to finish third

Arsenal came from behind to beat La Liga side Girona 2-1 in Spain, finishing third in the Champions League table.

The Gunners were stunned when Arnaut Danjuma put the hosts ahead in the 28th minute, but Italian midfielder Jorginho levelled matters from the penalty spot just 10 minutes later.

The encounter was decided moments before the break when English teenager Ethan Nwaneri scored the winner on his full Champions League debut.

Arsenal manager Mike Arteta expressed optimism after his side advanced to the last 16.

“[We are] really good at the moment, things are going well,” he said.

“Hopefully [there is] more belief in that dressing room that we are a good team and can face anyone and still perform and win games.”

Arsenal will take on either Feyenoord, Juventus, AC Milan or PSV in the knockout stage.

Meanwhile, Arteta’s men will face a tough assignment this Sunday in the EPL, and leading bookie Marantelli Bet is paying +108 for the Gunners to beat Manchester City (+271) at the Emirates Stadium.

Villa thrash Celtic 4-2 in Matchday 8

Aston Villa squeezed themselves into eighth place with a 4-2 win over Celtic at Villa Park, automatically securing their place in the Champions League knockout stage.

Morgan Rogers, who gave the hosts a two-goal lead within the opening five minutes, bagged a hat-trick in the encounter, while Ollie Watkins also got his name on the scoresheet.

Celtic’s consolation goals were courtesy of an Adam Idah brace.

Unai Emery’s side will line up against either Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge in the last 16.

Villa are +114 favourites with leading sports betting sites in their upcoming Premier League clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers (+242).

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