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Stephane Bahoken has expressed his disappointment following his omission from Cameroon squad for their games against Japan and South Sudan.

The Indomitable Lions will square off against the East Asian country on October 8 before taking on Cyprian Besong Ashu’s men a day later.

The friendlies have been lined up as part of their preparation for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game against Mozambique in November.  

Coach Toni Conceicao has named a 32-man team for the encounters leaving out Bahoken from the squad.

The 28-year-old attacker has been a key member of Angers since teaming up with the Ligue 1 side in the summer of 2018 from Strasbourg.

Bahoken featured in 20 league games to help the Black and Whites finish 11th in the French top-flight last season and in the 2020-21 campaign, he has two goals in three appearances.

The forward, who has 10 caps for Cameroon is yet to feature for the West African side since Conceicao took charge of the team.

Bahoken, however, promised to continue his impressive club performances for a chance to earn a return to the West African side.

“I didn't quite understand [why I was not selected] but these are the choices of the coach. I play, I prepare well and I make key contributions,” Bahoken told Radio Foot Internationale, as per beIN SPORTS.

“Toni Conceicao chose not to select me, so I'm a little disappointed. I must now play a more crucial role with Angers to appear in the next list.

 “On a list of 32 players, I thought I had my chances but this is not the opinion of the coach. The only answer I can give him will be on the pitch.

“I will continue to give my all for the team and maybe Tony Conceiçao will give me my chance on the subsequent lists”

“Since he arrived, I have not spoken with him and I will answer him on the pitch."

Bahoken made his international debut for Cameroon against Kuwait in March 2018 after switching his allegiance from France.

The forward was part of Cameroon team at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and last featured for the side against Nigeria in the Round of 16 of the tournament under Clarence Seedorf.

Manchester City have not made a move for Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez amid claims  that a bid of £78 million (€85m/$99m) has been rejected.

Pep Guardiola urgently wants to bring in a new right-sided centre-back before the transfer window closes on October 5 after failing to replace Vincent Kompany last summer.

Atletico president Enrique Cerezo said the Liga giants had received the offer from City, but wanted to keep the defender, who tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday.

"We did receive the offer," he told El Transistor . "But Gimenez is a magnificent player and we are interested in having magnificent players in the team."

Goal has been told that City were surprised to hear about the offer for the 25-year-old and that no bid has been made.

The Uruguayan defender is on a shortlist of possible targets for City along with Napoli's Kalidou Koulibably and Sevilla's Jules Kounde.

Koulibably was City’s preferred option throughout the summer but negotiations with the Italian club have proved difficult, with no agreement reached on a fee.

Kounde is another player that the Premier League club have been monitoring, with Sevilla sporting director Monchi confirming that the Liga club turned down a bid, believed to be from City, for the 21-year-old.

Real Madrid and Barcelona have also been linked with Kounde, with sources having told Goal that the release clause in his current contract is worth €80m to €90m (£82m/$105m).

City had hoped to have a new defender in before Sunday’s Premier League clash with Leicester City but are running out of time to get a deal done before then.

Kounde is set to play in Sevilla’s Super Cup clash with Bayern Munich on Thursday night while Gimenez is in quarantine after his positive coronavirus result.

City already have five senior centre-backs at the club following the signing of Netherlands international Nathan Ake for £40 million ($53m) in the summer.

Spain international Eric Garcia could leave before the window closes, however, with Barcelona preparing a fresh bid for the teenager, who is in the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

Nicolas Otamendi is also expected to leave in the next few weeks and the former Valencia defender could be used as a makeweight in any deal with Sevilla for Kounde.

Gwambina FC head coach Flugence Novatus has stated his side know what they must do against Mainland Premier League giants Simba SC.

The debutants will be hosted at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Saturday by the champions for the fourth match of the season. After having a good campaign in the First Division League (FDL) in the 2019/20 season, Gwambina have struggled in the top-tier as they possess just a point from a 0-0 draw against Kagera Sugar.

They have lost against Biashara United and Ruvu Shooting with 1-0 margins and the game against Wekundu wa Msimbazi could have not come at a better time.

“We need to just play our game and make sure we collect maximum points. We are going to play a big team with a huge following but we surely know what we need to do,” Novatus told IPP Media.

“We are in our preparations for Simba on Saturday and we are ready for them despite the fact we know they enjoy very good players.”

The tactician admitted mistakes were done during their previous tie and he is hopeful the same will not be repeated in Dar es Salaam.

“During our game against Ruvu Shooting, we committed some mistakes and I have been working on them since then,” he concluded. “My main aim is to rectify the mistakes well before we face Simba."

On his part, Simba’s head coach Sven Vandenbroeck revealed he is aware the debutants would come hungry for points and will be ready to shock the champions.

“We have prepared well as we give each of our matches the prominence they deserve. I know Gwambina will be eager to prove their worth and make the game tough but I trust my squad,” Vandenbroeck said.

The match will be very important for both sides to win in order to get their respective campaigns right on track.

Simba have seven points and will need a win to come close to Azam FC and Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC FC) who have had a good start as they have not dropped points.

All eyes will be on Vandenbroeck on whether he will field Meddie Kagere to start as he did against Biashara United.

Aboubakar Kamara scored a goal while Josh Onomah provided an assist as Fulham got the better of Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of the EFL Cup at Craven Cottage.

Scott Parker’s men are back in the Premier League after a year’s absence and have started on a bad note with back-to-back defeats against Arsenal at home and away to fellow-promoted side Leeds United.

In between this was a 1-0 win at Ipswich Town in the previous round of the EFL Cup, Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic netting the only goal of the game.

There was however none of that on Wednesday night as Kamara gave them a ninth-minute lead having been assisted by French striker Anthony Knockaert.

Fulham got their second in the 32nd minute via Jamaica international Bobby Reid, Onomah delivering the ball to the 27-year-old. Reid had scored for the Cottagers in their 4-3 loss at Leeds United at the weekend, with 24-year old Cameroon international Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa providing the assist.

Kamara was on for 70 minutes with his goal being his only shot on target. He also had two touches, 14 accurate passes at 67% and two key passes.

Onomah’s assist was his only key pass in the game and he also produced 34 touches, 19 accurate passes at 76% and one successful dribble from a single attempt.

Both Kamara and Onomah had a hand in a combined 14 goals (seven goals, seven assists) last season with the Cottagers ultimately making it into the top-flight by getting the better of Brentford, 2-1 after extra time in the promotion-playoff final at Wembley.

Fulham will now face Everton – who saw off Fleetwood Town, in the fourth round of the EFL Cup. Before that, they will be hoping to bag their first Premier League win when they tackle Aston Villa at Craven Cottage next Monday.

Manchester City maestro Kevin De Bruyne has again been named the best central midfielder in the FIFA video game series.

Ahead of FIFA 21's release on October 9, the 2019-20 PFA Player of the Year retained his overall rating of 91 after a superb season for City in which he gathered an incredible 20 assists and 13 goals in the Premier League.

After being the anchor for Real Madrid's run to the La Liga title, Brazil international Casemiro is the game's second best central midfielder after having his rating elevated from 87 to 89.

Following a position change from RB to CDM, Bayern's Champions League winner Joshua Kimmich heads a list three midfielders in equal third position with an overall score of 88, alongside N'Golo Kante and Toni Kroos.

Chelsea's Kante dropped one point from 89 to 88 after a relatively uneventful season for the Blues, while Kroos holds his 88 rating from FIFA 20.

Four midfielders are tied on 87 overall, with Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes getting a two-point increase after his stunning impact in the Premier League, while Liverpool's Brazilian Fabinho, Real Madrid star Luka Modric and Barcelona veteran Sergio Busquets are alongside the Portugal international.

Other players to make the top 20 list include Bayern legend Thomas Muller, Red Devils linchpin Paul Pogba, Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson and their new signing Thiago, while veteran David Silva features despite a move to Real Sociedad.

Full-backs are well and truly back in fashion these days with a versatile defender capable of bringing plenty to a side looking to attack from the back. 

Ahead of FIFA 21's release, EA Sports has revealed the game's best full-backs with Liverpool duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson taking top honours. 

Both are rated at 87 overall with Alexander-Arnold boasting a pass rating of 87 and Robertson a pace rating of 83. The Scottish international is deemed to be slightly better in defence, but his England team-mate is far sharper in attack. 

Real Madrid right-back Daniel Carvajal and Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba aren't far behind the Reds pair with overall ratings of 86 - Alba's 88-rated pace and 83-rated dribbling making him a real weapon going forward. 

Manchester City Kyle Walker rounds out the top five with an overall rating of 85 with his only real weakness being a shooting rating of 63. 

Interestingly, no full-back currently playing in the Bundesliga has made the top 20, while eight Premier League representatives have made the cut. 

Portugal based duo Alex Telles and Marcos Acuna loom as shrewd pick-ups in FIFA 21 with their lower profiles set to keep their prices a bit lower than the rest when it comes to Ultimate Team. 

AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Medical Committee Chairman, Dr Dato Gurucharan Singh, has stated that it would be best for Anwar Ali to refrain from participating in competitive sports due to his ‘congenital heart condition’, Goal has learnt.  

He was found to be suffering from left apical ventricular hypertrophy which constituted a significant health risk for the player, as per numerous reports.

In a report submitted to the AIFF (All India Football Federation), Dato Gurucharan Singh has mentioned four key messages which substantiate that playing football professionally constitutes a health risk for the youngster who had represented India at the 2017 U17 World Cup. 

The report highlighted the following factors:

1. Inherited cardiomyopathies are recognised leading causes of sports-related cardiac arrest in young competitive athletes and for this reason both European and American recommendations for sports eligibility agree that athletes with cardiomyopathy should be restricted from competitive sports activity.

2. Carriers of desmosomal gene mutation with no signs of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy should also be disqualified from competitive sports activity because intense physical exercise promotes the development and progression of the disease phenotype.

3. There is growing evidence that patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator may practice sports safely. However, it must be emphasised that participation in competitive sports at high cardiovascular demands may promote disease progression.

4. Patients with cardiomyopathy and mild phenotypic expression at low risk of sudden death may practice moderate-intensity recreational exercise. Patients should be educated to avoid peak exertion and recognise warning symptoms.   

It has been amply made clear that participating in professional football will be detrimental for the young defender and it could possibly aggravate his illness.

However, he can continue playing football in leisure where exertion will be far less. Singh writes, "However, many affected athletes aspire to continue practising leisure-time sports activities or at least maintain a physically active lifestyle despite their non-eligibility to engage in competitive sports."

He also mentions that competitive sports activity is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiovascular death (SCD) in adolescents and young adults with clinically silent cardiovascular disorders. 

Inherited cardiomyopathies are recognised leading causes of sports-related cardiac arrest in young competitive athletes, with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) accounting for one-third of fatal cases in the USA and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy for approximately one-fourth in Italy.  

Pre Competition Medical Assessment (PCMA) may allow the identification of asymptomatic athletes who have potentially lethal cardiomyopathies and protect them from the risk of sudden cardiovascular death (SCD) through restriction from competitive sports. 

It is an unfortunate turn of events for the talented youngster who was earmarked as one to watch out for. After impressing for Indian Arrows in the 2018-19 season, Ali was roped in by Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Mumbai City FC who first identified his health risk.

He was advised not to play by experts in Mumbai, following which the club and India head coach Igor Stimac helped him to fly to France for expert opinion and treatment.

In 2019, the Minerva Punjab academy graduate travelled to France to be examined by Dr Francois Carre, chief of the medical department of sports medicine at the University Hospital of Rennes, who opined that the “practice of a competitive sport in competition presented an excessively high risk of a serious cardiac accident." 

19-year-old Phrangki Buam is one of the up and coming youngsters who has joined FC Goa ahead of the 2020-21 season. And we might see the Megahalya-born in action in the Gaurs' first team this time around.

Buam is ready to fight for a place in FC Goa's first team which would be playing in the Indian Super League (ISL) and the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Champions League this season.

"I chose FC Goa without regret. They play good football and for me, the best place is FC Goa," he remarked while promising to do his best to impress first team coach Juan Ferrando.

"First of all, I will try my best to get a place in the first team. Even if I get to play the Goa Pro League, it is not a problem for me. I just want playing time," the youngster added.

Phrangki caught the attention of scouts in 2012, as a 12-year-old, when he turned up for the U-14 trials organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Shillong. He was selected and spent three years at SAI after which he joined Royal Wahingdoh's U-15 set-up. After two years with them, he joined Shillong Lajong in 2017. 

Having won the 2018 U-18 Youth League (now Elite League) with an individual contribution of seven goals from 11 games, the Meghalayan lad claimed that he was overwhelmed with the opportunity to be a part of Lajong's all-Indian squad in the 2018-19 I-League where he played all 20 games and scored six times.

"I couldn't believe at that time, that from this year (2018) itself I get to play in the I-League at such a young age (17). For a young side without experience, it was very difficult for us to play against all the top teams like Real Kashmir, Chennai [City FC], East Bengal and all. 

"I was very sad when we knew that we were getting relegated. I could not sleep properly but I told myself that I have to keep working hard and give my best to get a chance to play at another I-League or ISL club," he stated.

In the same year, Phrangki represented Shillong College in the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) football tournament and bagged a hat-trick in each of the four games (including a double hat-trick in one) to win both - the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball - awards and help his team clinch the RFYS Shillong City Championship.

Subsequently, in the RFYS National Championship held in Mumbai, he added another six goals from five games, although his side finished runners-up.

He was also the top scorer in the Shillong Premier League (10) and the Meghalaya State League (14) when he helped Lajong win both titles in 2019. 

Before joining FC Goa, the attacking midfielder had a loan stint with FC Bengaluru United in the 2019-20 I-League second division where he recorded three goals to his name from eight games.

"FC Goa have always been my first choice. I have been a fan of the club since the very beginning of the ISL," he revealed. "I like their philosophy, the playing style and fans. I always had in mind that I will keep giving my best and one day play for FC Goa. So it's like a dream come true for me.

"It will be very difficult for me to get a place in the first XI. I will try to give my best and show the coach that I can play in the first 11 also."

Buam had three felicitations to attend on Wednesday - each of which organised by Amlarem Sub Division Sports Association, BDO (Block Development Officer) and Thangbuli Youth Social Welfare Club - in honour of his recent acheivements besides him becoming the first from his region to ply his trade in the ISL.

The player from Jaintia Hills professed his aspirations of making it to the Indian national team and that of playing abroad - all for which he needs to first break into the first team of FC Goa.

"First thing now is that I have to find a place in the [FC Goa] first team and if I improve, the national team (coach) will also take notice. It's my aim to play for the Indian national team and also for a team in Europe or anywhere abroad," he spelled out.

Atletico Madrid rejected a £78 million (€85m/$99m) offer from Manchester City for defender Jose Gimenez, the La Liga club's president Enrique Cerezo confirmed.

Gimenez, 25, has been linked with a move to City and AS reported earlier this month that Atletico had turned down a big-money offer from the Premier League club.

Cerezo confirmed the La Liga giants had received the offer from City, but wanted to keep the defender – who tested positive for coronavirus on Monday – at the Wanda Metropolitano.

"We did receive the offer," he told El Transistor. "But Gimenez is a magnificent player and we are interested in having magnificent players in the team."

Gimenez joined Atletico Madrid in 2013 from Uruguayan club Danubio and has gone on to become a first-team regular under Diego Simeone. 

South American football expert Tim Vickery recently expressed his belief that Gimenez could prove to be a shrewd albeit expensive buy for Pep Guardiola's side.

"Gimenez is one of the best young centre-backs around. He is a baby-faced assassin. Only 25, and he looks younger, but he has already played two World Cups and he is as hard as nails and he can play as well," Vickery told Sky Sports.

"He has perhaps never operated in a team that is as attack-minded as Man City. Both with Atletico Madrid and Uruguay he is with more reactive teams so this would be a challenge for him but there aren't many better young centre-backs around in the world.

"I think it would be a costly piece of business for Man City, but a very good one."

After finishing third in La Liga last season, Atletico – who have agreed a deal to sign Barcelona star Luis Suarez – begin their new campaign at home to Granada on Sunday.

While the season is set to begin behind closed doors amid the coronavirus pandemic, Cerezo is hopeful fans will be back sooner rather than later.

"We are hopeful that the public will be able to return to the stadiums before the end of the season," he said.

"It is a difficult issue to control, but I think with the controls we have and with the good behaviour of the world of football, we will be able to continue this campaign well."

Burger King's decision to become the front-of-shirt sponsor for League Two side Stevenage in 2018 has paid off after their bold plan to go virtually viral succeeded beyond all expectations. 

Despite the club languishing at the bottom of the professional pyramid in England, Stevenage do make the cut in each edition of the video game FIFA. 

That's where Burger King saw their chance for some unlikely exposure as they got their logo on Stevenage's jersey to ensure it also appeared in the EA Sports game. 

From there, they created The Stevenage Challenge that encouraged gamers to play with the club, sign big-name players and share any success on social media. 

To date, it's safe to say the marketing ploy has worked a treat with over 25,000 goals scored by Stevenage posted online and the team quickly becoming the most used in FIFA's career mode.

The likes of Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah have all also been signed by players taking part in The Stevenage Challenge, meaning Burger King have somehow ended up on the virtual shirts worn by football's biggest stars. 

“You haven’t heard of Stevenage Football Club, right? Well, neither had we but we realised that even though they’re at the bottom of England’s fourth division, they were going to be appear in the same video game that all the expensive players were going to be in. And that’s when, almost two years ago, we decided to sponsor Stevenage," a Burger King spokesperson said on a video posted on Twitter.  

"Because if we put our logo on their real shirt we would definitely have our logo in the game. Introducing The Stevenage Challenge.

"Gamers around the world immediately started Stevenage. Signing the best players to our team and playing with them. For every goal they shared on Twitter we gave them rewards.

"The news took the gaming community by storm. Just like that our small team in real life turned into the biggest team online.”

According to Burger King, Stevenage's jerseys sold out for the first time in their history as a result of the ingenious marketing ploy. 

The club are lucky to still be in League Two after finishing 23rd out of 24 teams last season and only avoided relegation after Bury's expulsion from League One meant just bottom-side Macclesfield Town dropped down to the National League. 

Stevenage have begun the new season with one win and one draw from their first two league games and continue to have the Burger King logo on the front of their shirts. 

Frank Lampard has praised summer signing Thiago Silva after a "perfect" Chelsea debut for the former Paris Saint-Germain star.

After sitting out the first two games of the Premier League season, Silva started and played the first 60 minutes of the Blues' 6-0 Carabao Cup victory over Barnsley.

The Brazilian is still working his way to full fitness, having been given time off after helping PSG reach the Champions League final just last month.

He featured into the second half on Wednesday before being replaced by Kurt Zouma, and his new manager was left impressed by everything he saw from the longtime defensive star.

"Yes, it is exciting for us because he has had just over a week training with us. It was a perfect 60 minutes for him tonight," Lampard said. 

"He will show the qualities he has. Of course, he will get fitter and better. He also gave us something for me on the night in the dressing room and on the pitch of a leader with authority in terms of his demands on others.

"He can’t speak the language but, at the minute. that’s not even a problem because his presence and the way he commands people around him is already showing that to me in training and in our game tonight.

"Yes, I am very very pleased with Thiago. It is what I expected of a player of his level but it is very refreshing to have him here at the club."

Silva moved to Chelsea on a free transfer this summer, having seen his eight-year stay in France come to an end with a 1-0 loss to Bayern in the Champions League final in Lisbon

Although his PSG career ended on a low with that defeat, Silva made 315 appearances for the club, helping lead them to seven Ligue 1 titles in those eight seasons.

In total, Silva won 23 trophies with PSG, with Lampard hoping that Silva's trophy-winning pedigree proves a major asset to a younger Chelsea squad.

Having already beaten Brighton before losing to Liverpool, the Blues are next set to take on West Brom in the club's third game of the Premier League campaign.

Jose Mourinho will name a strong Tottenham team at Shkendija on Thursday, rather than calling on the players who were set to face Leyton Orient.

The compact nature of the new season has provided Spurs with a frantic fixture list, with three matches scheduled for this week.

However, Tuesday's Carabao Cup meeting with Orient was called off after the League Two club announced a number of positive coronavirus tests in their first team.

Mourinho had previously professed his frustration at the Carabao Cup schedule and also bemoaned a "world of contradictions" after West Ham played Hull City despite their own Covid-19 cases.

"In relation to the EFL Cup, my initial feeling was when people don't respect us, why should we respect the competition?" he said.

"But in the end, it is a competition where I have a history, Tottenham have a history. It is the last trophy that Tottenham won. It is another competition where we think we have the same rights as others to try to compete.

"In relation to testing and Covid and all this situation, there are so many contradictions that I don't want to go into, this world of contradictions.

"I see so many contradictions, the way different countries react to it, the way football authorities in different countries react to it. There are so many contradictions that, honestly, I just do what I'm told to do. I don't want to get into that."

That development gave Tottenham an unexpected night off on Tuesday ahead of the trip to North Macedonia for their Europa League third qualifying round match.

Mourinho will not simply send out the same side that had prepared for Orient, however, explaining the gap between Sunday's win at Southampton and this fixture was far more manageable for his big names.

Indeed, having required a late turnaround against nine men to beat Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the previous round, the coach is wary of taking Shkendija lightly.

"The team that was supposed to play last night is different than the team that plays tomorrow," Mourinho said.

"The main reason is we played Sunday against Southampton and one thing is Sunday-Tuesday, another thing is Sunday-Thursday.

"It is a normal situation for a football player of this level to play on Sunday and have three days rest and play again Thursday. That's normal.

"It's not normal to play Sunday and then Tuesday, so obviously the teams are going to be different. The main reason is the health and conditions to perform.

"Is the Europa League a competition that we want very, very much to go to the group phase? Yes, it is.

"I think from my experience, and even you without experience in this chair, as a journalist, you can perfectly feel it's much more difficult this knockout than the group phase of four teams and six matches.

"The six matches give us a little space for a mistake - for example, at [Manchester] United, we lost two matches in the group phase, we won four and we progressed - so we cannot take many risks with these matches.

"Even playing with a very strong team like we did in Bulgaria, we were 15 minutes away from a defeat and being knocked out."

Alex Iwobi is hoping to give Everton manager ‘a migraine’ as he seeks regular playing time at the club this season.

The Nigeria international started his first game of the season on Wednesday as the Toffees cruised to a 5-2 win over Fleetwood Town in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Iwobi played the entire of duration with a contribution of a goal and an assist to his name.

After the encounter at Highbury Stadium, the 24-year-old assessed Everton's overall performance as he targets more opportunities in Carlo Ancelotti's team this term.

"Our performance tonight showed the confidence and the quality we have," Iwobi told Sky Sports.

"We've got strength in depth and were able to rotate the team and get a performance today so it shows we have a good team for the season.

"It was good experience for me to get 90 minutes under my belt as I'm trying to get fit for all competitions so it was good for the manager to give me the opportunity today.

"Everyone wants to play so hopefully I can give the manager a migraine and get involved as much as I can."

Everton have a date with West Ham United in the fourth round of the competition next week and Iwobi disclosed the Toffees are aiming to win their first silverware since 1995.

"Fleetwood changed their formation second half and were more attacking, they're a good team as they showed by getting two goals against us but we were able to withstand that and we pleased to be going to the next round,” he added.

"We're targeting every competition every season, if you're in it you have to try and win it so hopefully we can beat West Ham as well."

Chelsea midfielder Kai Havertz has said he is hungry to score even more after netting a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup against Barnsley.

The German star scored his first three goals for his new club in his third game, as Chelsea destroyed their Championship opponents 6-0 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. 

After Tammy Abraham opened the scoring in the 19th minute, Havertz found the net in the 28th minute before adding another two goals in the second half. Ross Barkley and Olivier Giroud also scored in the rout.

It was a stellar display from Havertz, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen in the off-season for an initial £62 million ($79m) fee.

The 21-year-old hadn't fully shown his potential in his first two Chelsea appearances, but that all changed against the Championship side at Stamford Bridge. 

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Havertz expressed his happiness at his performance but underlined his hunger to continue finding the back of the net with the Blues.

"I’m very happy to score three goals but of course it’s my beginning here at the club and I want to score more goals, more goals," the Germany international said. 

"This is my goal and I'll try to do my best and I'm very happy to score three goals today and I hope to continue like that."

Havertz linked up especially well with Tammy Abraham on the night, with the German serving as the No.10 behind Abraham at the striker position.

Abraham's dummy led to Havertz's first goal before the England striker assisted the 21-year-old's final two goals on the night. 

"I think he’s a very very good striker and I think our partnership on the pitch was very good," Havertz said of Abraham.

"It was our first game together but I like him very much as a striker. For me as a No.10, it’s very good to play with him."

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard admitted after the match that he nearly took Havertz off right before he completed his hat-trick.

"No, I didn't know," Havertz replied when asked if he was aware of his manager's plans. "Perfect!"

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Ljinders has praised Fabinho for his positional sacrifice in the team's 2-0 win over Chelsea in the Premier League last weekend.

The Brazilian starred in an unfamilar centre-half role at Stamford Bridge and could be set to fill in again at the back during Carabao Cup third-round game against Lincoln City, with Joe Gomez and Joel Matip still injured.

Ljinders spoke highly of Fabinho's willingness to play anywhere to help the team and lauded the 26-year-old for his performance as the Reds kept their first clean sheet in eight games during the victory against the Blues.

"It shows his character that he is always ready to help the team. Playing at centre-back, he sacrificed himself," Ljinders said.

"If you saw the difference between the Leeds game and the Chelsea game, the last game is a big compliment to our last line. The way we defended with the last line, their behaviour and braveness how we always controlled the movements of Timo (Werner) going in behind and how we stopped counter-attacks.

"I always say avoiding goals takes 22 feet and two gloves. It's not just Fabinho stopping the counter-attacks, as a whole team we have to defend, but Fabinho was an easy choice to be man of the match! Jurgen [Klopp] likes players who can play in different positions.

"Do we want Joe Gomez and Joel Matip back? Yes please! But Fabinho can play a super game there as well, as long as we defend the last line as we did at Chelsea. Otherwise it would be much more difficult for him."

In the match against Chelsea, Fabinho made a game-high four interceptions and gained possession 12 times, while completing 86 of his 89 passes.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp felt the Brazil international was a strong contender for man-of-the-match with his performance.

"If Sadio wouldn't have scored two goals, I think Fab would be a proper contender for man of the match," the Liverpool manager told a news conference after the match. "I loved his performance, he played outstanding. He helped us a lot with the ball and in defending as well, so yes, a proper performance."

Mikel Arteta says his Arsenal side are evolving without Mesut Ozil.

The German playmaker has not played a singe minute for the Gunners since football returned after lockdown in June and hasn’t made any of Arteta’s squads for the opening three games of the new campaign.

Having started the season with two successive victories in the Premier League, Arsenal’s manager rang the changes for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup success at Leicester City - yet Ozil once again was left out.

When quizzed on the 31-year-old’s absence following the 2-0 win, Arteta said: “The team is evolving, you can see the level they are achieving. This is where we are at the moment. We want to evolve more and play better and compete better.

“You can see that the players we are changing, we are using, it's very difficult every week not just for Mesut but for some other players as well to make the squad. Every week we try to pick the right players.

“It's difficult for others as well that aren't involved in the Premier League and didn't play tonight either. We have a squad of 26, 27 players at the moment and we can't give playing time to all of them.

“I understand and I respect your questions but I have to try to do my job as fair as possible. I try to select the players that are, in my opinion, in better condition.”

Another player who did not feature in the win against Leicester on Wednesday night was Lucas Torreira. Like Ozil, the Uruguay international has yet to play this season and is believed to be on the verge of leaving the club, with both Atletico Madrid and Torino interested in signing him.

There have been suggestions that a loan deal with Atletico is close to being agreed, one that would include an option to buy at the end of the season. Arteta was insistent, however, that Torreira was not left in London due to any ongoing transfer talks.

“I’m not making decisions because players might leave or stay,” said the Gunners boss. “It's just for the players that we see every day in the best possible condition to compete and win football matches.”

When asked whether Torreira was close to moving to Spain, Arteta added: “I cannot discuss any internal matters.”

Frank Lampard thinks that Wednesday was the first of many great nights for Kai Havertz in a Chelsea shirt, after the club's summer signing provided a standout performance in the Carabao Cup.

Chelsea cruised past Barnsley at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, with Havertz firing a hat-trick in the 6-0 win over Championship side.

Havertz was joined on the scoresheet by Tammy Abraham, Ross Barkley and Olivier Giroud as Chelsea ran rampant in a match that saw summer additions Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva make their debuts.

Following an opener from Abraham, Havertz fired three of Chelsea's next four goals with Barkley's 49th-minute finish sandwiched in between the first and second. 

Havertz's goals were his first in a Chelsea shirt, having struggled in his first two games after the club completed his £70 million ($91m) move from Bayer Leverkusen.

Lampard admitted that he nearly took Havertz off just before he completed his hat-trick, although the Chelsea boss admits he is glad he didn't.

"Perfect game for Kai today because he came here without hardly any training," Lampard told his post-match press conference. "We had to throw him in because we had injuries in attacking areas.

"Tonight was a great progression, for him to play this game. His work rate, he helps Ross Barkley score his goal, his tackle in midfield in a high area and he gets his three goals in good quality. There's only going to be more of that.

"I predicted it. I wanted to protect him at that point. The idea with Kai tonight was to give him a training session. To not disrespect the game, but for him personally, to see how we play, to work with his teammates, get on the pitch, see how we want to press, be part of that.

"When we have the ball, there's much more of an element of freedom for a player of his quality. He did everything we wanted from him tonight."

He added: "It was a great exercise for him, another game to see how we want to work off the ball, but also have freedom on the ball and combinations with Tammy [Abraham]. It's the first of many great nights for him."

Next up for Chelsea will be a trip to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday before the Blues return home to face Crystal Palace in their fourth Premier League match of the season.