Virgil van Dijk does not believe missing out on Champions League football makes Liverpool any less attractive to potential new signings. The last-gasp 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa all-but ended the club’s unlikely pursuit of a top-four place as they now require either Newcastle or Manchester United to lose both their remaining matches. It is the remotest of possibilities but as transfer planning is well advanced and with Liverpool’s desired rejuvenation of their midfield no secret, Van Dijk insists players will not be deterred from joining even if they face the prospect of playing Europa League football. “Obviously the chances to reach Champions League football were quite slim but now it makes it more difficult,” said the Netherlands captain. “Pre-season will be massive. I’m very excited for next season. I think that feeling came a couple of months ago when we turned the page. “Obviously there’s still a lot to work on but the good thing in this case is that we have the whole pre-season to work on this and that’s definitely the plan. “The noises I’m hearing, it’s going to be a very intense pre-season with a lot of physical work but also a lot of tactical work trying to get ready for a tough season. “Players are leaving, hopefully players come in and will be ready for the start of pre-season. “Everybody knows we’ve been going through a little bit of a transition and, if I’m a player on the rise and I have options to go to the next step and Liverpool is knocking on my door, then I would be very interested. “I don’t think it’s going to change much but, if someone wants to play Champions League no matter what then that’s their ambition.” While the draw was not the send off they wanted to give their departing quartet of players, there was the fitting moment of Roberto Firmino coming off the bench to score an 89th-minute equaliser on his final appearance in front of the Kop. The Brazil international will leave next month when his contract expires, along with midfielders James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, and leaves a huge hole to fill having been an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s game-plan. January signing Cody Gakpo appears his heir-apparent, having performed the central false nine role in the majority of his appearances. Compatriot Van Dijk admits it will be impossible to replace Firmino but thinks Gakpo will grow into the role. “Bobby (Firmino) has been a very big part of the goals and the assists, together with Sadio (Mane) and Mo (Salah), and that creates the headlines,” he said. “But all the other stuff that the other three have been doing as well shouldn’t go unnoticed and that’s why they’re very respected within the group and also Liverpool fans. “I think it’s a very difficult role to play and I think Cody’s doing exceptional. He’s still learning, still adapting. In my opinion, Bobby has been one of the best in this role. “Cody, it’s his first six months and he’s already doing so well, so that’s a positive sign and he has to keep going, keep both feet on the ground – and listen to me!” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Lee Gregory’s face mask returned following Sheffield Wednesday appeal Ronan O’Gara reveals Ireland ambition after latest Champions Cup success Champions Manchester City given rapturous reception ahead of Chelsea match

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Fantasy Premier League managers will have experienced another weekend of frustration or elation after some surprise results, plenty of red cards and controversial moments - so this week is another opportunity to reset in some cases or make the tweak to your team to bring success next gameweek. Here are five players we think could impress in gameweek 8, with managers needing to decide whether using a transfer or two earlier in the week is a gamble worth taking, or if waiting until midweek European action is finished with will aid the search for starters in their FPL teams. Note: Our FPL tips come out every Monday but this week there are still two matches to play in GW7, with Fulham vs Chelsea on Monday night and Luton vs Burnley on Tuesday. Micky van de Ven - Tottenham, defender (4.5m) Spurs remain unbeaten after their crazy and contentious weekend win over Liverpool and have a favourable run coming up against Luton, Fulham, Palace and an out-of-form Chelsea. While they haven’t been super tight defensively so far, we fancy there are a couple of clean sheets on offer here and new centre-back signing Micky van de Ven is quickly proving a big part of the team. He has the lowest tally of points of their regular back four so far, but he’s also cheapest - and is less of a yellow card hazard than partner Cristian Romero. If you have a spare 0.3m extra you could go for left-back teammate Destiny Udogie for potential assist points, but we like the look of Van de Ven as a low-cost pillar at the back for a few weeks. Darwin Nunez - Liverpool, forward (7.4m) Jurgen Klopp has rotated his attack this season but there’s not much scope for that right now: Diogo Jota will be suspended for the next match, Cody Gakpo is likely to be out for a few weeks injured - possibly until after the international break - and even potential midfield options being pushed forward is unlikely given Curtis Jones will also be missing after a red card. As such, Darwin Nunez should return to the lineup as long as a knee issue doesn’t sideline him; the Uruguayan has been in good scoring form and would have already been in the XI against Spurs if not for a bone around his knee causing pain. Brighton and Everton have both looked leaky - two of the six worst defences in the league right now - and the powerful attacker and add to their woes if he’s restored to centre forward. Moussa Diaby - Aston Villa, midfielder (6.7m) If you’ve been considering the speedy, forward-thinking Aston Villa man early on this term, now is perhaps the time to dive in. He’ll likely be rested for a midweek Europa Conference League clash with Zrinjski, but then it’s Wolves, West Ham, Luton, Forest and Fulham in a very nice looking run for the Villains - three of those matches at home. Diaby, whether central or from the flank, is a real threat with his ball-carrying and desire to get shots away, and only Ollie Watkins has a better goals-plus-assists tally than him in the Villa team in the Premier League. Diaby has already picked up bonus points twice this season too and he’s a big candidate to add to that in the coming gameweeks if Villa keep performing. Bernd Leno - Fulham, goalkeeper (4.7m) Slightly expensive as far as players at non-elite clubs go, but there’s a reason many FPL managers have selected Bernd Leno and his price has risen accordingly. He’s the top-scoring goalkepeer in the game so far, 35 points to his name, and that’s on the back of three clean sheets - but also three occasions where he has picked up bonus points on account of his shot-stopping antics. He’s averaging 4.5 saves per game and has kept the actual goals conceded by Fulham below the expected goals tally in every match except against Man City, which is forgiveable. Fulham face Sheffield United at home next time out, who haven’t scored in their last two, so further points for the German could be on the board. Callum Hudson-Odoi - Nottingham Forest, midfielder (4.9m) For our final choice we’ve decided on a potential differential gamble for the next couple of gameweeks up to the international break. Nottingham Forest have a lot of attacking options for Steve Cooper to choose between but Callum Hudson-Odoi has started two of the last three and has had seven shots or key passes across those two starts, scoring once. Away to Palace and home to Luton, the expectation will be on Forest to be on the front foot whether countering or dominating play in spells and Hudson-Odoi’s speed and ability to get into dangerous final-third areas will be paramount to both. It is a bit of a risk to start him and he hasn’t had a full 90-minute run-out yet, but it could have a big short-term pay-off if injuries and rotations in your squad are starting to hit elsewhere. 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PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 1, 2023--

A resurgent Chelsea side take on the defending champions Manchester City this weekend.

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Chelsea have completed the signing of centre-back Axel Disasi from Monaco.