Updates from Liverpool, Brighton, Rangers, Aston Villa & West Ham news conferences before European ties
Re-watch streams of Liverpool and West Ham news conferences at top of page
Build-up to Bournemouth v Luton in Premier League (19:30)
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Timothy Abraham & Craig Nelson
Thanks for all your contributions on X, text and via WhatsApp on a busy day of football news.
We've just about run out of time today but will be back later on this evening with live coverage of Bournemouth v Luton.
You can follow live coverage of that game on the BBC Sport website from 18:15 GMT by clicking here…
In the meantime here are the key stories for your reading pleasure:
Best mates at Bournemouth, midfielders Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook run the rule over various sporting and social controversies – but will they dish out a booking or brandish a straight red?
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'Swapping shirts at half-time? Red card!'
Bournemouth v Luton Town (19:30 GMT)
Right, we started off with the Champions League then switched focus to the Europa League and Europa Conference League, so lets finish back home in the Premier League.
Here are the key facts and figures before tonight's replayed game between Bournemouth and Luton Town:
Brighton v Roma (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)
Brighton & Hove Albion
A final word from Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi on the size of the task facing his side and whether he has any experience of big comebacks: "When I was a coach in Foggia, there was a similar situation. We lost 5-1 or 5-2 and then we won 6-1, but it is a completely different situation. It is a very tough game because Roma are a very important team. They are in a good physical condition. I watched their game against Fiorentina and their last four games in Serie A. They deserved to win with what they are doing."
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If I was an Arsenal fan which I am not (thank the good Lord) I would be worried about April 27th…very worried. COYS!
Julian
Brighton v Roma (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)Brighton & Hove Albion
More from Roberto de Zerbi on how the current Brighton team should be remembered: "I think people will have to remember these players for a lot of time whether we win tomorrow or whether we lose tomorrow. Our players reached Europe, which was an incredible target. For tomorrow we want to play well. We want to play better, much better than in the Roma game, and then we will see the result."
On whether the size of the defeat at Roma has given him and his players more motivation: "We have a big motivation, but not just for tomorrow, for every game. Every competition we are playing in. We have to answer on the pitch, if we answer with words it is not the right way to answer and react after the Roma defeat. We have to play and believe on the pitch and play well on the pitch."
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Too much talk about a team celebrating a win with their fans. The big story this week is about the future of the game in England/Europe. There are too many owners used to running sport as a closed shop with limited competitors and generating obscene profits. The game was fantastic before the Premier League and there was a greater variety of winners. A return to a structure that allows teams to reach the top with good management rather than more money would be better for everyone in the long run. Buying success was never popular until the 21st Century, when the amount of money spent has been the biggest factor in success. Maybe it's time to look at capping the annual spend so it's the same for everyone? With sustainability and player welfare important factors it's time to think about the whole game in a different way.
Doug
Brighton v Roma (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi conducted his news conference in English and Italian so, as you can imagine, it took quite a little longer to get through.
He was asked on a number of occasion about things pundits in Italy had said about the tie against Roma.
His first question was on an assertion from former England manager Fabio Capello, that Roma looked tired in their last game and would be hit by an avalanche of attacks from Brighton as De Zerbi's side go all out to overturn the 4-0 deficit from the first leg.
De Zerbi said: "I don't know. We prepare for the game our best. I don't believe the same as Fabio Capello. I want to play the game and after the game we will see what will be the result."
Aston Villa v Ajax (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter
Tomorrow's match against Aston Villa will see Jordan Henderson play his first club game in England since leaving Liverpool for Saudi Arabia last year.
The midfielder lasted less than six months at Al-Ettifaq before signing a two-and-a-half year deal with Ajax in January.
Villa defender Matty Cash believes Henderson, who skippered Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2020, can still cut it in the top flight.
“Yes. I think so,” he said. “He is a fantastic player. Since he's been to Ajax I haven't watched a lot of the games but he played well last week.
“But he's a great player. I think he speaks for himself. He's been captain of a great club like Liverpool for many years.
“I think everyone knows the leadership he brings – now to Ajax. His CV speaks for itself. He is a fantastic player.”
Brighton v Roma (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)Brighton & Hove Albion
Roberto de Zerbi on what Brighton need to do if they are to claw back Roma's four-goal advantage: "To win the game you need to score. I think in the last five games we didn't score too many goals but we created a lot of chances to score.
"I have to be focussed on improvements to create more chances to score. We can make mistakes in the last 15 to 25 metres but my work is to help players create the chances, not to score, because the players play on the pitch.
"I can help them to create the situation – one to one, in the winger position, playing in between the line to release the ball, to attack the space, to cross and to shoot – but then it is down to the players' work."
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Absolutely hate to say it as a Spurs fan but this Arsenal side look special. Turns out saying mate 50 times a season and finishing 5th isn’t as fun as winning things – something for Ange to think about if he’s reading these.
Jamie F, North London
Bournemouth v Luton Town (19:30 GMT)
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I was technically dead for two minutes 40 seconds – Lockyer
Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer will attend his side's game at Bournemouth to thank medics who saved his life after he suffered a cardiac arrest at the venue.
Lockyer, 29, collapsed on the pitch when the clubs met on 16 December.
The Premier League game was abandoned, with the re-arranged match taking place at the Vitality Stadium tonight (Wednesday).
Wales defender Lockyer has not played since his cardiac arrest. He was hospitalised for five days and was subsequently fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
He now wants to use his ordeal to help convince more people to learn CPR.
"Obviously I am forever grateful, realistically I am super lucky because if this didn't happen on a football pitch there is every chance that I wouldn't be here," Lockyer told BBC Breakfast.
"The thought of that – leaving my girlfriend to raise our child on her own – is heart-breaking. That's why it is important that, although this has happened to me and obviously it is a horrible thing to have to go through, the bigger picture is I want more people to start learning CPR."
Click on this link to read more on this story and the play icon above to listen to Lockyer's full interview with BBC Breakfast's Sally Nugent.
Bournemouth v Luton Town (19:30 GMT)
The original match between Bournemouth and Luton at the Vitality Stadium on 16 December was abandoned midway through the second half after Luton captain Tom Lockyer collapsed.
The score was 1-1 after goals by Elijah Adebayo and Dominic Solanke.
Luton return for a second bite of the Cherries – apologies – sitting third bottom in the Premier League table.
Victory would see them move out of the relegation places, leapfrogging Nottingham Forest on goal difference.
Bournemouth are 13th, 11 points above Luton. Barring a dramatic downturn in form, Andoni Iraola's side look to be safe enough to start planning for another season in the top flight.
We're going to bring you the choice cuts from Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi's news conference shortly, but in the meantime let's cast an eye towards Bournemouth v Luton in the Premier League this evening.
"English football is finished" unless it continues to be "competitive and sustainable" financially, says Peter Ridsdale.
Premier League clubs met on Monday but were unable to agree on a funding deal with the English Football League.
The clubs were recently told that failure to reach a deal with the EFL would mean one being imposed on them.
"There is no offer," Ridsdale, an executive director at Preston North End, told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"It's very frustrating for the whole of English football. If we don't keep it competitive and sustainable, then English football is finished."
Read the full story here…
Aston Villa v Ajax (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter
Unai Emery admits Aston Villa failed to live up to their favourites tag in their Europa Conference League draw at Ajax last week.
They host the Dutch giants on Thursday following a 0-0 last-16 first-leg draw in Amsterdam but Emery knows they need to improve to progress.
“We didn’t show we are favourites. They showed us they want to beat us and get something in this competition,” he said.
“Europe is prestigious, it’s a Uefa trophy, it’s adding another objective in our season and it’s very important for the players.
“We are making a very big effort, we are getting better and now is a key moment. We were speaking this morning about who is favourite but in Europe it’s very difficult to be favourites.
“Ajax are going to try to catch it to keep it and the signing they made with [Jordan] Henderson is an example, we have to be ready to stop their gameplan.”
Aston Villa v Ajax (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)
Aston Villa
Unai Emery on Jacob Ramsey, who picked up a foot injury against Luton earlier in the month: "He is still not available for tomorrow. Hopefully not out for a long time but not for tomorrow."
Both Ezri Konsa and Nicolo Zaniolo are suspended for the tie at Villa Park. Emery also defended his squad’s discipline after Konsa was sent off in the first leg before John McGinn was dismissed for a reckless challenge on Destiny Udogie in Sunday’s 4-0 defeat by Tottenham in the Premier League.
“I can’t say anything about the discipline of the players, Konsa’s red card was not really a red card but we have to accept the referee’s decision in that moment.
"On Sunday it was different circumstances. Tomorrow we can play with John McGinn with his quality, power and spirit.”
Aston Villa v Ajax (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)Aston Villa
Unai Emery on opponents Ajax: "They have some experienced players and some young players. They compete against us very well.
"I expect a lot, with players we have analysed. We know how difficult it will be tomorrow, how difficult it is in Europe.
"For Ajax it's a very important match as well. We are going to be humble in our preparation, with respect they have and then we are going to try to impose our plan, try to play better than the match there. We drew there, more or less good result, but not enough. Of course it was a good result for them as well."
Aston Villa v Ajax (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)Aston Villa
Unai Emery on the importance of playing at Villa Park: "It's very, very, important.
"The supporters are excited and motivated, like me, and like the players, to be in Europe.
"We have to try to connect with them, transmitting their energy."
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