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BRIGHTON 0-0 BURNLEY: POPE STANDS TALL TO DENY BRIGHTON FIRST HOME WIN.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s search for a first home win of the season goes on after an entertaining goalless draw against Burnley.

In an incident-packed first half, Tariq Lamptey blazed a shot over the crossbar early on after Danny Welbeck had set him up.

Dan Burn fired into the side-netting and Pascal Gross headed straight at Nick Pope as Brighton pushed forward, before Matt Lowton hit the crossbar for Burnley at the other end.

Before half-time Pope made an excellent save to deny Welbeck, making his first Seagulls start, while the striker then smashed a shot straight at the Burnley goalkeeper after the break.

Neal Maupay twice went close for the hosts, with James Tarkowski pulling off a superb block to deny him the second time, but neither side could find a way to break the deadlock.

Brighton stay 16th, now with six points, while Burnley remain 19th with two.

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DIOGO JOTA NAMED CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK.

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has won the Champions League Player of the Week award following his hat-trick against Atalanta BC.

The No.20 continued his stellar form in front of goal with a treble in the Group D tie to help the Reds to a 5-0 win that maintained their 100 per cent record.

Jota won an online poll for the prize, seeing off competition from Alassane Plea (Borussia Monchengladbach), Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) and Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla).

The Portugal international has four goals in total in this season’s tournament.

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UEL: BENFICA SCORE LATE TO HOLD RANGERS TO A 3-3 DRAW.

Alfredo Morelos became Rangers’ top European goalscorer but Darwin Nunez’s injury-time strike saw 10-man Benfica snatch a 3-3 draw in the Europa League.

Morelos’s tap in six minutes after half-time – the Colombian’s 22nd goal in Europe seeing him overtake Ally McCoist as Rangers’ leading scorer on the continent – had given his side a 3-1 lead, only for the Portuguese to hit back twice in the final 13 minutes through Rafa Silva and substitute Nunez.

Rangers had made the worst possible start when falling behind after only 60 seconds thanks to Connor Goldson’s unfortunate own goal, only for Nicolas Otamendi’s straight red card (19) to then turn the game on its head as the visitors scored twice in just 88 seconds.

Steven Gerrard’s side levelled matters through Diogo Goncalves’s own goal (24), before Glen Kamara immediately made it 2-1 with his first strike since September 2019.

Nunez’s late effort means both teams remain unbeaten and at the top of Group D ahead of the return meeting at Ibrox.

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UEL: KANE SCORES 200TH TOTTENHAM GOAL AS SPURS BEAT LUDOGORETS.

Harry Kane scored his 200th goal for Tottenham in a 3-1 away victory over Ludogorets in the Europa League on Thursday, while 10-man Benfica came from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Rangers after an equalizer in injury time.

In his 300th appearance, Kane needed just 13th minutes put his team ahead by heading home corner from Lucas Moura.

It was Kane’s first goal in the group stage of Europe’s second tier competition this season after another five in the qualifying.

Kane scored his first Tottenham goal in this competition against Shamrock Rovers in 2011.

Lucas doubled the lead 20 minutes later. Kane collected a pass from Gareth Bale before setting Lucas up with a pass from the right to net from close range.

Kane was substituted at halftime and replaced by Carlos Vinicius.

Claudiu Keșerü pulled one back for Ludogorets in the second before Giovani Lo Celso finished it off.

Tottenham has six points from three games to join Antwerp atop Group J. The Belgian side played LASK later Thursday.

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UEL: IHEANACHO STARS AS LEICESTER THRASH BRAGA 4-1.

Kelechi Iheanacho scored twice as Leicester thrashed Braga 4-0 to keep up their perfect start in the Europa League group stage.

A touch of fortune helped Iheanacho bundled in an opener 20 minutes when Matheus could not hold his heavy touch and allowed him to tap in from close-range, with a significant deflection off Bruno Viana helping his 25-yard drive beat the goalkeeper again two minutes into the second period.

He turned provider with a wonderfully disguised pass from a shooting position to tee up Dennis Praet midway through the half (67) before James Maddison got on the scoresheet after evading Raul Silva’s challenge with 12 minutes remaining.

The victory moves Leicester three points clear at the top of their Europa League group, ahead of their visitors, with three wins from three games – and already on the verge of qualifying for the knockout stages.

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RYAN GIGGS STEPS ASIDE AS WALES MANAGER FOLLOWING ARREST ON ALLEGED ASSAULT.

The Wales Football Association has confirmed that Ryan Giggs will not be involved in the squad’s upcoming international camp after he was arrested by police on Sunday following a disturbance at his home involving a woman.

While Giggs has denied all allegations of assault, the Wales FA said in a statement that it was “mutually agreed” he wouldn’t be involved as the squad prepares for its international games, which includes a clash against the USMNT on Nov. 12.

“The Football Association of Wales and Ryan Giggs have mutually agreed that he will not be involved in the upcoming international camp,” the statement said.

“Our agreed immediate priority is preparing the team for the upcoming international matches. Robert Page, with Ryan’s support, will take charge for the next three matches against the USA, Republic of Ireland and Finland supported by Albert Stuivenberg.”

Former Manchester United winger Giggs, 46, was due to announce his Wales squad on Tuesday ahead of the international break but the appearance was cancelled following allegations of a disturbance at his home.

“Mr Giggs denies all allegations of assault made against him,” Giggs’ representatives told ESPN. “He is cooperating with the police and will continue to assist them with their ongoing investigations.”

Giggs has been released on bail while enquiries are ongoing.

“Police were called at 10.05 p.m. GMT (6.45 p.m. ET) on Nov. 1, 2020 to reports of a disturbance at an address in Worsley,” a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said.

“A woman in her 30s sustained minor injuries but did not require any treatment.

“A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of section 47 assault and section 39 common assault. He has since been bailed pending further enquiries. Enquiries are ongoing.”

The squad for the international break will be announced on Thursday, the Wales FA confirmed.

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LEIPZIG MAKE FANTASTIC COME BACK TO BEAT 9-MAN PSG.

RB Leipzig fought back to beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 at home in a pulsating Champions League Group H clash on Wednesday that kept them on course for a round-of-16 spot while putting the French side, who finished the game with nine men, in a precarious position.

Angel Di Maria had given PSG an early lead, but he then missed a penalty and goals from Christopher Nkunku and Emil Forsberg turned the encounter on its head.

The outcome left Leipzig second in the group on six points from three games, the same tally as leaders Manchester United who beat them 5-0 in the previous round but suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Istanbul Basaksehir earlier in the day.

Third-placed PSG, who beat Leipzig 3-0 in last season’s one-off semifinal in August, have three points, level with bottom of the table Basaksehir.

PSG made a bright start as Di Maria gave them a sixth-minute lead, threading the ball past goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi with the outside of his foot from close range after he was put through by Moise Kean.

That, however, was as good as it got for the visitors, who had Idrissa Gueye and Presnel Kimpembe sent off in the second half for two bookable fouls.

It all started going downhill for last season’s Champions League runners-up after Gulacsi superbly saved Di Maria’s 16th-minute penalty given after Kean’s shot struck centre back Dayot Upamecano on the arm.

Di Maria and Kean then had goals ruled out for offside in quick succession before Nkunku levelled out of the blue in the 42nd minute with a crisp low shot from the edge of the area following good work by Angelino.

Forsberg missed a gilt-edged chance for Leipzig early in the second half but made no mistake with a 57th-minute penalty awarded after defender Kimpembe handled a seemingly innocuous Angelino cross.

From there on things only got worse for PSG as Gueye was sent off in the 68th minute and Kimpembe also received his marching orders in stoppage time, as the visitors ran out of steam.

PSG showed plenty of attacking flair in the opening half but ultimately missed injured forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe as well as striker Mauro Icardi, with midfielders Julian Draxler and Marco Verratti also sidelined.

Forsberg was delighted Leipzig ground out what may turn out to be a priceless win in their bid to reach the knockout stages.

“It was an important goal and an important win,” the Swedish forward said.

“I’m proud of the team and the performance. It’s not easy to play against such a top team, but we played with courage. We were hungry and desperate to win, which I think you could see on the pitch today.”

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ISTANBUL 2-1 MAN UTD: RED DEVILS SUFFER SHOCKING LOSS IN TURKEY.

Manchester United suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Istanbul Basaksehir on Wednesday, the English side’s first loss in three Champions League group matches and the Turkish champions’ first victory in Europe’s premier club competition.

United fell behind after 12 minutes when Edin Visca’s long pass found Demba Ba in acres of space and the striker ran forward before finishing neatly past goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Basaksehir doubled their lead five minutes before halftime after Deniz Turuc nicked the ball from Juan Mata and passed to Ba who set up Visca to score.

Anthony Martial’s header two minutes later gave United hope but despite enjoying plenty of possession in the second half, they were unable to break down the Turkish side’s disciplined defence.

“The performance wasn’t good enough against a team that worked and ran and they hit us on the break a couple of times and scored two goals like sometimes you do in Europe when you don’t defend well enough,” United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told reporters.

Basaksehir scored their first Champions League goals and clinched their first points in the competition on a historic night for the club.

“We played well in the first two games too, but finally we secured a win. This is a big result for us, we are really proud,” Visca said.

United, who beat last season’s runners-up Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig in their first two games, top Group H with six points from three matches. RB Leipzig sit second in the group after their 2-1 victory over PSG, Thomas Tuchel’s side sit in third and Basaksehir remain bottom.

United, who have made a poor start to the Premier League season with three losses in their first six games, played poorly in the first half and although they showed greater urgency after the interval, they only managed one more effort on target.

Solskjaer sent on Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani as substitutes and in stoppage time Alexandru Epureanu brilliantly cleared off the line to prevent an own goal as United’s 18-match unbeaten away run in all competitions ended.

“We hoped we had enough to create chances, we just didn’t. Emotions don’t matter – when you lose, well you can think to yourself how we feel after we lose, that’s not something we go out to do,” Solskjaer said.

“We played against a lot of good individuals in a good team. They were well set up, well organised and we were not good enough. That’s it.”

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JOTA BAGS HATRICK AS LIVERPOOL THRASH ATALANTA 5-0 IN ITALY.

Diogo Jota took his tally to six goals in 10 days with a Champions League hat-trick as Liverpool hammered Atalanta 5-0 to put themselves within touching distance of the knockout stages already.

The Portugal international’s recent scoring spree persuaded Jurgen Klopp to start him ahead of Roberto Firmino in Bergamo and he fully justified the manager’s decision with only the club’s fourth European treble away from Anfield.

He is in elevated company as Michael Owen (two) and Sadio Mane scored the others and what he has achieved already since his move from Wolves in mid-September suggests there could be more to come.

Jota, who could have had a first-half hat-trick but squandered possibly his easiest chance in the second minute, has now scored for a fourth successive match.

He is only the second man to find the net in his first two Champions League appearances for the club, after Robbie Keane in 2008, and already has more goals for the club in 2020 (seven) than Firmino (five) despite having arrived less than two months ago.

Finally Klopp has someone to not only challenge his established front three of Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Mane – the latter pair also both scoring within a couple of minutes of each other at the start of the second half – but to improve the much-vaunted unit and his £41million transfer already looks good value.

Jota’s impressive performance allowed Liverpool to win their opening three group matches for the first time and they have already established a five-point lead at the halfway stage with two home matches to come next.

Early qualification would be a major boost for Klopp in this most congested of seasons as it would give him the chance to offer some much-needed respite to his major players.

With Manchester City up next in the Premier League on Sunday he even took the opportunity here, removing Jota, who sparked an injury scare by hobbling off, Andy Robertson and Jordan Henderson from the fray with 25 minutes to go and later resting Trent Alexander-Arnold and Georginio Wijnaldum – all likely to be key figures at the Etihad Stadium.

Joel Matip returned to the squad after a four-match absence but Klopp opted to hand 19-year-old Rhys Williams – who a year ago was playing for Kidderminster against Curzon Ashton in National League North – his full Champions League debut at centre-back with Joe Gomez against a side featuring eight players who reached last season’s quarter-finals.

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DIOGO JOTA FEARED INJURED AFTER LIMPING OFF IN LIVERPOOL WIN AT ATALANTA.

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota was forced to hobble off after an hour of the Reds’ Champions League tie with Atalanta after suffering an injury in the second-half. Jota had scored his first hat-trick for the club in the match prior to his injury.

Jota appeared to take a knock before going off against Atalanta.

The Portuguese ace was on fire in Italy, and grabbed an impressive hat-trick having been given his second start in the competition.

But his evening was cut short just after the hour mark as he was taken off for Roberto Firmino, and appeared to be clutching his leg.

He was escorted off the pitch by a member of Liverpool’s medical staff, sparking fears he had suffered an injury rather than just being tired.

Jota got the rout underway for Liverpool in the opening 15 minutes as he raced through on goal and beat Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello with a delicate chip.

After baring down on goal, the Portuguese ace lofted the ball over Sportiello and followed the ball through to the net.

His second was emphatic, as he called for the ball from Joe Gomez, who played a cross over the top of the Atalanta defence.

Jota brought the ball down perfectly on his left foot and switched to his right before firing into the bottom corner of the net.

His third, which came shortly after half-time, was the simplest of the lot.

Jota raced past the Atalanta defence and latched onto a through ball before rounding the goalkeeper and slot home.

He made a significant statement with his performance and will be hoping to have done enough to warrant a start against Manchester City this weekend.

But he suffered what appeared to be a slight setback at the hour mark as he was substituted off.

As he hobbled off the pitch, he appeared to be clutching his leg, sparking fears he could have a dead leg.

Klopp will be hoping it’s nothing more serious than that, as he prepares to take his side to face City this weekend.

He didn’t appear to go straight down the tunnel, which could indicate the injury isn’t as severe as some feared.

After the full-time whistle blew, he was spotted hugging the match ball and smiling as he left the bench, so Reds fans can probably breathe easy over his condition.