Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer disagree with Thomas Tuchel over struggling Chelsea star

Liverpool and Chelsea have performed a pre-match tribute for Ukraine ahead of the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.The two sides expressed their support for the war-torn country following the invasion launched by Russian president Vladimir Putin this week.Captains Jordan Henderson and Cesar Azpilicueta lead out their teams holding blue and yellow wreaths, the colours of the Ukraine flag.A minutes applause was then held, during which time Liverpool supporters belted out their anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone'.After the national anthem was sung both sets of players posed for a picture with the wreaths. It comes after several other protests in the Premier League against the military operation over the weekend.Everton players entered the pitch draped in Ukraine flags in support of team-mate Vitaliy Mykolenko before their clash with Manchester City.Manchester United and Watford players urged peace with a sign ahead of their fixture.And Aston Villa's Matty Cash displayed a message of support for his Poland colleague Tomasz Kedziora who is caught up in the crisis.Chelsea have been impacted by Putin's military operation, with Russian owner Roman Abramovich handing over control of the club in recent days.The Russian billionaire announced he has handed over 'stewardship and care' of the club on Saturday.However, he remains owner of the club.Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel admitted earlier this week that the whole situation had impacted his side's preparation.He said: "We should not pretend that this is not an issue and I agree."The situation for me and for everybody here, for the players, is horrible.

Gary Neville has conceded his fears that Liverpool were in 'decline' were wide of the mark - and backed them to overcome Chelsea in Sunday's Carabao Cup final.Both Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel are bidding to clinch their first domestic cup since arriving in English football.While Chelsea will contest Sunday's showpiece final at Wembley, their hopes of following up their Champions League glory with the Premier League title have fallen flat after a tough run of form at the turn of the year.The Reds, however, are still in the hunt for the domestic crown after their resurgent run of form in recent weeks.And their sizzling form of late has led to Neville, a Manchester United icon, to admit that he had feared that Liverpool's powers were waning - and that he'd been emphatically proved wrong."Liverpool. I thought Liverpool were in decline, In decline from a very, very high place," Neville told Sky Sports.

Chelsea are said to have made 'no formal approach' to the Premier League over a potential change in ownership after Roman Abramovich's 110 word statement over his stance at the club.The Russian businessman told supporters that he had handed 'stewardship and care' to their charitable foundation - but insisted that he remained committed to the club.Following that update, The Telegraph reports that there has been no formal legal approach to the Premier League - meaning that Abramovich remains in full control.They add that any chance in ownership has to be approved by the league executive, who would have to look at the owners' and directors test'.Abramovich's Fordstam Limited company remains the controlling party of Chelsea, which means Chelsea would still be affected should the Government impose sanctions on the billionaire.His statement on Saturday (February 26) read: "During my nearly 20-year ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the Club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities."I have always taken decisions with the Club’s best interest at heart. Will Chelsea win more major trophies under Thomas Tuchel? Give us your thoughts in the comments section"I remain committed to these values.

Ukraine.There is no suggestion Abramovich is in any way involved, but this week Labour MP Chris Bryant had called for him to be banned from owning the club.Despite the gravity of the statement, huge questions remain over how exactly Chelsea will be run moving forward.It is not known if the move will be permanent or temporary, nor is it clear if he will consider selling his stake in the club.Blues boss Thomas Tuchel had earlier addressed the situation.The German said: "We should not pretend that this is not an issue and I agree."The situation for me and for everybody here, for the players, is horrible. Nobody expected this.

Should Chelsea sell Romelu Lukaku? Have your say in the comments section.Now he's out of the team and I can't see him getting back in against Liverpool at Wembley.At times the other day against Lille in the Champions League, when he was on the bench, some of Chelsea's football was outstanding.The movement from Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech was absolutely outstanding. I haven't seen that from Chelsea for a while - and I don't think Thomas Tuchel will play Lukaku now against Liverpool. Virgil van Dijk had Lukaku in his pocket when they played at Anfield, and it was Havertz who scored in that game.Havertz brings a lot more to the party at the moment.

Chelsea team-mates with an incredible reaction to Kai Havertz’s goal against Lille.Mount suffered an ankle ligament injury in the Club World Cup final, which saw him miss Saturday’s win over Crystal Palace.He had recovered enough to feature on the bench for the first leg of the Champions League last 16 clash against Lille, though he did not come on.But it was his actions on the bench that caught the eye as he celebrated Havertz’s header that opened the scoring just eight minutes into the game.Havertz had forced Lille keeper Leo Jardim into save, before heading into the resulting corner from Hakim Ziyech.As he saw the goal go in, Mount leapt in the air before turning his face to the sky and roaring in delight.He continued to roar and scream as he turned back down towards Havertz, who himself was celebrating.Mount was one of the first on Chelsea’s bench to jump up and celebrate, though not everyone else was quite as excited as the Englishman.Should Mason Mount start against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section...Trevoh Chalobah, Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner all also got to their feet to applaud Havertz’s goal.Mount has clearly shaken off his injury if his lightning-fast reaction to the header was anything to go by.He could be in line to feature against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, having also returned to full training.Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news?Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star football email newsletter!From the latest transfer news to the agenda-setting stories, get it all in your email inbox - don't miss a thing.It only takes a matter of seconds.Simply type your email address into the box at the top of this

Romelu Lukaku should be “going nuts” at his Chelsea teammates over a lack of service.The Belgian has struggled massively this season for the Blues and only managed seven touches of the ball in their Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday.Lukaku’s non-existent performance prompted former England strikers Lineker and Shearer to come to his defence on Match of the Day by arguing that Thomas Tuchel’s side were not creating enough opportunities for him.And Ferdinand has now also taken to his Vibe with Five podcast to slam Lukaku’s team-mates for his lack of service and goals.Ferdinand said: “I agree with Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer by the way, if anyone saw their comments. If I’m Lukaku I’m going nuts."[I would be saying] get me that ball, get wide and cross me the ball, play the ball in behind when you get the opportunity, play to my strengths."I think that’s probably the biggest issue you’ve got with Chelsea at the moment - what’s their best team? I don’t think Tuchel knows his best team at the moment."He wants to get a £100million player in - which is understandable - in Lukaku and he’s hit a bit of a bad run in terms of goals.”Do you think Romelu Lukaku was the wrong signing for Chelsea? Let us know in the comments section.Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news?Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star football email newsletter!From the latest transfer news to the agenda-setting stories, get it all in your email inbox - don't miss a thing.It only takes a matter of seconds.Simply type your email address into the box at the top of this article and hit 'subscribe'.And that's it, job done.

Chelsea have taken a big step towards the next round of the Champions League after they beat Lille 2-0 in the first leg of their knockout tie.It took Kai Havertz just eight minutes to open the scoring after he headed home from Hakim Ziyech's corner to put Chelsea ahead, and Lille were fortunate to go into the break just a goal down.Injuries dominated the early stages of the second half as Mateo Kovacic and Ziyech limped off down the tunnel, but Christian Pulisic alleviated the pressure by adding a second after 63 minutes to give the home side some breathing space.It was a comfortable night for Chelsea, and it could have been a more convincing win if their flow wasn't disrupted early in the second half, but Thomas Tuchel will feel confident heading to Lille with a two-goal advantage against the French Champions.As Chelsea take control of their Champions League knockout tie, here Daily Star Sport takes a look at what Tuchel got right at Stamford Bridge...It was a huge decision by Thomas Tuchel to leave Romelu Lukaku out of the starting line-up against Lille, but it paid off as Chelsea looked fluid in attack in the absence of their summer signing.It was a game to forget on Saturday for Lukaku, who touched the ball just seven times against Crystal Palace, and Tuchel pulled him out of the line-up after vowing to 'protect him' following the backlash from the fans.Although on his day he is their best centre-forward, it provided a lift for the whole team, who seemed to play with more freedom.It appeared to catch Lille off guard too, as centre-back pairing Jose Fonte and Sven Botman were likely preparing to face Lukaku all week, but took time to adjust to the agility of Chelsea's font-three.In the absence of Lukaku from the

Thomas Tuchel has dropped Romelu Lukaku from his starting line-up to face Lille in the first-leg of their Champions League knockout tie.The Belgian had a game to forget on Saturday against Crystal Palace, registering just seven touches across the 90 minutes, one of which was from kick-off.The £97.5million signing has been named amongst the substitutes rather than leading the line at Stamford Bridge, a week after he helped Chelsea claim the Club World Cup title.Tuchel's decision marks yet another low point in Lukaku's return to Chelsea, which has been dominated in controversy as well as injury since moving from Inter Milan in the summer.Lukaku's tally of seven touches during the 1-0 win against Palace on Saturday was an all-time low for any player over the course of 90 minutes in the Premier League, since such statistics began to be recorded during the 2003/04 season. As a result, Lukaku has been dropped by Tuchel despite the German seemingly defending his summer signing in the build-up to their clash with Lille, as he asked fans to stop making jokes about him.Tuchel said regarding Lukaku's form: "Sometimes it's like this with strikers if they struggle a little bit with self confidence and find the space to get involved with a good defensive side.Is Romelu Lukaku's future at Chelsea in doubt? Comment belowWant to be on the ball with all of the latest football news?Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star football email newsletter!From the latest transfer news to the agenda-setting stories, get it all in your email inbox - don't miss a thing.It only takes a matter of seconds.Simply type your email address into the box at the top of this article and hit 'subscribe'.And that's it, job done.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has asked that fans stop mocking Romelu Lukaku as the Belgian's miserable form continues.The German has asked fans to stop joking about Lukaku's form as he looks to defend the £97.5million summer signing, following a quiet display against Crystal Palace.Lukaku registered an unwanted stat on Saturday as he touched the ball just seven times throughout 90 minutes against Palace, with one of those being from kick-off in the first half.It was the fewest number of touches in 90 minutes since the statistics began to be observed during the 2003/04 season, and Tuchel has been quick to back the striker.Tuchel wants the fans to support their striker rather than mock him as Chelsea prepare for an important Champions League clash against Lille, and the German explained: "Sometimes it's like this with strikers if they struggle a little bit with self confidence and find the space to get involved with a good defensive side."It can be like this, of course it's not what we want and what Romelu wants but it's also not to the time laugh about him and make jokes about him."He's in the spotlight and we'll protect him."Has Romelu Lukaku justified his price-tag at Chelsea this season? Comment belowLukaku has scored ten goals for Chelsea since his return to the club, but his second spell has been dominated by injury and also controversies stemming from off the field.But the Belgian seems to be suffering from the 'curse of the Chelsea no.9', as high-profile signings such as Andriy Shevchenko and Fernando Torres also struggled when making emphatic moves to Stamford Bridge.Tuchel was rather tight-lipped on this comparison, but did add: "There's a history of strikers struggling at Chelsea.

Chelsea are targeting a summer transfer move for Wolves defender Max Kilman, according to reports.Kilman, 24, has been a key player for the Midlands side this season and is reportedly on the verge of a first England call-up.The boyhood Blues fan has been one of the standout stars for Bruno Lage's side in a season that has seen them defy expectations and challenge for the Champions League.Wolves are six points off Manchester United with two games in hand on the fourth-place side. Kilman's performance have been a big part of their recent success, and he is now attracting interest from Chelsea, with the European champions prepared to move for the centre-half when the transfer window reopens.

Chelsea fans want "virus" Romelu Lukaku sold after he produced a shockingly bad performance against Crystal Palace.Thomas Tuchel's side were 1-0 winners in the Premier League clash but the result was in no part thanks to Lukaku, who had just two touches of the ball in the first-half.And one of them came from kick-off.The striker finished the game with a total of seven touches, while he was twice flagged offside and also committed two fouls throughout the 90 minutes.Having already rubbed the club's fanbase up the wrong way with his bombshell interview earlier this season, his latest outing was the final straw for many Blues supporters.One tweeted: "Lukaku should be sold tbh . Cut our losses."Another claimed: "Literally everyone has become worse thanks to Lukaku.

Chelsea's trip to take on Crystal Palace on Saturday was their first Premier League game for 27 days since beating Tottenham - and Thomas Tuchel was left with mixed emotions.The Blues, on the back of their Club World Cup triumph, struggled for long periods as Patrick Vieira's men held firm while creating chances of their own.Although the away side did steal all three points thanks to Hakim Ziyech, there wasn't an awful lot to be positive about for their manager.Daily Star Sport have taken a look at three things Tuchel got wrong on the day and one he got right, one of which involves a player who touched the ball only twice during the opening 45 minutes.

Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has admitted that he still 'dreams' about playing under Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola following a failed move to the Etihad Stadium in 2018.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has disagreed with Ralf Rangnick's claim that a fourth-place finish is the best Manchester United can hope for in the Premier League this season.

Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele was booed by his own fans every time he touched the ball against Napoli in the Europa League on Thursday.The Frenchman's torrid spell at the Nou Camp - which has been plagued by injuries and mishaps - appears to have reached its nadir with supporters furious with the 24-year-old for recently rejecting a contract extension.He was greeted by a cacophony of jeers as he came off the bench to make his first appearance for the club in 2022, during what was Barcelona's first Europa League match since 2004, and the bitter home crowd refused to let up all night.Dembele entered the fray with 25 minutes remaining, shortly after Ferran Torres had cancelled out Piotr Zielinski's opener for the visitors, though perhaps unsurprisingly he failed to make any significant impact on the game.Dembele's contract expires in the summer, meaning he'll be able to leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.Desperate to avoid that, Barcelona chiefs have been trying to tie the former Dortmund man down to a new deal all season and even insisted the player would be sold in January if he failed to agree an extension by then - but no such move materialised.Would you like to see Ousmane Dembele in the Premier League? Let us know which club you think he'd be most suited to in the comments section...He was linked to Chelsea, which would have seen him reunited with former manager Thomas Tuchel, as well as to Paris Saint Germain, but Dembele opted to stay put and see out the remainder of his £210,000-a-week contract in Catalonia.Barcelona paid a whopping £130 million to bring Dembele to the club in 2017 following an impressive breakthrough season in the Bundesliga, though he's spent just as much time on the

football.london.Broja had not made an appearance for Chelsea before being sent out on loan, though he has always been tipped to have a bright future while working his way up through the academy.With Arteta building a squad with young talents that will improve and create a star-studded squad when those players continue to improve, it is no surprise that the 20-year-old is one of his top targets.But Chelsea are expected to be incredibly reluctant to part ways with their academy graduate given that they are starting to look short of a different option in the final third.Romelu Lukaku has struggled to set the league alight since his return from Inter Milan, and Timo Werner is continuing to look better utilised as a winger rather than through the middle.Discussing Broja earlier this season, Thomas Tuchel said: “He’s our player and he’s doing good, but at the same time it’s only half a season, so he needs to continue to improve and to make his statement at Southampton.“We have a reason why they are our players, they have quality and mentality and now they are out there on their own in different environments and clubs and proving themselves.“Armando’s getting better and better, he’s a very unique player with unique strengths in his game - he has speed, he’s robust and he’s a goalscorer.”Chelsea rejected a bid from Southampton last month for the no.9 which could be a sign of how highly the club rate Broja and thus how unlikely it is that the Stamford Bridge outfit will accept a bid from Arsenal for the star.

Liverpool midfield general Fabinho has enjoyed quite the season for Jurgen Klopp’s side. The Brazilian bundled home the winning goal in Liverpool’s crucial 1-0 away victory against Burnley at Turf Moor.It was the former Monaco ace’s third Premier League goal in four matches; an impressive return for a player who is known for his defensive exploits.In just 18 League appearances, Fabinho has already scored more goals than his previous three seasons with the club put together.

Chelsea have awkwardly included a snap of Edouard Mendy's gaffe against West Ham United in an online graphic celebrating being crowned 'champions of the world'.Goals from Romelu Lukaku and Kai Havertz saw the Blues inch past Palmeiras to win the Club World Cup on Saturday and clinch the only piece of silverware that had been missing from their trophy cabinet.Naturally, the club's social media team began basking in the glory, as images of players and fans celebrating came flooding in.But a graphic they created to celebrate becoming world champions has rival fans in stitches as they included a shot of Mendy being caught out by Arthur Masuaku's cross during Chelsea's 3-2 defeat to West Ham in December."Chelsea’s graphic saying 'Champions of the world' have a picture of Mendy and it’s the one where he pushes Masuaku’s cross into the goal," tweeted a giddy Hammers fan."That's embarrassing haha.

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta showed his experience with a genius trick to fool the Palmeiras players in the dying minutes of the Club World Cup final on Saturday.With the game tied at 1-1, the Blues were awarded a spot-kick just as extra time was drawing to a close.Azpilicueta picked the ball up and began hovering around the penalty spot.He cleverly made the Palmeiras players think he was about to step up and take it, and absorbed all their attempts to get in his head, before handing the ball to Kai Havertz.The silky German, just as he did in the Champions League final last season, rippled the net to win the match and the tournament for Chelsea."What a player and what a captain," one Chelsea fan tweeted. "Azpilicueta is completely underrated and under appreciated.""That's genius.

Chelsea lifted the Club World Cup trophy on Saturday night after beating Palmeiras 2-1 after extra time. Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring in the 55th minute when he powered his header past goalkeeper Weverton following some good work from Callum Hudson-Odoi down the left.