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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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“SALAH DIDN’T DIVE”: KLOPP DEFENDS EGYPYTIAN FOR PENALTY INCIDENT AGAINST WESTHAM, SAYS STAR HAS MARKS TO SHOW FOR IT.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hit back at accusations Mohamed Salah dived to win a penalty in Saturday’s 2-1 win over West Ham United. Salah came under criticism from West Ham manager David Moyes for his role in winning the spot kick which helped Liverpool record a victory in the Premier League.

Salah went down in the penalty area after a clumsy challenge from Arthur Masuaku. He then stepped up to score the penalty that drew Liverpool level.

West Ham manager David Moyes was upset with the decision to award a penalty but Klopp was in no doubt Salah had been fouled.

“Pretty much everyone who saw the situation thought it was a foul,” Klopp told British media, adding that he had spoken to the striker about his fitness.

“He has exactly three proper knocks on the foot and one of them is from the penalty situation,” added Klopp.

“We don’t talk much about the penalties we don’t get but now two days after we are talking about this. There was clear contact. I don’t understand the criticism.”

Liverpool face Italian side Atalanta in the Champions League later on Tuesday.

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AGUERO COULD BE FIT FOR LIVERPOOL CLASH – GUARDIOLA.

Pep Guardiola has not ruled out Sergio Agüero returning early from a hamstring injury for Manchester City’s match at home to Liverpool on Sunday and could have Gabriel Jesus back for Tuesday’s Champions League game with Olympiakos.

Agüero was injured in the draw at West Ham on October 24th. Guardiola’s initial view was that the club’s record goalscorer could be out for up to a month but there is a chance the 32-year-old could face Liverpool in a pivotal early-season fixture. If City beat the champions they will move two points behind Liverpool with a match in hand.

Asked about Agüero’s prospects the manager said: “We don’t want to make a step back again [by rushing him] but he’s getting better. It’s not so [bad] as we believed when he felt something in the last game, against West Ham. He’s getting better – I don’t know about Liverpool. After the international break for sure he’ll be ready.”

Jesus suffered a muscle problem after playing all of City’s season-opening win at Wolves on September 21st, and Guardiola has fielded Raheem Sterling and Ferran Torres as deputy No 9s in the absence of Jesus and Agüero. The Brazilian could return for the visit of Olympiakos in City’s third Group C game.

“We’ll see the last training [before the match],” Guardiola said. ”He did one with the team yesterday [Sunday]. We are happy he’s back but we’ve been happy with Ferran so we have an alternative.”

Torres has scored in each of City’s previous two Champions League wins, against Porto and Marseille, operating at centre forward in the latter match. Sterling has played in the position numerous times under Guardiola. The manager has previously said Agüero will be close to impossible to replace and was asked on Monday whether Sterling might be a long-term solution.

“He can play there when the opponents are defending a lot of spaces in behind; when teams come to press he can do it,” he said. “When teams settle in the box for 90 minutes he’s better down the sides than in the middle.”

In the transfer window Nathan Aké and Rúben Dias were bought to strengthen City’s centre back options, with Aymeric Laporte, Eric García and John Stones already at the club. Guardiola is content with this new depth after Vincent Kompany’s departure in summer 2019 and Laporte’s serious injury blighted his previous campaign.

“Definitely I am pleased,” he said. “We struggled a lot last season, with the problems we had: Vincent went to Belgium [to Anderlecht] and there was a serious injury for Laporte. We were damaged, but we’ve new players coming and we have alternatives to use in the position.”

Guardiola warned against complacency when playing Olympiakos, the Greek champions. “You cannot make a false step in the Champions League because after that you struggle,” he said.

“We know to qualify you have to secure your games at home and win at least one away. We did it winning in Marseille but now we have to be sure we can keep the points at home. That’s why tomorrow we have an incredible opportunity to make a huge step to qualify for the next round. Olympiakos have to win every game and when you play with this mentality it’s difficult to face.”

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LIVERPOOL 2-1 WESTHAM: JOTA SCORES WINNER SECOND TIME IN A ROW

Diogo Jota came off the bench to earn Liverpool a 2-1 win over West Ham United, which helped the champions equal an Anfield record.

Pablo Fornals had put West Ham in front on 10 minutes, when he collected a Joe Gomez clearance and struck in a low shot.

Liverpool’s increasing pressure paid off three minutes before half-time thanks to Mohamed Salah’s penalty after the Egyptian had been fouled by Arthur Masuaku.

After the break, Fornals had one shot saved and another blocked by Andrew Robertson.

Shortly after having a goal overturned on 77 minutes after the Video Assistant Referee had spotted a foul in the build-up, Jota scored the winner.

Fellow substitute Xherdan Shaqiri played him in with an exquisite pass to finish and send Liverpool top on 16 points, as they equalled their longest unbeaten home run of 63 league matches.

West Ham are 13th on eight points as their four-match unbeaten run was ended.

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KLOPP UNHAPPY ABOUT SCORES OF LIVERPOOL INJURIES

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp suffered another injury blow with Fabinho joining Virgil van Dijk on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Midtjylland.

Midfielder Fabinho has been filling in for Van Dijk in the centre of defence since the Dutchman suffered a serious knee injury in the Merseyside derby against Everton.

“It’s exactly the last thing we needed,” Klopp said, after Fabinho limped off in the first-half of the 2-0 win.

“I know he felt a hamstring, and that’s not good. He said he could have played on but no sprints, which doesn’t help. We will see, we will know more after a scan but clearly it isn’t good,” he added.

With centre-back Joel Matip also ruled out with injury Klopp brought on teenager Rhys Williams to partner Joe Gomez at the back.

“Rhys Williams he’s only 19-years old and I think he’s played more Champions League games than Premier League games — that’s rare,” Klopp added. “We’re doing really well but its a shock for a team because now we have to sort that injury.”

Klopp accepted that the Premier League champions were in a difficult period.

“It was a tough night. It’s a bit like in a marriage, there are good and bad times. It’s not a bad time but it’s a tricky time. 100% we have to stick together and fight harder and that’s what the boys did tonight,” he said.

The injury is likely to rule Fabinho out of Brazil’s November World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay.

Meanwhile, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson believes Van Dijk will be out until next season.

Asked about his absence, Alisson told newsmen: “He’s important for the team, for all of us, for me too. Unfortunately, we ended up losing Virgil probably for the rest of the competition. We don’t know the set dates yet, anything can happen, but that’s likely, that’s what we have in hand.”

Alisson returned to play at the weekend after being sidelined with a shoulder injury for three weeks.

“To be back, to be one more part within the squad, within the team to be able to help, I’m feeling very happy,” he said. “I believe it also gives confidence to the team. Everyone we can have available now, from now on, it’s important to fight for our goals, which are big.

“It was only three weeks, to me it felt like three months. Being back, being able to help the team… For a player, being left out is the worst part of football, but it is part of the package, we are subject to injuries, nobody wants it, but we’re subject. But I tried to recover in the best way and in the quickest possible way to be back and help my teammates and getting back to the Champions League already.”

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JOTA MAKES HISTORY, FABINHO OUT INJURED AS REDS BEAT MIDTYLLAND.

Liverpool sealed a 2-0 win over FC Midtjylland on Tuesday night, though the game won’t exactly live long in the memory for all those who witnessed it. The Reds failed to spark into life for much of the game, with the Danish visitors having the best of the first-half chances in the UEFA Champions League match.

It was Liverpool who eventually took the lead, after some fine work on the right-hand side by Trent Alexander-Arnold provided Diogo Jota with a simple tap-in for the club’s 10,000th goal.

Liverpool lost Fabinho to a suspected hamstring injury, and Jurgen Klopp was forced to bring on a number of starters to try to hold onto the win. With seconds remaining, Mohamed Salah smashed home a penalty to secure a 2-0 victory one that takes Liverpool to the top of Group D on six points.

Rhys Williams looked assured in the back line after coming on, which seemingly provides Klopp with another centre-back option he can rely on. In addition, the contribution of the full-backs was, as always, exemplary. While Jota’s goal was simple enough, his impressive start to life on Merseyside will do a great deal to convert any remaining cynics.

Liverpool didn’t register a single shot in the first half an hour — a damning stat indeed for the likes of Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino. Both looked well off the pace, while the midfield pivot of Jordan Henderson and James Milner also seemed to lack urgency or intent. The home team did improve as the game wore on, but this very much felt like a Liverpool side that was playing within itself rather than playing to impress the boss.

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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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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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KLOPP FURIOUS OVER HENDERSON STOPPAGE TIME GOAL CALLED OFF FOR OFFSIDE.

AN ANGRY JURGEN Klopp had two reasons to leave Goodison Park fuming after VAR cost his side the chance of victory in a Merseyside derby in which two key players sustained potentially serious injuries.

The Liverpool manager was furious Jordan Henderson’s added-time goal to make it 3-2 was ruled out for the tightest of offside decisions on review, while he was at a loss to explain how Jordan Pickford had not been dismissed and conceded an early penalty for a knee-high challenge on Virgil Van Dijk.

That tackle ended the Holland captain’s afternoon and Klopp admits the injury is “not good”, while the challenge which did result in a red card being shown to Richarlison also appears to have put Thiago Alcantara on the sidelines.

It is not good. Virgil played I don’t know how many games in a row, he plays with pain, but he couldn’t play on and that’s not good,” said Klopp.

“When I leave the pitch Thiago tells me in the Richarlison red card situation he thinks he got injured.

“Then coming into the dressing room people are standing around with a laptop and I say ‘What’s wrong?’ and they say ‘We have watched it back and we don’t understand why it (Henderson’s goal) is offside’.

“I am a real supporter of VAR – the picture I saw there is no offside, since then I have had 10 interviews and everyone tells me it was not offside and that doesn’t lift my mood.

“We lost one player in a situation where VAR was not involved with Virgil and maybe another one in the red card situation and scored a legitimate goal which didn’t count – so obviously not our day but the performance was the performance I wanted to see.”

Klopp alluded to the fact he thought Pickford may have tried to purposefully hurt Van Dijk, who had not missed a minute of Premier League football since January 2018.

It was a clear penalty I saw and then we saw the flag went up. I thought they would still look at the foul but that didn’t happen,” he added.
“I don’t want to say Jordan Pickford wanted to do it but it is not a challenge how a goalie can do in the box.”

The Pickford incident came with Everton already trailing to Sadio Mane’s third-minute goal, which was subsequently cancelled out by Michael Keane’s first-half header.

Mohamed Salah thought he had won the game with his 100th Liverpool goal in 159 matches, a brilliantly instinctive volley, but a trademark Dominic Calvert-Lewin header levelled things up again.

In the 90th minute Richarlison went in high on Thiago to become the 22nd dismissal in 57 Premier League Merseyside derbies before Henderson’s goal was ruled out after Mane was adjudged to have been offside by a barely-perceptible margin.

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti, who saw his Premier League leaders’ 100 per cent start to the season ended as a 10-year, 23-match winless run against their neighbours was extended, was happy with the performance.

“We could win, draw or lose. I am not talking about the result, the performance was good,” he said.

“We wanted to compete against Liverpool and we competed really well with good spirit.

“We never lost confidence, we were able to equalise two times, we had opportunities to go up with Richarlison hitting the post.

“The performance was satisfying, I am really satisfied.”

Despite another error of judgement by Pickford, Ancelotti refused to criticise his goalkeeper, who did redeem himself with three decent saves in the game.

“I think he played a good game, like the others. Good saves, he was focused in the goal, a good performance. I am not worried,” he added