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Paul Onuachu took his Belgian Jupiler League tally to six for the season after bagging a brace in Genk’s 2-2 draw with Oostende on Monday night, which also saw a player sent off.

The Smurfs were 3-1 victors in their last outing at home to Mechelen, Onuachu also netting a brace following his solo strikes against Zulte Waregem on the opening day of the season, and a 5-2 loss by Beerschot.

The 26-year-old Nigerian was clearly in the scoring mood and got his side the equaliser at the Luminus Arena in the ninth minute by sending a header in from Joakim Maehle’s cross. This came after Cameron McGeehan had given Oostende the lead in just the third minute of the match.

It was 1-1 at half-time and Onuachu made it 2-1 to Genk in the 52nd minute from the penalty spot following a handball incident from the opposition.

Genk were dealt a big blow just four minutes later after Swiss midfielder Bastien Toma was given a straight red card for a dangerous challenge.

It was going to be a struggle for Jess Thorup’s side holding on to their lead and they succumbed in the 83rd minute after Senegal striker Makhtar Gueye equalised for Oostende to deny Genk back-to-back wins for the first time this season and their third overall so far.

Onuachu was omitted from the Super Eagles squad that would tackle Algeria and Tunisia in international friendlies on October 9 and 13, respectively.

The last call-up he got was in Nigeria’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin which ended n a 2-1 victory in November 2019 but he was an unused substitute.

His last time on the pitch for the national team was 16 minutes of action in the 1-1 draw with five-time world champions Brazil in Singapore a month earlier.

Onuachu’s Genk teammate, Cyriel Dessers, who joined from Dutch outfit Heracles this summer was among the forwards called up.

He was an unused substitute in Monday night’s game and has two goals in five league outings. He was previously called-up during Nigeria’s Afcon qualifier against Sierra Leone earlier this year which was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Before these international fixtures, Genk will tackle Waasland-Beveren at the Freethiel Stadion on Saturday, with the hope of moving up their current 11th position on the table.

Football has always managed to capture the public imagination in the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The TRC Turf Ground in Srinagar remains chock-a-block whenever Real Kashmir takes the field and the crowd backs the local outfit with all their heart.

Even when there was a strict lockdown in Kashmir, more than 11,000 fans turned up for the match against Mohun Bagan during the 2019-20 I-League. 

While the boys in the valley have had several platforms to showcase their talent, the girls haven't had that luxury. But with the Snow Leopards management set to launch a U14 and U10 girls team, there is hope that things are going to change for the better. 

In a pioneering move, Real Kashmir have entered into a strategic partnership with Delhi Public School (DPS), Srinagar, to give wings to a project that aims to develop woman's football in the region. 

The project will be headed by Poonam Chattoo, who feels that the time is ripe for Real Kashmir to venture into a territory that only a few professional clubs in India have dared to. 

"The idea of a women's team was always there on top of our minds. We needed to get our bearings right as we are very new into the business of football. We are also learning with each passing season. Real Kashmir will be looking after the technical aspect of the project like providing coaches and other necessary things. Whereas, DPS will help us with their infrastructure.

"It provides us with the required security and the right kind of facilities that girls require. For example, proper washrooms and a locker room. You need to be a little more careful when you are handling little girls," stated Chattoo to Goal. 

The registration for both the teams are underway and the coaching staff has also been finalised. 

Yet every entrepreneurial venture has its fair share of challenges and in this case, it is about convincing the parents to allow their daughters to take part in active football, given the volatile situation in Kashmir. 

"A boy can always hop on to a local bus and reach the ground. But a girl cannot do that, especially in Srinagar. So you have to make proper arrangements for transportation as well. Moreover, the school is a bit far from the main city. So we have to choose a point where the parents will drop off their kids and if they want they can even come and have a look at the facilities at the school. These are the confidence-building measures that you have to undertake here at the take-off phase," explained Chattoo, who is a regular visitor to all Real Kashmir home games. 

The management does not want to rush into playing competitive tournaments and instead wants to focus on nurturing the girls to the fullest. 

But all said and done Kashmir still does not have a senior professional women's team playing in the Indian Women's League (IWL). Is this a stepping stone to realise a bigger dream?

"The best tournaments in the country are in the senior category. And hopefully, we will have a senior team someday. For now, we just want to put a few smiles on the faces of the Kashmiris. There is an immense amount of talent in Kashmir and they just need a platform to showcase their skills," concluded Chattoo. 

Franky Barreto, the first Goan to don the East Bengal shirt, believes that the Red and Golds deserve to play in the Indian Super League (ISL) which is the country's top division. 

Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) - organisers of the ISL - on Sunday officially announced that East Bengal will be a part of the league from the 2020-21 season.

"I am very happy for East Bengal for making it to the ISL, especially for the millions of fans," Barreto told Goal while explaining how he witnessed life in Kolkata during his one-year stint with the century-old club back during the 1998-99 season.

There was, of course, Francis D'Souza who was the first footballer from Goa to join a club from Kolkata in 1979 when the forward joined Mohun Bagan and Joseph Machado from Daman who moved from Dempo to East Bengal in 1981.

"I think after Francis D'Souza, no one had the confidence to go to Kolkata, probably because of his experience over there," said the former Salgaocar defender who joined East Bengal after the famous Federation Cup victory over them in 1997. 

"Seriously speaking, I never thought that I will be playing there only for one year. They gave me an offer for another year, Salgaocar also gave me an offer. To be honest with you, the reason I came back to Goa (Salgaocar) was because I was not enjoying the Calcutta (Kolkata) culture. If you go out, people used to all come and talk to you. There was no social life and being a Goan, I couldn't enjoy that," Barreto explained.

However, the player who started and ended his professional playing career with Vasco SC acknowledged that his stint at East Bengal was a good experience. 

"It was the time when IM Vijayan, Jo Paul Ancheri and all had also come to Kolkata (Mohun Bagan) from FC Kochin. My (East Bengal) team-mates that time were guys like Bhaichung Bhutia, Carlton Chapman, Raman Vijayan, Ratan Singh (among others).

"One thing I realised, it was a good experience. When you play in Calcutta (Kolkata), people from all over India recognise you. It was a good exposure, I would say," the former India international admitted.

Egypt international Amr Warda has joined Volos Football Club from Greek Super League outfit PAOK Thessaloniki.

Following his inability to get first team action with the Toumba Stadium giants, the 27-year-old was sent on loan at Atromitos.

In the 2019-20 season, however, he featured for Michalis Grigoriou’s AEL Football at the Alcazar Stadium, where he featured in 22 league games and accounting for six goals.

After the expiration of his loan deal, Warda returned to his parent club where he was linked with a number of European clubs including OFI Crete, AC Omonia and Panathinaikos.

However, he picked the Panthessaliko Stadium as his preferred destination.

Volos confirmed the Egyptian’s arrival through their website while disclosing that he will wear jersey no. 11 for the 2020-21 football league season.

“Volos announce the acquisition of Amr Warda. The 27-year-old Egyptian midfielder was at the PAE offices this afternoon, where he signed his new contract with Volos,” a statement from the club read.

“Warda, who is a 30-time international with the Egypt has been in Greece since 2015 where he has competed successively in Panetolikos, PAOK, Atromitos and Larissa. Warda will be competing with jersey number 11.”

Before signing for Angel Lopez’s side, the Al Ahly academy graduate had gone on social media to pen an emotional farewell message to PAOK fans.

“Dear fans, I wanted to give you much more, but unfortunately for one reason or another I couldn’t. I am very sorry about this. You will remain in my heart and I am sure one day we will meet again. Thank you all with all,” he wrote.

Since joining PAOK FC in 2017, the winger only featured in just 36 encounters across all competitions, scoring three goals and providing four assists. He was part of the White-Blacks’ squad that lifted the Greek Cup in the 2016-2017 season.

His best loan spell was at Atromitos where he scored 11 goals and provided seven assists across all competitions in the 2017-18 campaign.

Volos are ranked sixth in the Greek elite division after accruing four points from three games to the start of the season.

As if things couldn't get more interesting in 2020, news has emerged that Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney potential new owners for National League side Wrexham AFC.

The news came as a surprise as Deadpool star Reynolds and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia actor McElhenney have not been known to be football fans in the past - so why are they interested in buying the club?

It is currently unclear why Reynolds, along with McElhenney, are interested in purchasing the Welsh side - but Reynolds has hinted that the sale has been eight years in the making.

The pair will now "put forward their vision" for the club, who play in the National League, with members due to then vote again on their potential ownership.

However tongue-in-cheek the connection might be, Reynolds highlighted a tweet from 2012 that involved a Wrexham resident, Shannon, telling her friend about an awkward life-drawing class as part of her course in college - eventually stating that she wished Reynolds was the model instead.

Reynolds then retweeted a joke Shannon made to her friend about the actor ever turning up in the Welsh town, admitting he had waited eight years to reply to her.

"Yep, you never know," Reynolds said, before adding, "I’ve waited 8 years to respond to this tweet."

With the two Hollywood stars reportedly injecting a figure of roughly £2 million into the club, which would be seen as an extremely positive investment - as the club, like many other lower-league outfits, having financial difficulties due to the obvious hardships caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Wrexham captain Shaun Pearson stated: “I’m probably similar to everyone else; at first you think: ‘Nah, no way.’ 

"But it is potentially a big opportunity for the club. It is probably a little while off in terms of everything going through but you’d be lying if you didn’t think it was exciting. This is something that could move the club forward in quite a big way.”

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson thanked his team-mates for having his back after making a critical error on Monday against Arsenal before atoning for that error with a goal of his own. 

The Reds took down Arsenal 3-1 on Monday, with Robertson being directly involved at a goal at either end.

For the game's opener, Robertson misplayed a cross into the box, tapping the ball back towards goal to an awaiting Alexandre Lacazette for a simple finish.

But, after seeing the Reds equalize on goal from Sadio Mane, Robertson made up for his mishap defensively with a goal of his own to give his side the lead.

Robertson finished an assist from his fellow fullback Trent Alexander-Arnold, pushing the score to 2-1 while paving the way for an eventual victory that was punctuated with a late Diogo Jota finish.

After the match, the Scottish star was glad that he was able to find a way to pay back his team-mates for his blunder, admitting that an error like that would have proved much more costly to him just a few years ago.

"It was a fantastic counter-pressing game from us. We all reacted when we lost the ball. We put them under pressure and forced them into mistakes. With the ball we showed quality," he told Sky Sports.

"We can't have too many complaints, other than my assist at the wrong end. 99 times out of 100 I clear that. The lads dug me out of a hole. A couple of years ago I'd have let that get to my performance.

"We showed a positive reaction. They've got a fast frontline which you need to be wary of. We dealt with them well and caught them offside a few times.

"We could have had a couple more. We'll take the 3-1. It's nice to beat your rivals and make it three wins from three."

The 26-year-old defender's goal was his first of the season, having scored three in 49 appearances during the 2019-20 campaign.

In total, Robertson has scored just five goals since joining the Reds from Hull City in 2017.

Liverpool currently sit atop the table, level with Leicester and Everton , ahead of a Carabao Cup clash with Arsenal on Thursday and a Premier League meeting with Aston Villa on Sunday.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said that he doesn't care who sits atop the Premier League as the Reds levelled Everton and Leicester City atop the standings on Monday.

The Reds took down Arsenal 3-1 on Monday, making it three wins from three to start the Premier League campaign.

Prior to Monday's victory, Liverpool took down Leeds in a back-and-forth seven-goal thriller before beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a 3-1 victory.

With those wins, Liverpool continue their perfect to start the season, as do rivals Everton and top-four hopefuls Leicester City.

Following a busy summer that saw the club add James Rodriguez, Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure, Carlo Ancelotti's side are off to their best start since the 1993-94 campaign.

Leicester, meanwhile, are riding high following a lopsided win over Manchester City on Sunday, with the Foxes taking down Pep Guardiola's side 5-2 helped in part by a Jamie Vardy hat-trick.

While many are looking at the table already following those three games, Klopp says he doesn't care how other teams are doing at this moment as the season is just beginning.

"Carlo Ancelotti did super, top, top, top business. I'm not at all surprised. Leicester is Leicester. They play some good football," he told the BBC.

"Who cares, in this moment, who is up there? It's just the start."

While he isn't concerned with how other teams are doing, Klopp says he could not be more pleased with his team's start, having taken down three difficult opponents to start the season.

"It’s been a very difficult start. When I saw the schedule I thought 'wow' as Leeds was the most difficult you could get, then away to Chelsea and home to Arsenal, who are flying," he said. 

"That was really tough but we won it and that’s good."

Liverpool are set to face Arsenal again on Thursday in the Carabao Cup before taking on Aston Villa next weekend.

Villa, too, have yet to lose this season, having made it a perfect two wins from two on Monday with a victory over Fulham.

Mikel Arteta says he wasn’t too disappointed after Arsenal were beaten 3-1 at Liverpool on Monday night – because it showed the standard his side have to reach.

The Gunners took the lead after Alexandre Lacazette seized on a bad mistake from Andy Robertson, but they were largely outplayed at Anfield.

New signing Diogo Jota didn’t make the points safe for Liverpool until late on and Lacazette was twice denied when one-on-one with Alisson, but it was a deserved win for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Arteta was honest in his post-match interview, admitting that Liverpool are simply ahead of where his side are right now.

"We were in the game for a big part of the game,” Arteta told BBC Sport. “The reality is they are superior to us in many aspects. You could see that in some phases.

"I am really happy in the way the team competed and kept believing. This is the standard we have to reach. We are on a different journey. They have been together five years; we have had a few months.”

Despite not being too disappointed with the overall result, Arteta did say there was plenty of room for his side to improve on the night.

The Gunners may have gone into the game as underdogs, but they have beaten Liverpool twice in recent months, in the Premier League and Community Shield.

"They scored too early [after Arsenal's goal], big mistake from us. I had a feeling we were going to have chances in the second half,” he said.

"We had probably the best chance of the game. You have to put them in the net when you have chances against them.

"We have a long way to go in many things."

Hector Bellerin agreed with his manager’s summation, telling Sky Sports: "I think with the chances we were creating, I felt we had chances of drawing or winning the game.

"When you come to Liverpool away you have to score your chances and not commit the mistakes we made.

"The difference is very fine margins. We made mistakes in the goals and our chances didn't go in.

"We were way more effective in other games we played against them. We gave them a good fight but we're frustrated. We're getting better every day."

Frank Lampard has confirmed Chelsea are considering loan offers for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with West Ham and Aston Villa confirmed as two parties interested in him.

The England international has been left out of the last three matchday squads, including Chelsea's Carabao Cup clash with Barnsley, and it has led the midfielder to explore his options.

Chelsea are ready to allow a temporary move away for the 24-year-old but they also feel it will help him return to his best form after his Achilles tendon rupture in May 2019.

"I’m very open with Ruben," Lampard told reporters. "We’ve had a couple of conversations in the last week. He’s fit as a fiddle so he can play week in, week out. He needs to play. He’s done a lot of work now.

"He would have been playing earlier if it wasn’t for lockdown and restart. There’s a possibility that Ruben may go out [on loan] to play games because I think that would be great for him. We hold him in very high regard here. I certainly do and that could be a good option for him.

"I’m relaxed about it but I want to find the best path for Ruben and I want to find the best path for us."

Lampard went on to explain that he sees Loftus-Cheek's long-term future with Chelsea, adding: "Without a doubt. He’s had a difficult time. The injury was a bad one. He hasn’t played as many minutes for this club as he would have liked to for different reasons.

"But just before his injury he was playing really well and contributing. I was always looking forward to him getting back fit and working with him. We’ll make that decision on what’s best for him and us.

"He wants to play and the reality is I have a lot of competition in those areas when I look at the squad. Ruben is versatile. He can play different roles in the midfield and sometimes off the side, so I was really looking forward to working with him because I know what he can do.

"He gives us something slightly different in terms of his physicality and how he receives the ball. But there is also a priority for everyone that Ruben plays games. That’s the delicate balance of what we’re trying to get right in the next week. We’ll do what feels right."

Meanwhile, Chelsea are also exploring moves away for the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Emerson Palmieri, with the transfer window set to close in a week.

PSG, Barcelona and Roma have expressed an interest in the Germany international while Inter are the only club after Emerson at the moment. Alongside that, Chelsea are trying to sell or loan a host of other non-first-team stars such as Tiemoue Bakayoko, Victor Moses and Danny Drinkwater.

Lampard admitted that Chelsea have too many players in their current group, having seen his club spend £220 million ($275m) on six players this summer but having struggled to offload those in their current squad..

“If it’s right for the player and right for us then that can be possible," he added. "At the moment the squad is very big, it would have to be the right situation for us. It is slightly uncertain times with what is going on at the moment.

"But there is a possibility that a few could move on if it’s right.”

Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent has advised Leeds United to make a move for Brentford playmaker Said Benrahma as a replacement for injured Pablo Hernandez.

Hernandez who is a key player in Marcelo Bielsa's team, picked up a groin injury during a warm up session before Leeds United’s game against Fulham last Saturday and he missed their 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Sunday.

After the victory at Bramall Lane, Bielsa disclosed that the Spanish midfielder will be out of action for two weeks as he continues his recovery.

The update might come as a worry for the club faithful ahead of their Premier League fixture against Manchester City on Saturday, however, Bent has recommended Benrahma who was linked to Arsenal and Chelsea earlier this summer as an ideal signing for Leeds United.

“This is why they might go and get Benrahma. That’s what Leeds thought, and planned,” Bent told Football Insider.

“I know that Benrahma is a similar type of player to Hernandez.

“When Hernandez is out there’s a big difference, they don’t create half as much so maybe they have to go and address that.

“They need to maybe address that but I like the way Leeds are playing. Listen, I’ve got no worries about Leeds whatsoever.

“The fact they’ve got Bielsa in charge and they play with that high tempo, I think they’re going to be perfectly fine.”

Benrahma has only played 17 minutes of Championship football this season as uncertainty about his future in Thomas Frank's team grows.

Last season, the Algeria international contributed 17 goals and nine assists in the second division as Brentford narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League.

Jurgen Klopp revealed that he has been chasing Diogo Jota for several years after seeing the newly-signed Portuguese star score his first Liverpool goal on Monday

Jota wasted little time before firing his first finish as the Reds took down Arsenal 3-1 to remain perfect through the first three games of the Premier League season.

The Reds fell behind 1-0 via a goal from Alexandre Lacazette following a mistake from Andy Robertson, only for the Reds to score just moments later as Sadio Mane finished with a tap-in at the back post.

Robertson attended for his mistake by giving the Reds the lead before half-time, with Jota sealing all three points with a late goal after coming on as a substitute. 

The Portuguese star generated a number of chances in his brief time on the pitch before scoring, with Klopp admitting that it is that skillset that has drawn him to Jota for several years.

"I'm really pleased for Diogo Jota. Top, top guy," Klopp told the BBC. "It's so difficult to improve a team like ours. He's been on my list for two or three years, he's here now."

Jota's goal comes in only his second Liverpool game, having debuted against Lincoln City midweek in the Carabao Cup.

And, having now scored his first Liverpool goal in his first Premier League game for the club, the Portuguese was pleased to get that out of the way early as he looks to score many more during his time at Anfield.

"It is an amazing feeling, I just wish it could be with a full stadium but I am happy to seal the win for the team and get the result," Jota told Sky Sports.

"In football sometimes you score, sometimes you miss and you have to believe you are going to score and fortunately I did.

"[Jurgen Klopp] told me to keep pressing like we were doing and be happy with the ball and do what I used to do: play good football and press without the ball.

"I will do my job in training every day, hard work and do my best on match day.

"The first one is always the hardest one, to keep on going is the is the most important thing. I have one, I want more.

"We are pretty much in the beginning, three games in and we want to keep going and get three points in the next game."

Liverpool are set to face Arsenal again this week in the Carabao Cup before then taking on Aston Villa in their return to Premier League play.

Jurgen Klopp showed himself to be braver than most after Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Arsenal on Monday, calling out Roy Keane after taking issue with one of the pundit’s comments.

Former Manchester United midfielder Keane suggested Klopp might have been unhappy with one or two defensive moments from his team.

A bad mistake from Andy Robertson allowed Alexandre Lacazette to open the scoring against the run of play but Liverpool hit back through Sadio Mane, Robertson and new boy Diogo Jota.

"They’re like a machine,” Keane said on Sky Sports. “They’ve got great quality going forward. They’re obviously one of the fittest teams around. They suffocate teams. I know Arsenal were encouraging them by playing out from the back but they have loads of goals in them.

"They were sloppy on one or two occasions at the back but job done and a good start to the season for them."

That last comment, however, provoked a spiky response from Klopp.

“Did I hear it right, that Mr Keane said it was a sloppy performance tonight?” he asked. “I could hear you already, did he say that?”

Keane replied: “I think they gave up one or two opportunities which they will be disappointed with.”

Klopp wasn’t satisfied with this response.

“I just wanted to hear it,” he said. “I’m not sure I heard it right, maybe he was speaking about another game… it cannot be this game, sorry!

“That is an incredible description of this game, that was absolutely exceptional. Nothing was sloppy, absolutely nothing.

“From the first second, we were dominant against a team in form, 100 per cent in form. You have to be careful like hell and not get counter-attacked. I think 60 or 70 per cent of all the balls in behind were offside. You have to wait a little longer for the flag now so that’s why it feels not great, but they were offside.

“Alisson had to make one save, they had two balls in behind, you cannot avoid that. You need a goalie in these situations. Apart from that, the football we played was absolutely exceptional tonight.

“About this game tonight, there is nothing bad to say. It was the opposite of sloppy.”

Keane did get in one final barb after Klopp had left, remarking: "Very sensitive, Jesus. Imagine if he'd lost!"

Diogo Jota scored on his Premier League debut for Liverpool after Andy Robertson had earlier made amends for a big error as the champions recorded a 3-1 comeback victory over Arsenal at Anfield.

The Gunners had defeated Liverpool twice over the past two months and, like their hosts, entered this fixture with a perfect start, but Mikel Arteta's men were unable to build on a lead gifted to them by Robertson 25 minutes in.

The left-back inadvertently set up Alexandre Lacazette to score for the visitors completely against the run of play, only for Sadio Mane to equalise 147 seconds later.

Robertson then completed the swift turnaround by putting Liverpool in front before substitute Jota sealed things late on as Jurgen Klopp's side continued their promising start to their title defence.

Mane fired a first-time shot straight at Bernd Leno and Trent Alexander-Arnold's deflected attempt hit the crossbar as Liverpool made a dominant start to the match.

But it was Arsenal who took the lead through their first effort as Robertson sliced a simple clearance into the path of Lacazette, who scuffed a shot over Alisson and into the net.

The hosts hit back instantly through Mane, who had a simple tap-in after Mohamed Salah brushed off Kieran Tierney and got a strike on target that Leno could only parry.

Robertson scored what proved to be a crucial goal with 34 minutes played by controlling fellow full-back Alexander-Arnold's right-wing cross and flicking past Leno.

Lacazette's goal was his seventh in nine league games for Arsenal but he wasted a big chance to level matters a little over an hour in, being denied by Alisson when played through.

Jota was equally wasteful when firing into the side netting with only Leno to beat, but he rifled in from further out five minutes later to put the icing on a fifth home league win in a row for Liverpool against Arsenal.

What does it mean? Dominant Liverpool extend perfect start

A lot was made of Liverpool's post-lockdown form last season but they have kicked off the new campaign with three wins from three to join Leicester City and Everton on nine points.

For all the improvements Arsenal have made under Arteta – and that includes a couple of wins over the Reds – they were second best at Anfield, particularly in the first half.

Liverpool had 66 per cent of the ball and managed a whopping 21 shots – eight of those on target – whereas Arsenal had only four attempts across the 90 minutes.

Robertson makes amends

Arsenal had just two touches in the opposition box in the first half and scored from one of those as Robertson put the ball on a plate Lacazette.

But Robertson did not let his head drop and his strike made it 33 goal involvements in the Premier League since his Reds debut in August 2017 – more than any other defender.

Salah gets better of Tierney

Unlike Scotland international team-mate Robertson, Arsenal defender Tierney failed to respond after making an error in the lead up to Liverpool's equaliser.

Tierney allowed Salah to get around him far too easily and Leno was unable to bail him out, although he can cling to the fact no player on the field made more clearances than his 10.

Key Opta Facts

- Liverpool have won their last five home league games against Arsenal, their longest such run against them since a run of seven between 1981-1988.

- Since Mikel Arteta's first game in charge in December 2019, Arsenal have dropped more points from winning positions than any other side in the Premier League (18).

- There have been 166 goals scored in Premier League meetings between Arsenal and Liverpool, at least seven more than any other fixture in the competition.

- Liverpool had another 21 shots, taking their total in their three games this season to 61 – at least 17 more than any other side.

- Diogo Jota became the 13th player to score on his Premier League debut for Liverpool, and the first to do so in a match against Arsenal since Sadio Mane in August 2016.

What's next?

The sides get to do it all over again on Thursday as they meet at Anfield in the last 16 of the EFL Cup.

Serie A outfit Sampdoria have confirmed Keita Balde has contracted the coronavirus and has been isolated in accordance with health protocols.

The AS Monaco forward who is on the verge of joining Stadio Luigi Ferraris on a season-long loan tested positive during his medicals.

The Senegal international who had featured for Lazio and Inter Milan arrived in Genoa on Monday morning.

“UC Sampdoria announce that AS Monaco authorised the player Keita Balde to travel for a medical, which showed no problems,” read a statement from the Italian giants.

“During the course of the tests and Covid-19 protocol, the player was found to be lightly positive: we specifies the player did not have any contact with the ‘match day group’ and is self-isolating.

“The sanitary procedures will be put into practice, as per protocol.”

It will be recalled that Balde donated the sum of €17,000 to Senegal to boost their fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am a person who does what he can for his family, friends and people I love. This donation was made with all my heart, we must do things without waiting for someone to look for you,” Balde told Gianluca Di Marzio.

“Unfortunately, it is a delicate situation all over the world. I have some relatives in Spain, others in Senegal.

“I am in Monte Carlo with my partner and my child. Here, there is a great organisation, people follow the advice and the rules.

"Listening to the complicated situation in Italy and Spain, we hope it can be resolved as soon as possible to return to normal."

Before the 2019-20 French top-flight season was cancelled, the 25-year-old accounted for four goals in 21 league outings.

Football Italia had reported Claudio Ranieri's side will pay €1m for the temporary deal and they have the option to buy the former Spain youth international in June 2021 for a further €12m.

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith claims Mbwana Samatta ‘reluctantly agreed’ to leave England and join Fenerbahce for the 2020-21 season.

Samatta left Villa Park on Friday, for an initial loan deal which would be permanent at the end of the Super Lig campaign.

His exit came eight months after his signing from Genk, after he featured in 14 Premier League matches with just a goal to his name.

In his reaction to Samatta’s exit, Smith said they club are disappointed about his lack of playing time following the club-record signing of Ollie Watkins from Brentford this summer.

They also strengthened their attacking options with the signing of Burkina Faso's Bertrand Traore from Lyon.

“I think it was the right decision in the end," Smith was quoted by Birmingham Live. “He couldn’t be guaranteed minutes here and we’ve paid out a record amount of money for Ollie Watkins, who we believe is going to be a top striker here.

"Keinan Davis has signed a new contract as well and we have Wesley to come back in the new year.

"We just can’t stockpile players and we had an offer from Fenerbahce and I think Ally reluctantly agreed to go.

"We’re disappointed it didn’t work out how we all wanted because he’s a good player and a really good lad.

"But the club has moved on from that and we wish him well in his career now."

Samatta, meanwhile, made his Fenerbahce debut on Sunday as Galatasaray held their Istanbul rivals to a goalless draw in a Super Lig encounter.

He came off the bench to replace Senegal's Mame Thiam in the 66th minute.

Liverpool are set to be without summer signing Thiago for their next two games, Jurgen Klopp has said – but he should be back in time for the Merseyside derby.

The Spain midfielder wasn’t involved in the Reds’ Premier League clash with Arsenal on Monday evening, having missed training over the weekend.

Goalkeeper Alisson had also been out of action but returned for Monday’s game.

Klopp says he expects Thiago to return after the upcoming international break, meaning he could miss his side’s Carabao Cup game with Arsenal and their league trip to Aston Villa.

The first international break of the 2020-21 season follows after that, with a Merseyside derby at Everton the first game back on October 17.

“After the international break he will be fine, for sure,” Klopp told Sky Sports. “That is the situation at the moment. He is not fit enough to be involved tonight [against Arsenal] but that’s it.”

After a lengthy summer transfer saga ahead of his eventual move from Bayern Munich, Liverpool fans were no doubt delighted with Thiago after his debut against Chelsea.

Their new star broke a Premier League record within 45 minutes of his introduction, and will be hoping to nail down a starting spot.

Away from Liverpool, Klopp was also asked about the recent controversy surrounding handballs and VAR in the Premier League.

A last-gasp penalty awarded against Tottenham’s Eric Dier over the weekend prompted yet more discussion, but Klopp says there is nothing coaches can do other than stick to the rules.

“Do you think Eric Dier could have done anything different if Jose Mourinho had told him before the game, ‘When Carroll is in your back, make sure that your arm is nowhere near the ball’? Stuff like that doesn’t work. We just have to deal with the situation.

“It was, for sure, absolutely unlucky for Eric. I know that, everyone knows that, he can’t do anything different!

“In the end it is always like this. We have to deal with the rules, the refs have to deal with the rules. As long as the rules are like they are, we all have to deal with it.

“Is it the right thing? I don’t think so. It is right to accept the rules but is the rule the right thing? I am not 100 per cent convinced about that.”

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas says the club is treating Friday like the final day of the transfer window amid links between star midfielder Houssem Aouar and Arsenal.

Aouar has been linked with a big-money move all summer, having emerged as a star for the Ligue 1 side.

The 22-year-old midfielder scored nine goals in 41 games last season, earning a place in the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season.

Aulas has claimed that Arsenal are reluctant to meet the club's valuation of Aouar, although he did admit that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta remains a big fan of the midfielder.

The Gunners made a reported opening offer of €35 million (£32m/$41m), with Lyon hoping to get €60m (£55m/$70m) for the Frenchman.

Aulas is not the only Lyon star linked with a departure, as Memphis Depay has been widely liked with a move to Barcelona.

Such a move would see the attacker reunite with former Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman, who took charge of the Spanish side this summer.

And Arsenal and Barcelona will only have until Friday to meet that valuation as Aulas hopes to see all of Lyon's comings and goings resolved by the weekend.

"We will tell the players that whatever will not be settled in terms of departures before Friday, there will be no more departures," Aulas told Telefoot. 

"So for us the [closing] date of the transfer window will be Friday. I think I will propose it tomorrow (Tuesday) to Rudi Garcia and Juninho, because it's understandable.

"And all people of goodwill can see that there is something wrong [with the results of the team]. It can be because of that, but it can also be a lot of other things. In any case, from Friday, the players who have not left will not leave."

Having qualified for the Champions League semi-finals, Lyon have struggled to start the Ligue 1 season, earning six points from their first five games.

On Sunday, Lyon will face a difficult match against Marseille, who themselves have struggled a little in collecting eight points so far this season.

Rennes currently sit atop Ligue 1, having dropped just two points through their first five games of the campaign. 

Former Ghana defender John Paintsil believes China-based midfielder Mubarak Wakaso is still in the plans of Black Stars coach CK Akonnor despite his absence from a 23-man squad announced for October's friendly fixture against Mali.

The Jiangsu Suning player was among the most notable men sidelined for the October 9 showdown, together with the likes of Fiorentina midfielder Alfred Duncan, Newcastle United winger Christian Atsu, Metz captain John Boye and veteran striker Asamoah Gyan.

The upcoming match will help Ghana test their strength ahead of the resumption of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers in November.

“For me, I think there’s something we need to change a little with regards to our national call-ups," Paintsil told Hello FM.

"When the head coach is naming his squad, there has to be a press conference so that the media can get the opportunity to ask why certain players are missing and report to the public the way it was discussed at the press.

"Wakaso is a key player in the team, so there is no way the coach will not speak to him before releasing the list.

"With the experience I have, I know that the two of them have talked about it and Wakaso have agreed to reasons why he is not in the team because he is not injured. The coach knows he’s performing as well.

"Unless he’s not in the plans of the coach or the coach wants to look at new players [he would have been spoken to] since it’s a friendly match because Wakaso is a senior player."

Wakaso made his full international debut for Ghana in 2012 and has gone on to represent the Black Stars at the 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019 Afcon tournaments.

He was also a member of Ghana's squad at their controversial 2014 World Cup campaign in Brazil.

“There are some matches the coaches give respect to certain players by telling them they want to try different players at their positions so that in case they are not around they will quickly fit in," Paintsil said.

“I think they might have discussed something like these that is why he’s not in the team."

Wakaso transferred to Jiangsu Suning from Spanish La Liga club Deportivo Alaves in January. 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he is loving Arsenal’s recent resurgence under Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners look a club transformed since Arteta took over from Unai Emery, having won the FA Cup and Community Shield and twice beaten Klopp’s champions Liverpool.

Writing in his pre-match column ahead of the two sides’ Premier League clash on Monday night, Klopp says he is happy to see Arsenal regaining their swagger – and doing so with one of his former players at the forefront.

“I think this is great for the Premier League if I’m being honest,” Klopp wrote in Liverpool’s programme.

“From a selfish point of view, not great for us because it is another outstandingly strong team in a competition full of them. But Arsenal is a fantastic football club and therefore as a football fan, I love to see them in this sort of mood.

“On a similar theme, the news that a player I know very well is committed to staying with them is bittersweet. I have been blessed to know Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and his family for a long time. He is a wonderful person as well as being a wonderful player.

“I say ‘bittersweet’ about his contract extension because as an opponent who has to face him, it makes our jobs so much harder.

“But again, as a football fan and someone who now works in the Premier League, it is so good for the competition to have the very best in the world doing their thing here. He is definitely that.”

Klopp also wrote to assure fans that, while the Premier League continues behind closed doors, their passion is still felt in an empty Anfield.

“I hope the fans know it is still for them as much as it has ever been. As a team we do this for ourselves, the people we love and the supporters who make the club what it is.

“I am fully aware of the sentiment ‘football without fans is nothing’. This is true – but we are not without fans.

“They are still here and they still give us our motivation. They remain the key ingredient that makes this all worthwhile.

“So until we are together again, we fight with all we have for them. I pray we will see each other again soon and in a safe and healthy way.”