Wednesday’s briefing: Liverpool out but Lionesses on track

Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions are over for another season after they were beaten 4-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals by Paris St Germain.

The Lionesses are a step nearer the Women’s World Cup after beating Spain 1-0 at Wembley through Lauren Hemp’s early goal.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola will leave the club at the end of the season.

Liverpool out after Dembele’s double

Liverpool lost forward Hugo Ekitike to injury as Ousmane Dembele’s double saw holders Paris St Germain progress past Arne Slot’s spirited side and reach the Champions League semi-finals.

The six-time European champions were knocked out by Luis Enrique’s outstanding side for the second straight season having failed to recreate the kind of jaw-dropping turnaround seen against Barcelona in 2019.

Liverpool were frustrated by well-drilled PSG and had a penalty decision overturned before Dembele took the wind out of their sails and then added late gloss, with their 2-0 win in the rain wrapping up a deserved 4-0 quarter-final triumph.

The Reds put in a far better performance than they had in the first leg but Ekitike left on a stretcher in the first half, with Slot saying: “Tomorrow we will investigate this further, (see) how bad this is for him. Let’s see. But it doesn’t look good.”

Hemp’s strike keeps Lionesses on track

England took a huge step towards qualifying for the Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 win over holders Spain at Wembley to move to the top of group A3.

It was the first time the sides had faced each other since the Lionesses’ penalty shoot-out victory in last summer’s European Championship final, and both came into the contest with six points from their first two fixtures.

Lauren Hemp opened the scoring in just two minutes and 34 seconds, believed to be the quickest goal scored by a Lioness at the new Wembley Stadium, after Alessia Russo’s brilliant improvised assist.

Coach Sarina Wiegman said: “We’re really happy but we need to keep that significance by getting a result on Saturday. Tomorrow we really need to have a mindset shift straight away.”

Iraola to depart at end of season

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is set to leave the club at the end of the season.

The 43-year-old Spaniard, who took over at the Vitality Stadium in June 2023 following the departure of Gary O’Neil, guided the Cherries to a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, setting a new club-record points tally.

With Iraola’s contract set to expire in the summer, the club had been looking to agree terms on a new deal but have now reluctantly accepted his departure.

“AFC Bournemouth can confirm that head coach Andoni Iraola will leave the club at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, bringing an end to his successful three-year tenure on the south coast,” a statement read.

Iraola has been linked with a return to former team Athletic Bilbao as well as the Manchester United job.

Terry at Colchester amid takeover reports

John Terry was a notable spectator as Colchester beat Accrington 2-1 in League Two.

Former Chelsea and England captain Terry was in attendance following reports he is part of a consortium in discussions to buy Colchester and watched Jack Payne fire home an 86th-minute winner.

Manager Danny Cowley said: “We didn’t expect to be front page of The Sun on Monday morning – it’s great coverage for the football club.

“It’s a football club that’s dear to my heart, so it’s so good to see us in the headlines.”

Elsewhere in the EFL, Rotherham were relegated to League Two following a 3-0 defeat to Wigan.

Atletico hold on to stun Barca

Atletico Madrid are through to the Champions League semi-finals 3-2 on aggregate despite losing 2-1 on the night to 10-man Barcelona at the Metropolitano in the quarter-final second leg.

Barca made a spirited showing to fight back from losing the first leg 2-0 at home, scoring twice inside the opening 24 minutes through Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres to wipe out Atletico’s advantage.

At that stage, the hosts looked to be clinging on in the tie, but after goalkeeper Juan Musso saved brilliantly from Fermin Lopez to keep Barca from taking the lead, Diego Simeone’s side hit back.

Ademola Lookman finished off Marcos Llorente’s cross on a rapid breakaway in the 31st minute to hand Atletico an aggregate lead they would not relinquish.

Barca had finished the first-leg defeat at the Nou Camp with 10 men and they were handicapped again in the final 11 minutes when Eric Garcia was red-carded for a foul when deemed to be the last defender.

What’s on today?

Arsenal will look to get the job done in their Champions League quarter-final by defending a 1-0 first-leg lead against Sporting Lisbon at the Emirates.

Bayern Munch take a 2-1 aggregate lead into their second leg against Real Madrid.