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LIVERPOOL 2-1 SHEFFIELD UTD: JOTA HEADER SEALS LIVERPOOL COMEBACK WIN.

Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota were on target as Liverpool came from behind to beat Sheffield United at Anfield.

Reds full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold almost scored from a free-kick inside his own half early on before Sander Berge’s 13th-minute penalty gave the visitors a lead for the first time this season.

The visitors threatened to extend their lead through Oli McBurnie, who fired wide, and Ben Osborn, who was thwarted by the returning Alisson.

But on 41 minutes Liverpool rallied, Firmino reacting quickest to score after Aaron Ramsdale had saved Sadio Mane’s header.

Substitutes David McGoldrick and Oliver Burke both fired wide in the final 15 minutes as the Blades searched in vain for an equaliser.

A first victory in three matches lifts Jurgen Klopp’s team to second place, behind leaders Everton on goal difference.

Sheffield United have one point from their six matches.

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MENDY DENIES UNITED AS CHELSEA FORCE RED DEVILS TO BARREN DRAW.

Edouard Mendy produced a spectacular save to deny Marcus Rashford scoring a stoppage-time winner for Manchester United as they shared a goalless draw with Chelsea.

The Chelsea goalkeeper, who had thwarted the United striker when one-on-one with an outstretched leg in the first half, went full length to parry away Rashford’s curling strike.

Mendy had also turned behind Juan Mata’s curled effort in a first half of few chances.

United substitute Edinson Cavani almost scored with his first Premier League touch just before the hour, but his flick found the side-netting.

United are still searching for their first home win of the season and stay 15th with seven points.

A fourth match unbeaten leaves Chelsea sixth on nine points.

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BARCELONA 1-3 REAL MADRID: MODRIC, RAMOS INSPIRE LOS BLANCOS VICTORY AT CAMP NOU.

Real Madrid laid down a marker in the La Liga title race as they won 3-1 at Barcelona in the first Clasico of the season.

Fede Valverde gave Real the dream start with a fifth-minute strike, before Ansu Fati became the youngest ever scorer in this fixture just three minutes later from close range.

But Sergio Ramos converted a 63rd-minute penalty that he won after VAR intervened, before Luka Modric rounded off a deserved victory in the final seconds of normal time with the calmest of finishes.

In an entertaining game, Thibaut Courtois was alert to deny Lionel Messi before half-time but Barca remain 10th and are six.

After a nightmare week for Zinedine Zidane, Real started the clash in the best way possible. Karim Benzema’s through-ball was perfect for Valverde, who took advantage of lackadaisical Barca defending and finished beyond Neto.

But that joy was short-lived as Barca sliced through the Real defence with their first attack. Jordi Alba bent his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and carried the ball into the box, where he squared for Fati who had a simple finish.

Philippe Coutinho and Messi had already tried their luck from range when Messi saw Courtois produce a moment of magic after 24 minutes. The Argentine used deft feet to beat Ramos in the box and fired in a shot to the near post with his right foot. Courtois was alert and threw himself across the goal to push the ball away.

The game was being played at a frantic pace and Real went straight up the other end to create a chance of their own. Benzema saw his low effort pushed away by Neto after Kroos had found him 15 yards out from goal.

It was Barca who looked most likely to take the lead after half-time. Fati dragged a low shot just wide of Courtois’ right-hand post, before Coutinho failed to hit the target with a header at the back post – Fati again the creator for the hosts.

And they were made to pay for those misses on the hour-mark. Ramos theatrically threw himself to the floor in the box as Kroos’ free-kick drifted out for a goal-kick. It looked to be a dive in real time but replays showed Clement Lenglet had pulled his shirt.

After consulting VAR and the screen by the side of the pitch, referee Juan Martinez Munuera changed his decision and pointed to the spot. Ramos made no mistake from the 12 yards.

Despite Barca pressing for an equaliser, it was Real who continued to create the better chances. Toni Kroos saw a Neto double save keep him at bay, while Ramos met a deep cross with a fierce volley which was brilliantly kept out by the foot of the keeper.

Modric made sure of the three points with the calmest of finishes in the final minute of stoppage time. Neto smothered the ball at Vinicius’ feet but it fell to sub Rodrygo, who squared it for Modric. The Croat rounded Neto, before taking his time and finishing between two defenders guarding the line with the outside of his boot.

It was a deserved victory for Real, who put behind their difficulties against Cadiz and Shakhtar Donestk to produce a perfect away display. Barca were bright in spells, but question marks will be asked over Ronald Koeman’s reluctance to make substitutes earlier.

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A.VILLA 0-3 LEEDS: BAMFORD HATRICK HELP WHITES DISRUPT VILLA PERFECT START.

Patrick Bamford’s hat-trick saw him create a little piece of history for Leeds as Aston Villa were denied top spot in the Premier League.

Bamford’s second-half treble saw the striker become only the second player to score in each of Leeds’s opening three away games in a top-flight league season, after Gordon Hodgson in 1937-38.

It took the 27-year-old to six Premier League goals for the season as Marcelo Bielsa’s team continued their impressive return to the top division.

Villa were chasing their own piece of club history, having never won their opening five league games of a season before. They still have not, and Friday night’s defeat saw them miss the chance to top the Premier League table for the first time since October 2001.

Bamford had a good early chance for Leeds but his diving header from Ezgjan Alioski’s deep cross from the left went narrowly wide.

A superb block by Ezri Konsa, throwing himself in front of Rodrigo’s driven shot, saw Leeds go close again shortly afterwards. From the resulting corner, Alioski sent another effort straight at Emiliano Martinez.

At the other end, Ross Barkley stung the palms of Illan Meslier with a shot from outside the penalty area.

Leeds enjoyed the better of the opening 25 minutes but Villa rode their luck and then had the best chance of the game so far.

Ollie Watkins’ low cross from the right side of the penalty area eluded Trezeguet in the centre and found Jack Grealish at the far post. The Villa captain got a good contact with his left foot as he turned the ball goalwards but Luke Ayling’s was on the goal-line to make the clearance.

Leeds survived a penalty scare late in the first half when Grealish went down under a challenge from Helder Costa just inside the area. Referee Paul Tierney waved away the appeals and his decision was supported by a VAR check.

A swift break by Jack Harrison saw him put Bamford in on goal with a lovely throughball but Konsa and Tyrone Mings did just do enough to put the striker off and he scuffed his shot wide.

Grealish was involved again at the start of the second half, almost opening the scoring with a sensational solo run. The 25-year-old collected the ball deep inside his own half before embarking on a driving forward run, riding challenges from three Leeds players on his way to the penalty area.

He took his time to work his way over to the right-hand side but with defenders sliding in all around him, but when he finally got his shot away it was straight at Meslier.

From the resulting corner Meslier then produced an acrobatic save to tip Konsa’s volley over the crossbar after he had beaten Ayling to the ball. It proved pivotal.

Despite Villa’s start to the second half, it was Leeds who went ahead after 55 minutes. Alioski and Harrison spearheaded a counter-attack, with the latter picking out the run of Rodrigo into the area. His effort was initially palmed away by Martinez, but Bamford was lurking to slot home the loose ball at the far post.

Leeds were in the ascendancy since going in front and doubled their lead shortly afterwards. It was Bamford again, curling a shot into the top corner of the net from just outside the area with unerring accuracy.

Bamford completed his hat-trick after 74 minutes, showing good feet to work a yard of space inside the penalty area before curling the ball beyond Martinez.

Leeds were creating chances at an alarming rate and Bamford had an opportunity for a fourth but looped his header into the goalkeeper’s arms, before Pablo Hernandez wildly blazed a shot over the crossbar when he had time and space to do much better.

Watkins had a sight of goal in stoppage time for a consolation goal for Villa but he dragged his effort wide.

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CAMP NOU SHOULD BE NAMED AFTER MESSI – PIQUE.

Gerard Pique has said Barcelona should name the redeveloped Camp Nou after Lionel Messi when it is finished and suggested the forward should have been allowed to leave in the summer if that is what he wanted.

Messi, 33, sent a burofax in August informing Barca of his desire to leave. President Josep Maria Bartomeu refused to let him go, though, and when Messi realised a legal battle was his only way out of the club — he argued a clause in his contract allowed him to leave for free — he decided to stay.

Pique has revealed he sent Messi a message at the time pointing out that a new president and board of directors would be elected within a year. However, despite encouraging him to stay, the Barca defender said Messi had earned the right to decide his own future.

“I didn’t have much to do with Leo during that moment because it was a very personal decision,” Pique told Spanish reporters. “I remember one message I sent: ‘Leo, it’s one year, then new people will come in…’

“Leo has more than earned the right to make a decision and if he felt he should leave… as president I would have acted differently. A player that has given so much in 16 years, you’re obliged to reach an agreement with him.

“[But] how can it be that the best player in history gets up one day and sends a burofax because he feels he’s not being listened to? What’s happening? Leo deserves the lot. The new stadium should be named after him.

“We have to preserve our figures, not discredit them. I am surprised people like Pep [Guardiola], [Carles] Puyol, Xavi [Hernandez] and [Victor] Valdes aren’t at the club. Something is not being done right.”

Pique’s interview provided the latest glimpse into the rift that exists between the players and the board at Camp Nou. He admitted his own relationship with Bartomeu is not great, said he would not have sacked Ernesto Valverde and was critical of plans to impose club-wide wage cuts to mitigate the financial consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Having won two leagues and being top, to sack [Valverde] halfway through the season, as a project, doesn’t seem very coherent — I didn’t think it was logical,” he said.

Following Valverde’s dismissal, Cadena Ser revealed Barca had paid a third-party company in charge of several social media account to smear people related to the club, including Pique and other current players. The saga became known as “Barcagate.”

“It’s an atrocity as a Barcelona player to see my club spending money — money they’re now asking for from us — to criticise not just external people with a previous relationship to the club, but players still here,” Pique added.

Barca are now requesting players take a pay cut to alleviate the effects of the health crisis on the club’s accounts.

Pique, 33, is one of four players to voluntarily sign a new deal which sees him take a hit on his salary this season before being remunerated in the latter years of the deal. However, he also signed a burofax sent to the club which criticised plans to push through salary cuts of up to 30% across the club.

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LEEDS UTD 0-1 WOLVES: JIMENEZ SECOND HALF STRIKE HELP WOLVES BEAT THE WHITES AT HOME.

Raul Jimenez scored his third goal of 2020/21 as Wolverhampton Wanderers edged to a 1-0 win against Leeds United at Elland Road.

Leeds started on the front foot and Rodrigo Moreno twice sent headers narrowly off target.

It took a smart save from Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier to deny Daniel Podence following a swift Wolves counter-attack just before half-time.

Romain Saiss thought he had fired Wolves ahead on 54 minutes with a fine finish from Podence’s cross, but his effort was ruled out for offside in the build-up.

But Wolves went ahead 16 minutes later when Jimenez’s goalbound effort deflected in off Kalvin Phillips and left Meslier stranded.

Wolves move up to sixth position on nine points, two points ahead of Leeds, who slip to 10th place.

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LAMPARD BELIEVES VAN DIJK’S INJURY WON’T DISRUPT LIVERPOOL’S SEASON

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has questioned to what extent Liverpool will be affected by the absence of Virgil van Dijk.

Van Dijk will undergo surgery on a damaged anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee having been the victim of an unpunished x-rated challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in Saturday’s Merseyside derby at Goodison.

While Liverpool are reluctant to rule the defender out for the season, the player is facing a lengthy period on the sidelines.

The injury leaves Joel Matip and Joe Gomez as Liverpool’s only two recognised senior centre-backs, with midfielder Fabinho a makeshift alternative.

But while admitting any team would miss Van Dijk, Lampard has suggested the Reds could have the strength in depth to cope with the Dutchman’s absence over the remainder of the campaign.

“I think Virgil van Dijk is clearly an outstanding player,” said Lampard, speaking on Monday ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League group opener against Sevilla on Tuesday.

He’s one of the outstanding defenders in world football and has been for the last two or three seasons.

The loss of a player of that quality and that size is going to affect any team because individuals and the quality of individual players like that make huge differences.

“But we’re talking about Liverpool, we’re talking about a squad that’s been built, that are so strong, with a great manager so – of course nobody wants to lose a player like that and obviously I wish him my best when I see that sort of injury – but it remains to be seen how much it affects Liverpool.”

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SPURS 3-3 WESTHAM: LANZINI LATE WONDER STRIKE SEALS COMEBACK FOR THE HAMMERS.

Manuel Lanzini scored a spectacular stoppage-time equaliser as West Ham United produced a stunning fightback to draw 3-3 at Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs were in control in the first half after taking the lead in the opening minute, when Harry Kane’s superb long pass released Son Heung-min to slot into the bottom corner.

Seven minutes later, Kane ghosted beyond Declan Rice and fired in the second and on 16 minutes Sergio Reguilon’s cross was headed in by Kane to put Spurs three goals ahead.

Gareth Bale made his first-team return for Spurs with 18 minutes left and Kane hit the outside of the post as the home side looked to be heading for a comfortable victory.

But Fabian Balbuena pulled a goal back for West Ham with eight minutes to go before Davinson Sanchez turned Vladimir Coufal’s cross into his own net three minutes later.

Bale shot just wide late on, before Lanzini completed a thrilling comeback with thumping strike into the top corner from outside the penalty area.

Spurs are sixth on eight points, while West Ham climb to eighth on seven points.

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UNITED RAIN LATE GOALS TO EASE PAST NEWCASTLE AT ST. JAMES’S PARK.

A flurry of late goals helped Manchester United to a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.

The visitors were behind through a Luke Shaw own goal after two minutes before captain Harry Maguire restored parity 21 minutes later, heading in Juan Mata’s corner.

Referee Craig Pawson awarded Man Utd a penalty in the second half after reviewing Jamal Lewis’s challenge on Marcus Rashford on the pitchside monitor, but Bruno Fernandes was denied by Karl Darlow.

The Portuguese redeemed himself with a curled finish high into the net with four minutes of normal time remaining, before Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s powerful strike made it 3-1 on 90 minutes.

Rashford raced through to complete the scoring in the sixth minute of stoppage time, giving the Red Devils their second win of the season.

They now sit 14th in the table, one point and three places behind Newcastle.

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NAPOLI BOUNCE BACK FROM JUVE NO-SHOW DEFEAT TO CRUSH ATALANTA.

Hirving Lozano bagged a brace as Napoli thumped Atalanta 4-1 on Saturday, days after they were punished for failing to turn up for their last Serie A game against Juventus.

Napoli were handed a 3-0 defeat and one-point deduction for not travelling to Turin earlier this month after two cases of coronavirus in the team were recorded.

But Gennaro Gattuso’s side picked up where they left off before the controversy, with a third win in as many league games they have played.

“Brilliant Napoli! What a pity not being able to play Juventus in Turin,” tweeted Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis.

Mexican forward Lozano scored two quick-fire goals in the first half, having also picked up a brace in Napoli’s previous completed match — a 6-0 win over Genoa also at the San Paolo Stadium.

Matteo Politano blasted in a third after half an hour with Victor Osimhen grabbing his first Napoli goal just before the break.

Slovenian forward Josip Ilicic returned for highly-fancied Atalanta after nearly three months out with personal problems, starting up front alongside Papu Gomez and Duvan Zapata.

But with many players returning from international duty Gian Piero Gasperini’s side lacked the fire power of their previous three games in which they had scored 13 goals.

France midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko got his first start for Napoli with Lorenzo Insigne injured and Piotr Zielinski and Eljif Elmas still recovering from coronavirus.

Lozano tapped in a Giovanni Di Lorenzo cross after 20 minutes, curling in the second minutes later after a mix-up in the Atalanta defence.

Politano blasted in a third after half an hour with Osimhen grabbing his first Napoli goal just before the break after another defensive blunder from Atalanta.

Nigerian Osimhen held up a t-shirt after his debut goal on which was written “End Police Brutality in Nigeria” as protests against police violence continue in his home country.

Substitute Sam Lammers pulled a goal back with 20 minutes to go, but Atalanta drop off top spot into second place with Napoli a point behind them in third.