Liverpool back in the Champions League: Coutinho on the bench

Uefa Champions League football returns to Anfield after a two year
hiatus. Its the first time Jurgen Klopp would be leading Liverpool in
Europe's premier club competition.

Phillipe Coutinho returns to the squad. But he is only fit for the bench.

Full team:

Karius, Gomez, Lovren, Matip, Moreno, Wijnaldum, Can, Henderson,
Salah, Mane, Firmino.

Subs: Mignolet, Milner, Coutinho, Sturridge, Klavan,
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Robertson

Europa League: Wenger to rest seven players for Chelsea clash

Arsene Wenger is expected to make a host of changes to the team that
would face Bundesliga side Cologne in the Europa League opening match
at the Emirates on Thursday.

According to report, seven first team players who featured against
Bournemouth on Saturday did not take part in training on Wednesday.
They include Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey, who Wenger said were rested
completely because of the two matches they played during the
international break. Others are Hector Bellerin, Granit Xhaka, Danny
Welbeck, Alexandre Lacazette, Laurent Koscielny and Petr Cech.

Though Koscielny wouldn't have featured, because of a suspension from
last season's red card picked up against Bayern Munich.

Probable line up for the Cologne match could be:

David Ospina, Reiss Nelson, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Rob Holding, Per
Mertesacker, Calum Chambers, Mo' Elneny, Jack Wilshere, Alex Iwobi,
Theo Walcott, Oliver Giroud

Although, Alexis Sanchez and Mustafi could be involved. Especially the
Chilean who is not match fit.

Wenger has a decision to make on the players that would feature in the
wing back positions.

Chelsea followed a similar pattern of rotation on Tuesday night in
their 6-0 victory over Qarabag of Azerbajian.

Antonio Conte made five changes to his starting eleven with a view of
the Arsenal match in mind.

His Arsenal counterpart is expected to feature a new team altogether.

Giroud: I stayed because my Arsenal story was not finish

(c) arsenalfc

Arsenal striker Oliver Giroud was given a chance by Arsene Wenger to
leave the club in the summer after the arrival of France compatriot
Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon for a club record fee.

The 30 year old was linked to a host of clubs which included Borussia
Dortmund, Marsielle, Lyon, West Ham and Everton.

However, despite the choice being largely his to make whether to leave
or not. He decided to stay.

Just one goal shy of reaching a century of goals for Arsenal, he sat
alongside Arsene Wenger in the club's press conference on Wednesday
ahead of the Europa League match against Cologne on Thursday. Where he
was again asked how close he was to leaving in the summer?

"It was a private decision. It's true that I was close to leaving the
club because I said I wanted to play. After a big reflection,
everybody [came] around me like my family and my close friends in a
supportive way, and I wanted to stay at The Arsenal.

"I thought the story was not over and finished at Arsenal. The club
bring me a lot and I think I give it back. I still want to improve and
improve again and again and win some more trophies with the club.

"As I said to the boss, 'our story is not finished.' Everybody was
pleased with that."

The importance of his decision to remain at the club was shown in the
opening day of the Premier League season when his late header earned
Arsenal all three points against Leicester City.

Signed in 2012, he would join an exclusive list of players who have
scored 100 goals for Arsenal if he scores on Thursday night.

Barca vs Juventus teams: Dembele starts

In a repeat of last season's quarter final tie, Barcelona host Seria A
champions, Juventus at the Nou Camp. The Catalans hand a first start
to Ousmane Dembele for tonight's match.

Full teams:

Ter Stegen, Rakitic, Sergio, Iniesta, Suárez, Messi, Dembélé, J.Alba,
Umtiti, Semedo,

Subs: Cillessen, Denis, Mascherano, Paulinho, Deulofeu, Sergi Roberto,
André Gomes

Juventus: Buffon; De Sciglio, Barzagli, Benatia, Alex Sandro;
Bentancur, Pjanic, Matuidi; Douglas Costa, Higuain, Dybala

Chelsea back in the Champions League: Morata, Hazard, Luiz, Moses on the bench, Batshuayi starts

English Premier League champions Chelsea make a return to European
football in the Champions League as they host Azerbajiani side Qabarag
at Stamford Bridge.

And true to what he said on Monday, Antonio Conte has opted for a
changed line-up for matchday one tie, making five changes from the
team that beat Leicester City 2-1 last weekend.

Full teams

Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill (c); Zappacosta, Kante,
Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Batshuayi, Pedro

Subs: Caballero, Rudiger, David Luiz, Moses, Bakayoko, Hazard, Morata

Chelsea back in the Champions League: Morata, Hazard, Luiz, Moses on the bench, Batshuayi starts

English Premier League champions Chelsea make a return to European
football in the Champions League as they host Azerbajiani side Qabarag
at Stamford Bridge. And true to what he said on Monday, Antonio Conte
has opted for a changed line-up for the matchday one tie.

Full teams

Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill (c); Zappacosta, Kante,
Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Batshuayi, Pedro

Subs: Caballero, Rudiger, David Luiz, Moses, Bakayoko, Hazard, Morata

Man United team to face Basel: starts for Martial and Linderof

Manchester United stage a come back to the Champions League after
close to 700 days absence. And Jose Mourinho has named a strong team
for the visit of the Swiss champions, Basel.

Swede defender Linderof makes his competitive debut for the club since
his move from Benfica in the summer.

Full teams:

De Gea, Young, Smalling Linderof, Blind, Matic, Pobga, Mkhitaryan,
Lukaku, Mata, Martial

Subs: Romero, Damian, Rashford, Fellaini, Lingard, Carrick, Valencia