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Hought of the picture

England boss Sarina Wiegman has defended her decision not to include Steph Houghton in her latest squad.

Ex-skipper Houghton, 34, last represented the Lionesses in 2021, missing their Euro 2022 triumph and last week's Finalissima victory over Brazil.

She has expressed her disappointment at being unable to break back in but Wiegman has no plans to recall the Manchester City defender. 

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's friendly with 2023 World Cup co-hosts Australia, the Dutch tactician said: "Steph is a very good experienced player I have lots of respect for.

"I have respect for what she has done for her country but I have players in that position I don't want to take out because I think they have performed really well.

"So that's the reason why. She has done so much for the game and is trying hard to get back into the national team. 

"But every player trains so hard. We have some more players I had to disappoint with the choices I made.

"So the chances are not that high but I will never close the door because when you are in international football and you are England coach, you want everyone to be available."

Braced for Bayern

Ruben Dias says Manchester City are prepared for the challenge they will face against Bayern Munich tomorrow night.

City host the Bundesliga leaders in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on a run of eight straight wins in all competitions.

Bayern’s recent poor run resulted in Julian Nagelsmann being replaced by ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel but Dias believes they are ready for the Bavarians’ threats.

The Portuguese defender said: "Now is the time to be together and be producing — to be out there on the pitch doing what we can do best, every one of us.

"I think our team gets fed by these moments and I think that's a very good characteristic to have in our space of work.

"At least in the last two years I've been here, when we arrive at this stage, we're ready.

"It will definitely be a balanced game between two very good teams. All details will matter."

Positive point

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has urged his team-mates to take the positives from their 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.

The Reds were two goals down after 28 minutes but earned a point thanks to Mohamed Salah's reply and Roberto Firmino's late equaliser.

Having dominated Mikel Arteta's league leaders in the second half, the Brazilian hopes the Merseysiders carry their momentum into their clash with Leeds next Monday.

The 30-year-old said: "After the circumstances of the match, we take the point that can help us during the rest of the season.

"We need to start to look as well to the positive things and take the good side.

"For the second half, they didn’t know how to deal with us.

"We have to show more desire every game — as we did in the second half — consistently. 

"We know what we have to do. It's really easy to say but not too easy to make those things happen, football is not anything magic."

Happy Hodgson

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson wants to see more from his team, despite their 5-1 victory at Leeds on Sunday.

Palace fell a goal behind at Elland Road but stunned their West Yorkshire hosts with five goals in 31 minutes either side of half-time.

The Eagles moved up to 12th in the Premier League table, six points from safety, with Hodgson having an immediate impact with two wins from two since taking the reins until the end of the season.

The ex-England boss, 75, said: "It gives us a nice week's training but it's still divorced from the number of points we need to stay in the league.

"There are plenty more performances that we have to produce and the good thing I think is that we won't need to produce them by pulling rabbits out of hats.

"We need to produce them by making certain we do the right things tactically, defensively and offensively and we show the right determination, which we certainly did second half.

"All we [coaches] are, we're orchestra leaders. We know the music, we know all the notes but they have to play the tune."

Bullish Bamford

While Crystal Palace are on the up, Leeds are still looking over their shoulder following the crushing second-half capitulation.

Javi Gracia’s sit only two points above the drop zone in 16th place.

They face fellow relegation candidates Leicester, Bournemouth and West Ham in the run-in and striker Patrick Bamford believes the West Yorkshire outfit will soon bounce back.

The 29-year-old English forward said: "It's one that we'll move on from. 

"The first half we were really good, probably should've been a few goals ahead. 

"Then, the second half we kind of fell apart and it was a freak result in the second half.

"I said before the game that one game doesn't decide it. It wasn't the be all and end all and we move on."