Champions League final: Liverpool dealt pre-match blow as AZ Alkmaar snub friendly with Reds ahead of Tottenham clash

Champions League final: Liverpool dealt pre-match blow as AZ Alkmaar snub friendly with Reds ahead of Tottenham clash
Liverpool’s hopes of playing a friendly before the Champions League final have been dashed, according to reports in the Netherlands.Jurgen Klopp hoped to prepare for the June 1 showpiece in Madrid by keeping his playing squad fresh with a pre-match fixture against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.Getty2

Klopp wants to guide Liverpool to Champions League success after missing out on the Premier League title

However, Dutch sources say Alkmaar told Liverpool to ‘abandon’ the plans as much of their first-team squad will be on holiday, as they have no more football to play with their 2018/19 campaign ending earlier this week.The Alkmaar players not sent on holiday will be representing their countries on the international stage, to further decimate the Eredivise outfit’s squad.Liverpool wanted to play the friendly in Spain roughly a week before the final, the reports claim.The Reds take on Tottenham at Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium in a bid to be crowned European champions for the sixth time. Both clubs have criticised UEFA over the governing body’s decision to allocate just 16,613 tickets apiece for the showpiece fixture, despite Atleti’s ground holding almost 64,000 spectators.Liverpool group Spirit of Shankly and the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust have issued a statement asking commercial partners to gift tickets back to the clubs.The statement read: “Spirit of Shankly and Tottenham Hotspur supporters’ Trust – the independent official fan groups of LFC and THFC – are calling on the main sponsors of the UEFA Champions League to return a proportion of the tickets they have received for the Champions League final to the pot for supporters of both clubs.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...

• Portsmouth vs Sunderland (Thursday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT 2
• Charlton vs Doncaster (Friday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT 2
• Manchester City vs Watford (Saturday, 5pm) talkSPORT

“We ask Nissan, Playstation, Gazprom, PepsiCo, Banco Santander, Mastercard, Heineken and Expedia Group to help redress the balance in the current unfair allocation that means fans of both competing clubs receive less than 25 per cent of available tickets.“As major sponsors of the UEFA Champions League, your companies appreciate the passion and dedication of the fans who follow their teams and make every game a spectacle.“But many of those fans who have followed their club throughout this season will miss out on the biggest game of all. As will thousands more loyal supporters.getty2

The Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid will host the Champions League final

“SOS and THST believe such a gesture by the sponsors would help lift the occasion by increasing the number of passionate fans inside the stadium, and increase each brand’s standing on a global scale.“We also ask that each sponsor lobbies UEFA to allocate tickets for future finals on a fairer, more equitable spilt that has supporters benefit.”

---

Jurgen Klopp refuses to rule out managing Bayern Munich 'if

---

Rangers FC transfer news: Steven Gerrard eyeing Wolves defender Dominic Iorfa and urged to sign Ashley Cole The Liverpool legend had his eye on the 23-year-old right-back during the summer By
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard 'resigned' to losing transfer

---

Manchester United transfer news: Juventus star Paulo Dybala rubbishes Red Devils link despite revealing desire to play with Paul Pogba again.
Juventus star Paulo Dybala rubbishes Red Devils link despite

---

Apr 26, 2019 · The prolific Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema is one of three players from Arsenal included in the PFA Women's Super League Team of the Year, which also includes three each from Manchester City
Arsenal striker Miedema named in PFA Women's Super League

---

How far every Premier League club's fans travelled this season

---

Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta has signed a new four-year deal that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2022, the Premier League club said on Tuesday. Azpilicueta has made 298 appearances for Chelsea since he signed from French side Marseille in 2012.
Azpilicueta signs new Chelsea contract - sportstar.thehindu.com

---

'You're not on holiday': Brendan Rodgers fires words of warning to Leigh Griffiths after troubled Celtic striker is spotted at Newcastle races. Brendan Rodgers reminded Leigh Griffiths on Wednesday he is not on holiday. The 28-year-old troubled Scotland striker checked into rehab last
Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths checks into rehab as Rodgers says he

---

Fans hilariously mock Ligue 1 as Uber Eats becomes French top flight's official sponsor - 'Higuain is on the verge of a move!' Sources telling me Higuain is on the verge of a move to
Fans Mock Ligue 1 After Uber Eats Become French League's

---

Chelsea star Ruben Loftus-Cheek undergoes surgery after rupturing Achilles' tendon in friendly The England man injured himself against New England Revolution in Boston last night and is set to
Chelsea confirm fans' fears on Ruben Loftus-Cheek after

---

Robert Huth joked he had 'taught' Marouane Fellaini well after the Manchester United midfielder was pictured pulling the hair of Arsenal's Matteo Guendouzi during the two sides 2-2 draw.
Marouane Fellaini Got A Message From Robert Huth After He

---

Arsenal transfer news: Gunners 'approach' Ivan Perisic over deal, plus Christopher Nkunku and Denis Suarez updates Written by: fpnews Posted on: January 26, 2019 Arsenal have reportedly made an approach to sign Inter Milan star Ivan Perisic, while they are still interested in Denis Suarez and Christopher Nkunku.
Arsenal transfer news: How the Gunners could line-up with

---

Sep 13, 2017 · Tottenham 3 Borussia Dortmund 1: Harry Kane shows his class as Spurs banish Wembley woes although they were fortunate when Dortmund had a goal ruled out for offside, which would have made it 2
Sancho adds to Dortmund's injury headache - Spurs Web

---

Arsenal news: 'As poor as I can remember' - Martin Keown slams Unai Emery ARSENAL's performance against BATE Borisov on Thursday was their worst under head coach Unai Emery.
Fixture congestion should not be used as an excuse, says

---

A goal song or goal celebration music is a piece of music, lasting about 30 to 45 seconds long, that is played in sports like football or ice hockey after a goal is scored. A goal horn sometimes sounds before the song is played, especially in the National Hockey League (NHL).
My painting of Cristiano Ronaldo. | wallpaper | Ronaldo real

---

Jack Butland has paid tribute to England's World Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who has died at the age of 81. Stoke legend Banks is regarded as the country's greatest ever keeper and
Gordon Banks: Stoke and England goalkeeper Jack Butland pays

---