Wednesday soccer: Champions League fixtures, Palmer going nowhere, Arteta promises fun ride

Wednesday’s big night of Champions League action sees five English clubs hoping to finish inside the top eight after the group phase and secure automatic progress to the last 16.

All fixtures kick off at 8pm this evening.

First-placed Arsenal are already secure of automatic progress before their final game at home to Kazakhstan’s FC Kairat at

Liverpool (home to Qarabag), Tottenham (away to Eintracht Frankfurt), Newcastle (away to Paris St Germain), and Chelsea (away to Napoli) currently sit inside the top eight.

They still need results to secure their spots while Manchester City hope to make a decisive jump from 11th at home to Galatasaray and avoid next month’s play-off round.

Liam Rosenior has shut down speculation over reports that Cole Palmer wants to leave Chelsea and join Manchester United.

It has been suggested the 23-year-old England international is unsettled at Stamford Bridge and open to the idea of moving to the club he supported as a child.

“There’s no reason for assurance,” Rosenior said ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League tie at Napoli.

“It’s so unrealistic. It’s come from nowhere. There’s nothing in it. Cole is very happy. I’ve had numerous conversations with him.”

Palmer, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City in an initial £40million deal in 2023, has had an injury-disrupted campaign in which he has scored only four Premier League goals.

Meanwhile, two Blues fans were being treated in Naples for what the club described as “non-life-threatening injuries” after an incident on Tuesday evening.

Mikel Arteta has pleaded with Arsenal’s anxious fanbase to “jump on the fun boat” after losing to Manchester United.

Arsenal’s Premier League title tilt was dealt a blow following a 3-2 loss to United at the