Friday’s briefing: Andy Robertson says he’s leaving Liverpool at end of season

Andy Robertson announced he end his nine-year Liverpool career at the end of the season and described his time at Anfield as “a hell of a journey”.

Ollie Watkins scored twice to put Aston Villa in charge of their Europa League clash with Bologna, while an own-goal from Martim Fernandes rescued a draw for Nottingham Forest at Porto.

Robertson calls time at Anfield

Andy Robertson will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, the Premier League champions have announced.

The Scotland captain has spent nine seasons with the Reds, making 373 appearances and winning two Premier League titles, a Champions League, the FA Cup, two League Cups as well as the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield.

However, the 32-year-old has been limited to just 15 starts this season following the arrival of Milos Kerkez, and will leave when his contract expires in the summer.

Speaking on the club’s website, Robertson said: “It’s never easy leaving a club like Liverpool, it has been a huge part of mine and my family’s life for the last nine years. But for me, players move on, other people move on – the thing that stays the same is the club and obviously the fans.

“I’ve had an amazing nine years here. Look, I think it has been well-documented, especially over the last year or so, I’ve had opportunities to leave and I’ve not taken them because of how difficult it is to leave this club. And I wouldn’t change that for the world.”

Watkins puts Villa in command

Ollie Watkins’ second-half brace helped give Aston Villa a comfortable 3-1 lead over Bologna heading into next week’s Europa League quarter-final second leg at Villa Park.

Bologna had not tasted defeat in the competition since the opening game of the campaign where Villa beat them 1-0, and Unai Emery’s side proved to be their nemesis once again to end their 11-game European unbeaten run at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium.

Bologna thought they had a lead but Santiago Castro’s strike was ruled out by VAR for offside before Lewis Ferguson hit the crossbar moments later.

The Premier League side managed to hold on and punished the Italian side with goals either side of half time from Ezri Konsa and Watkins.

Bologna breathed life into the contest when Jonathan Rowe scored late in the day until Watkins’ stoppage-time effort restored their two-goal advantage.

Own-goal fiasco rescues Forest

Nottingham Forest’s Europa League hopes remain intact after a comical own goal helped them get out of their quarter-final first leg in Porto with a 1-1 draw.

A much-changed Forest side were under the pump against the Primeira Liga leaders and fell behind to William Gomes’ early strike.

But they were gifted a leveller by hapless Porto defender Martim Fernandes, who sent a 25-yard back-pass into his own net.

Forest had a goal disallowed in the second half, but were reliant on goalkeeper Stefan Ortega making a string of important saves to ensure they head back to the City Ground for next week’s second leg on level terms.

Importantly, they were able to get the result while still being able to keep a number of their important Premier League players fresh ahead of Sunday’s vital clash with Aston Villa.

If Forest can get the job done on home soil next week, it looks highly likely as if Villa will be waiting in the semi-final after they won their first leg against Bologna.

Palace put one foot in semi-final

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first goal since New Year’s Day inspired Crystal Palace to a 3-0 victory over Fiorentina in the first leg of their Conference League quarter-final.

The France striker, who started for the first time since January, led the Eagles’ line at Selhurst Park in place of the suspended Jorgen Strand Larsen.

He opened the scoring with a 24th minute penalty, and Palace took a two-goal lead when Tyrick Mitchell recycled the rebound from a Mateta effort seven minutes later.

Ismaila Sarr ensured Palace will travel to Tuscany with a comfortable advantage when he nodded home their third on the stroke of time.

What’s on today

West Ham host strugglers Wolves in the Premier League.

Promotion hopefuls Millwall visits struggling West Brom in the Championship.