Sporting v Manchester City, Celtic v RB Leipzig: Champions League – live | Champions League

Alistair Johnston tells TNT Sports his rallying cry for his Celtic teammates: still be in Europe at the turn of the year.

Celtic Park on a Champions League night. There is nothing like it. I am not even sure if the noise made is humane. It’s impossible to not get shivers up your spine.

Four points after three matches and we have a chance to put ourselves in the drivers seat. There is huge ambition within this group. We do want to be playing in Europe in January. It is a big aim for us this year. It’s not going to be easy but matches like this give you a great opportunity for it.

Our first email of the night comes from Krishna:

Hasn’t anyone told Amorim that the moniker for OT has changed to Theatre of Nightmares? Or doesn’t he follow football? Who in his right mind would walk into the quicksand that is further made unstable by the blue whirlpool circling it relentlessly?

The very best will of course want a challenge and he clearly thinks he can be the guy to turn it around. Many close to him can attest to the fact that he is a young, fresh, manager on the way up, with vision and drive and personality.

But the worry is that it is somehow bigger than Amorim and Erik ten Hag and all the others before him. Is there simply something about the United job that is just too big, too difficult, too chaotic? Let’s see.

Xabi Alonso’s Anfield homecoming is set to be special, as the former Reds midfielder returns with the German champions Bayer Leverkusen. In an alternate universe Alonso could have been the one on home team’s touchline as he was linked once Jürgen Klopp announced his departure. But he doesn’t have time for ifs and maybes.

Let’s talk about the game tomorrow, it’s more interesting than my future. It feels great to be back after a few years. It’s always special. You notice the development of the club, the new stands look pretty amazing. Is a big game against Liverpool in a great moment, it cannot get much better than that.

I am not thinking that much [about how he will be received]. I am thinking more about how to prepare for the game. I might think about my memories when I go for a walk or a run tomorrow. I know the city, I love it and I still have friends here, but I don’t have time for tourism.

Read Andy Hunter’s preview below.

And follow my colleague Rob Smyth’s MBM of the match in Liverpool here.

Brendan Rodgers has called Celtic fans who use fireworks selfish and has reiterated his call for supporters to stop using pyrotechnics, with the Bonfire Night Champions League visit of RB Leipzig raising fears of a Uefa ban.

Supporters’ use of fireworks during last month’s 7-1 defeat by Borussia Dortmund led to Celtic being fined by Uefa and told their fans will be banned from attending an away fixture if there is another such incident within two years. The warning was heeded when Celtic drew away to Atalanta two weeks ago, but kick-off was delayed at Saturday’s Scottish League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen after yet another Celtic pyro display. Uefa is keeping a close eye on the matter.

It’s just exactly what we said before, it’s not something that we really want to see. There’s that sanction hanging over the club and we really don’t want that.

Read more on Rodgers’ thoughts below.

The two 5.45pm GMT kick-offs are heading into the final 20 minutes and here is how things stand.

PSV lead Girona 2-0 with Ryan Flamingo’s header from a throw-in opening their account before Malik Tillman doubled their lead drilling a powerful, right-footed effort after some fine dribbling skills. A second yellow for Arnau Martínez means a comeback for the Spaniards is unlikely.

Slovan striked early after David Strelec got on the end of a counterattack but the hosts now trail Dinamo 1-3 after goals from Dario Spikic, Petar Sucic and Sandro Kulenovic.

Here is a sneak peak of David Squires’s latest cartoon on Manchester United’s hive mind choosing Rúben Amorim.

Check out the full cartoon below.

The current Champions League table as it stands. Aston Villa top with nine points from three games, naturally.

A reminder as to how the new rules of the competition work. At the end of the league phase, the top eight teams will advance to the round of 16. Teams 9-16 will advance to knockout phase playoffs (seeded) and teams 17-24 will advance to knockout phase playoffs (unseeded). The bottom 12 will be eliminated from Europa and will none will drop to the Europa League (unlike previous seasons).

Any hopes Rúben Amorim might have had for a peaceful send-off from Sporting have well and truly disappeared. The Manchester United-bound manager got his first taste of the British press when he was hounded for not answering a question in English (though he handling the scrutiny with a calmness).

Tonight, he faces Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in what could be seen as his unofficial audition for the United faithful. A win against their arch-rivals who have dominated in recent years would make Amorim an instant favorite at Old Trafford, though he’s careful not to let expectations get too high.

And if he loses? Some will surely overreact, but the reality is that a Sporting win over the English champions would be a genuine upset. For now, tonight’s clash in Lisbon offers many fans their first real look at Amorim’s style of play and a chance to imagine how it might translate to the Premier League.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid will hope to bounce back from a disastrous and humbling el classico and embarrassing and ill-advised Ballon d’Or boycott against an inconsistent Milan side; Brendan Rodgers aims to bolster Celtic’s European form against RB Leipzig, still winless in Europe this season; Bologna will need a win against Monaco if they want to make the next round; the Austrian champions Sturm have the tough task of silencing the Yellow Wall at Dortmund; and Lille are somehow favourites against Juventus after strong showings against Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.

It is shaping up to be an exciting one so join me for our Champions League matchday four liveblog. Kick-offs across Europe at 8pm GMT.

And, as always, if you have any thoughts, questions, complaints or predictions that you’re keen to share then feel free to send me an email.