Reds maintain 100 per cent record despite Alisson howler

LIVERPOOOL kept up their 100 per cent start to the season – despite a howler by goalkeeper Alisson.

The Reds were leading 2-0 through first-half goals by Sadio Mane and Roberto Firminowhen Alisson tried to turn Leicester sub Kelechi Iheanacho on his own byline.

Iheanacho robbed him and squared for Rachid Ghezzal to mark his Premier League debut with a goal.

Leicester deserved a point on the balance of play but Liverpool held on to make it four wins out of four.

Mohamed Salah, after a week in the headlines for off-field reasons, should have put the visitors ahead inside four minutes.

His pass found Firmino and Kasper Schmeichel could only parry the Brazilian’s shot, but from ten yards out Salah side-footed the ball wide.

Fortunately for him, Mane soon put the visitors in front.

Andy Robertson ran through the weak challenge of Ricardo Pereira and his cross flicked off Harry Maguire into the path of Mane, who notched his fourth goal of an impressive start to the season.

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Champions League draw

MANCHESTER UNITED drew Juventus in today's Champions League draw... with Cristiano Ronaldo primed to return to Old Trafford and Paul Pogba also facing his old club.

Jose Mourinho and Co also paired with Valencia and Young Boys while Liverpool and Tottenham received nightmare groups.

The Reds will go up against Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli, as well as Red Star Belgrade in one of the most intriguing battles.

Tottenham meanwhile will have to battle past Barcelona - along with PSV and Inter Milan.

Elsewhere, Manchester City drew Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon and Hoffenheim in one of the easier groups.

Real Madrid, who will be defending their crown for the fourth consecutive year, will fancy their chances of progressing against Roma, CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen

Group A is also sure to produce some exciting ties with Atletico Madrid facing both Borussia Dortmund and Monaco.

Belgium side Club Brugge make up the final four and will be hoping to defy the odds.

German giants Bayern Munich have been placed in a group alongside Benfica, Ajax and AEK Athens.

Finally 2004 winners Porto will face Lokomotiv Moscow, Schalke and Galatasaray in Group D.

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Barcelona ‘to sign Manchester United star Paul Pogba, Ajax starlet Frenkie de Jong or PSG ace Adrien Rabiot

PAUL POGBA remains one of Barcelona's top targets going into 2019 — along with PSG's Adrien Rabiot and Ajax starlet Frenkie de Jong.

According to reports, the Catalan giants are in the process of re-shaping their ageing midfield and have the trio in mind.

And they unnerved Manchester United over the summer with a £50million-plus-player bid for unsettled Frenchman Pogba.

That offer did not go down well in the Old Trafford boardroom.

The 25-year-old has had a tough start to the season after clinching victory at the World Cup in Russia.

According to Sport, they will wait till next summer to go in again for Pogba and contract rebel Rabiot.

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Yaya Toure passing medical in London.

 YAYA TOURE is on the brink of signing for a new club after "passing a medical in London."

The midfielder's agent Dimitry Seluk revealed he was "close to signing a new contract" after leaving champions Manchester City in the summer

Toure, 35, has been a free agent and was heavily linked with a reunion with Manuel Pellegrini at rock-bottom West Ham.

The pair were crowned Premier League champions in 2014 during a season the Ivorian scored a remarkable 20 goals.

But when quizzed whether Toure was heading to the Boleyn Ground, Seluk laughed off speculation by saying: "It's not West Ham, 100%. Yaya is a champion. The last place (of the league) is not for him."

Crystal Palace have also been linked with his signature but Seluk was quick to quash speculation yet again.

He added: "It's not Crystal Palace, 100%. Roy Hodgson said he doesn't know when his players' birthdays are... can Yaya go there?"

Toure famously caused a scene when he failed to receive a cake on his birthday while playing at City.

Seluk had previously tweeted: "Yaya Toure has passed a medical in London. Yaya is close to signing a new contract."

Toure won three Premier League titles in the eight years he spent at the Etihad.

But his relationship with the club soured after sensationally accusing manager Pep Guardiola of having a problem with African players. 

The row got so bizarre that Seluk claimed African shamans will put a Champions League curse on  Guardiola.

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Barcelona striker Paco Alcacer joins Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund on season-long loan

PACO ALCACER has joined Borussia Dortmund from Barcelona on a season-long loan.

The Bundesliga side have the option to buy the 24-year-old for a fee of £25million - while the club will also pay the Spanish striker's wages during his time in Germany.

Alcacer flattered to deceive at the Nou Camp after joining from Valencia in 2016 - where he failed to cement himself as a regular starter in the side.

And he has now been shipped off on loan to Lucien Favre's side after mustering just 15 goals in 50 games in all competitions.

SunSport reported last week how Alcacer was attracting the interest from Dortmund - who announced his arrival to Signal Iduna Park with a Tinder-style video.

Given the No 9 jersey - Alcacer - who could join Dortmund on a four-year deal next summer, has spoken of his excitement at playing in front of his new fans.

He told the club's website: "I'm really looking forward to playing in the Bundesliga soon.

"This is one of the best leagues in the world, and BVB with these incredible fans and the famous South Stand probably has something magical for every footballer."

While BVB Sports Director Michael Zorc said: "We are very happy that Paco Alcacer has decided in favour of Borussia Dortmund and we firmly believe that this type of player fits well with our way of playing.

"Paco has its quality at an early age proved at Valencia, scored many goals and as a just 22-year-old experienced special appreciation by having him transferred to the captaincy.

In Barcelona, ​​he worked daily with some of the best players in the world.

"It is due to the extreme competition in the club's offensive that he has now decided to take a fresh start after two years."

Alcacer could be handed his Dortmund debut on Friday when the club face Hannover away.

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Real Madrid set to re-sign Lyon ace Mariano for £23m to stop Sevilla snapping him up

REAL MADRID want to recapture £23million striker Mariano before he is flogged to the Premier League, according to reports in Spain.

The La Liga giants sold the Dominican Republic forward to Lyon last summer for around £7.5m and have first refusal on the 25-year-old.

Sevilla are ready to splash around £32m on the forward – with Real able to demand close to £10m as part of a sell-on clause.

But Marca say they are more interested in taking him back for £23m and being in sole control of his future.

Bernabeu bosses have until Thursday to make a decision on the forward, knowing that Lyon had hoped to sell the player to the Premier League for around £60m.

But now the British transfer window has closed, Lyon have lost out on that money-spinning opportunity.

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Raheem Sterling on Real Madrid radar.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE holders Real Madrid have reportedly reignited their interest in Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling.

The 23-year-old has just two years left to run on his deal at the Etihad, with contract talks believed to have broken down in June.

According to Sky Sports, the La Liga giants are closely monitoring the ex-Liverpoolace.

And the Spanish side will send club representatives to watch Sterling in action for England against Spain at Wembley in the Uefa Nations League on September 8.

Although they claim that an offer for the former QPR youth star is unlikely to come in before the transfer window shuts on Friday.

Sterling alerted the attention of Real last year when he admitted he wants to play abroad when the time is right to leave City.

Sterling - who banged in 23 goals last campaign - is understood to be seeking a new deal to bring his salary closer to that of Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne.

Pep Guardiola is desperate for the winger to stay, and lauded his talents after he netted in the 2-0 win against Arsenal earlier this month.

He told reporters: "We are delighted with him and would like Raheem to stay.

"We’ll do our effort to make him feel we count on him. And we count on him.

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