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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.

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MANCITY THRASH OLYMPIACOS 3-0 TO MAKE IT THREE WINS FROM THREE.

Manchester City extended their 100 per cent record in this season’s Champions League with a 3-0 win over Olympiacos at the Etihad Stadium.

Ferran Torres became the third-youngest player in Champions League history to score in four consecutive appearances as he helped Manchester City to a third straight win in this season’s competition, a 3-0 success over Olympiacos.

Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are the only players to have netted in four games in a row at a younger age than 20-year-old Spain international Torres, who scored in the 12th minute, adding to his strikes against Porto and Marseille for City this term and against Atalanta for Valencia last season.

City went into this game unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions and could have been out of sight by the time the Greek champions began to put them under pressure in the second half.

But substitutes Gabriel Jesus and Joao Cancelo scored late on to clinch a result that extends City’s group stage streak to 14 games without defeat, and manager Pep Guardiola will be pleased with their form as he aims to take City beyond the quarter-finals for the first time in his reign.

Torres met a City corner with a sublime backheeled shot that flew narrowly wide after six minutes.

City’s recent signing went one better six minutes later, playing a one-two with Kevin De Bruyne before sliding a low shot through the legs of goalkeeper Jose Sa to put the hosts in front.

Guardiola’s men continued to create the better chances and Raheem Sterling put the ball in the net, only to have his close-range effort ruled out for offside.

A poor pass by Phil Foden afforded Mathieu Valbuena a shot at goal early in the second half but he fired narrowly wide under pressure from John Stones.

Youssef El-Arabi tested Ederson with a shot from just inside the box as City found themselves pinned back again, and Jose Holebas later blazed wide.

But De Bruyne played in Jesus nine minutes from time and the Brazilian lashed the ball home from an acute angle, before Cancelo’s carefully placed shot found the bottom corner from just outside the box to wrap up the win.

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REAL MADRID 3-2 INTER: RAMOS, RODRYGO HELP REAL SINK SORRY INTER.

Real Madrid thwarted a second half comeback from Inter Milan to win 3-2 on Tuesday and give their Champions League bid lift-off in Group B.

Madrid’s 19-year-old Brazilian Rodrygo came off the bench to score the winner at the empty Alfredo di Stefano stadium, where Inter threatened a remarkable turnaround after drawing level from two goals down.

Lautaro Martinez and Ivan Perisic gave Inter hope of victory after Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos had put Madrid in command, Ramos heading in a second after half an hour for his 100th Real Madrid goal.

But Rodrygo had the last word, his cool finish in the 80th minute earning Zinedine Zidane’s side their first win to leave Inter with a mountain to climb if they are to make the last 16.

These teams were expected to fight for the top two spots in the group but both came into this game on the back of stumbling starts, Inter taking two points and Madrid just one from opening games against Borussia Moenchengladbach and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Neither coach could afford another slip-up either after a bumpy few weeks. Antonio Conte’s Inter have now won only one of their last seven games while Madrid appear to have turned a corner following consecutive losses last month.

The lively Perisic replaced the injured Romelu Lukaku up front for Inter and Eden Hazard started for the second time this season for Madrid. The Belgian delivered only in glimpses before being taken off shortly after the hour.

Inter’s right-back Achraf Hakimi also went up against the club that sold him for 40 million euros in July and although he was dangerous going forward, it was his poor backpass that led to Benzema’s opening goal.

Madrid were the stronger side in the first half but conceded chances and were vulnerable on the break.

Marco Asensio went close after a cutback from Hazard before two Inter counters saw Nicolo Barella hit the crossbar and Martinez force a save from Thibaut Courtois.

Fede Valverde should have scored but scuffed a half-volleyed finish after a neat header from Benzema, who then did score, capitalising on Hakimi’s error to round the goalkeeper and slot home.

When Ramos headed in Toni Kroos’ corner in the 33rd minute, Madrid looked comfortable but in the 35th they let Inter back in, a sumptuous flicked backheel from Barella spinning into the path of Lautaro, who made no mistake.

Hazard went off just after the hour, with Madrid less dominant and Inter’s confidence growing.

They equalised with the first real chance of the half as Perisic darted onto Martinez’s header and finished into the far corner.

The game was in the balance. Lautaro curled over and Perisic fired wide, with Inter even looking the more likely to grab a winner.

But it was Madrid who struck again, the two substitutes combining on the break as Vinicius Junior sped clear on the left and crossed to Rodrygo on the right, his fellow Brazilian controlling and sweeping in.

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ALASSANE PLEA SCORES HATRICK AS BORRUSIA MONCHEGLADBACH BEATS SHAKTAR 6-0

Striker Alassane Plea scored a hat-trick as Borussia Mönchengladbach crushed their hosts Shakhtar Donetsk 6-0 on Tuesday to take over from them at the top of Group B of the Champions League.

Gladbach, who conceded late equalisers in their previous group matches against Inter Milan and Real Madrid, scored four in the first half, with two coming from the 27-year-old Plea, to kill off the game and eventually earn one of the largest away wins of the competition.

They are now top on five points from three games, one point ahead of Shakhtar.

Inter and Real, on two and one point respectively from two games, play each other in the late game in the group on Tuesday.

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ATL MADRID 1-1 L.MOSCOW: DIEGO SIMEONE SIDE FORCED TO A DRAW.

Atletico Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw at Lokomotiv Moscow in their Group A match after the home team’s goalkeeper Guilherme pulled off a string of superb saves to keep the Russian side in the hunt for a last-16 berth.

The result left Atletico second in the group on four points from three games, two behind Bayern Munich who were playing Salzburg away later on Tuesday. Lokomotiv have two points and Salzburg one.

Centre back Jose Gimenez fired Atletico ahead in the 18th minute with a fine header from 13 metres after an inch-perfect cross by Hector Herrera, a minute after Guilherme kept out a Saul Niguez shot.

The home side levelled in the 25th after a lengthy VAR check deemed Herrera to have handled the ball in the penalty area and Anton Miranchuk sent Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak the wrong way with a perfect spot-kick.

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UCL: BARCELONA’S DYNAMO KYIV CLASH COULD BE CALLED OFF DUE TO COVID-19.

Barcelona’s Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday night is at serious threat of being called off due to a breakout of coronavirus in the Ukrainian team’s squad.

Only 13 first-team players travelled to Spain on Monday, the minimum number established by UEFA’s health protocols.

An additional six from the youth team have made the journey, but if only one more player from List A tests positive than the match will be postponed.

Six players in total from the Ukrainian club have been infected, with more testing set to take place on Tuesday morning.

The six players last trained with the Dynamo squad on Sunday, according to reliable sources.

Though the players who have travelled tested negative, they could still manifest the disease at a later stage, increasing the risk that they could infect Barcelona players.

If the game has to be rescheduled, then a new date will have to be found before the cut-off point of January 28, which may prove difficult due to the heavily congested calendar.

Dynamo announced that the six covid-19 casualties are Nikolai Shaparenko, Alexandr Karavaev, Gueorgui Tsitaishvili, Denis Garmash, Mikkel Duelund and Tudor Baluta.

In addition, assistant coach Emil Karas and four other members of the backroom staff tested positive.

Goalkeepers Denys Boyko and Heorhiy Bushchan and defender Vitaliy Mykolenko also suffered injuries against Dnipro at the weekend, leaving the Ukrainian outfit short even further.

Coach Mircea Lucescu has been forced to call-up two goalkeepers from his reserves and another from the youth team, with the average age of the squad travelling out dropped to just 22.37 years.

They are scheduled to train on the pitch at the Nou Camp on Tuesday night.

Dynamo sit third in Champions League Group G, having lost their first game to Juventus before drawing with Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros.

Barcelona sit top with two wins from two, including an impressive 2-0 victory at Juve last week.

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FA ANNOUNCES HALT OF NON-ELITE FOOTBALL DURING SECOND STREAM OF LOCKDOWN IN ENGLAND.

Non-elite football in England will be halted during the second national lockdown period, the Football Association has announced.

The FA said matches and training in steps three to six of the men’s national league system (NLS) and tiers three to seven of the women’s football pyramid would be suspended during the upcoming lockdown period, which is being imposed by the Government amid a second wave of coronavirus infections nationwide.

The suspension also covers matches and training in regional NLS feeder leagues, the Women’s Super League academy league, FA girls regional talent clubs and indoor and outdoor youth and adult grassroots football.

The suspension comes into effect from Thursday, with the new restrictions set to last until at least December 2.

“Restarting football at these levels has taken substantial determination and commitment from stakeholders across the game and The FA would like to thank everyone for their vital contributions,” a statement from the governing body read.

“However, health and well-being remain the priority, so it is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers and facility providers adhere to the UK Government’s new national Covid-19 restrictions during this period.”

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RYAN GIGGS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTING GIRLFRIEND.

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend, according to reports.

The Wales manager, 46, was allegedly arrested and later bailed on suspicion of assaulting Kate Greville, his girlfriend of three years.

Police were called to a £1.7million home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on Sunday after reports of a “disturbance”, the reports say.

A representative for Mr Giggs said he denied the allegations and is cooperating with police.

The statement said: “Mr Giggs denies all allegations of assault made against him. He is cooperating with the police and will continue to assist them with their ongoing investigations.”

Giggs was photographed leaving Pendleton police station yesterday afternoon and was driven away in a black Mercedes.

The couple reportedly met when Greville began work as PR for Hotel Football in 2013 after moving from Dubai.

In a statement given to the Sun, Greater Manchester Police said: “Police were called at 10.05pm on Sunday to reports of a disturbance. 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.”

Wales have cancelled a press conference scheduled for Tuesday following what it described as an “alleged incident” involving the manager.

Wales were due to announce their squad on Tuesday for the upcoming friendly against the USA, and Nations League fixtures with the Republic of Ireland and Finland.

But the Football Association of Wales (FAW) has confirmed it has been made aware of an issue surrounding the 46-year-old boss.

“The FAW is aware of an alleged incident involving the men’s national team manager Ryan Giggs,” an FAW spokesman said. “The FAW will be making no further comment at this current time.”

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SCOTT PARKER NOT INTERESTED IN LEAGUE POSITION AFTER FULHAM WIN AGAINST WESTBROM.

Fulham manager Scott Parker played down the importance of moving clear of the Premier League relegation zone following his side’s dominant 2-0 win over West Brom.

Goals from Bobby Decordova-Reid and Ola Aina secured a first league win back in the top tier for the Cottagers and left the visitors still waiting to break their duck.

The result saw Fulham leapfrog their opponents and out of the bottom three, but Parker believes league position is not especially important at this stage of the season.

When asked what it meant psychologically to be out of the drop zone, he said: “Nothing really to be honest. It’s really irrelevant at this moment for me.

“What is relevant to me is the team moving in the right direction and improving and us moving in the right way and I see that and I have seen that in the weeks before this.

“OK the results haven’t been there and I understand when the result’s not there the noise is ‘can’t win’ but I have seen massive improvements.

“But in terms of the table and where we sit on that, to me that’s irrelevant. Let’s see where we are at the end, but what is important to me is that the team are going in the right direction and I am seeing that.”

On the game, Parker added: “I think overall, all round a very good performance. Obviously the result was important. We all understood that because we started this season and I’ve sat here and said that performance-wise I think we were progressing in the right way, but I think for everyone – the team, the club – we needed the win and we’ve got that.”

The one downside was the injury to Mario Lemina, with Parker confirming the midfielder was brought off at half-time as a precaution after he felt his hamstring in the opening 45 minutes.

West Brom manager Slaven Bilic conceded his side did not play well enough at Craven Cottage, as they continue their search for a first win back in the top tier.

“I’m very disappointed obviously,” he said. “We were looking forward for this game because the last couple of games we looked really good, we played really good in training, lot of intensity, lot of quality to be fair. But when we need to produce it on the pitch we simply didn’t do it.

“We were good for 25 minutes but after that they were stronger than us, they were sharper, quicker, better passing, better one-against-one, better in that area where it matters to make a difference.

“That’s when it really hurts when you find out that you didn’t deserve a thing from this game, you can’t say that you were unlucky, you can’t say that you missed some chances or whatever, no, they were much better than us.”