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Ruben Dias is a “special” talent and boasts the leadership skills to fill a Vincent Kompany-shaped void at Manchester City, claims the 23-year-old’s former youth coach.

Pep Guardiola is yet to find suitable cover for a former talisman at the Etihad Stadium who headed back to Belgium in the summer of 2019.

Kompany had endured injury struggles during his time in Manchester, but he was a commanding presence when fit and a captain who always led by example.

Various options have been tried in an effort to plug a sizeable gap in the Blues’ defensive unit, but few have convinced.

That has forced Guardiola back into the transfer market and towards Benfica star Dias.

A £62 million ($79m) deal for the promising centre-half has been put in place, with Joao Tralhao backing a player he worked with in the academy system at Estadio da Luz to thrive in England.

He told Sky Sports of Dias: “He was my captain but he was not only my captain, he was the captain of every age group that he played because his profile is that of the natural leader.

“He likes to lead. He knows how to lead. He knows how to be the coach's voice on the pitch and in the dressing room. He knows everything about leadership.

“You will see that at City once he is adapted. He will lead everything. I mean that in a good way. He will be the coach's voice. A player who can help the team do their tasks correctly.

“He will not just be a shouting leader, showing it with that behaviour, pushing players by saying, 'Come on, come on'. As well as that, he will be the one who actually leads the tasks. Telling them how they should organise in terms of the coach's idea. He can do both.

“He is a very complete player in terms of his defensive approach. He can play with the defensive line high and space in behind him, but if you ask him to play with a low block he can do that as well.

“He is good on the ball, knowing when he can make the pass, so he will be able to adapt very quickly to the manager's ideas in terms of the build-up too.”

City are looking for another option that can offer inspiration on and off the ball, with Tralhao confident that Dias will tick those boxes.

He added: “It is not easy for him to leave Benfica because he has been there so long. He arrived so young and now he is leaving.

“But, on the other hand, going to a club like Manchester City, playing in the Premier League for one of the most important clubs in the world, is a challenge and he is excited for that.

“All the memories I have are positive. He is an example, a role model for every young player because of what he does on the pitch, in training sessions, and how he lives off the pitch.

“From the moment that he arrived at the academy I knew that he was going to do very well. You could see it when he was young. But it was only when I started working closely with him at U18 level that I really knew he was going to the top.

“It was not his talent. It was his capacity to work. His focus. His mentality that he had in every session, every day. His ability to compete is amazing. He is special.”

Mamelodi Sundowns attacking midfielder Themba Zwane has been crowned the 2019-20 Footballer of the Season by the South African Football Journalists' Association (Safja). 

The 31-year-old beat teammate Hlompho Kekana, Kaizer Chiefs duo of Samir Nurkovic and Lebogang Manyama, and former Highlands Park striker Peter Shalulile to the accolade. 

He was handed his award on Tuesday afternoon, a few days after a list of nominees was made public by Safja 

Zwane was instrumental in helping the Brazilians win a domestic treble this past season. 

His incredible consistency coupled with the number of goals and assists recorded made him the strong favourite to beat his rivals to the award. 

The Tembisa-born attacker finished as the club's top goalscorer with 14 goals across all competitions. 

He scored the 14 goals in 41 appearances for the Tshwane giants while also adding a whopping 12 assists to his name. 

This award may pave the way for Zwane to be crowned the league's Footballer of the Year. 

His teammate Kekana was also a strong contender after an impressive campaign he had despite him being one of the oldest players in the league. 

The 35-year-old contributed four goals and five assists in the 44 matches for Pitso Mosimane's side - and those goals and assists were crucial in Sundowns catching up and overtaking Amakhosi in the title race. 

On the other hand, the contribution made by both Nurkovic and Manyama toward turning Amakhosi into strong title contenders could not be overlooked. 

Manyama was directly involved in 17 goals for the Glamour Boys - seven goals and 10 assists. 

Nurkovic, on the other hand, did the most in front of goal, scoring 14 goals and subsequently finishing as the club's top goalscorer while he also recorded six assists. 

And lastly, Shalulile misses out on the award despite finishing the as the league's joint-top goalscorer with 16 strikes alongside Orlando Pirates forward Gabadinho Mhango. 

The Namibia international has since joined Sundowns and will link up with both Zwane and Kekana. 

Chippa United coach Lehlohonolo Seema has denied reports that Orlando Pirates midfielder Austin Muwowo is on his way to the Eastern Cape side, but is not ruling out the possibility of signing the player.

Muwowo’s debut Premier Soccer League (PSL) season was limited to just two league appearances after joining Pirates from Nkana FC at the beginning of last term.

The arrival of two midfielders in Terrence Dzvukamanja and Collins Makgaka could leave the Zambia international with no place at the Soweto giants.

Also, the possible return from loanees who were enjoying some game time elsewhere could see Muwowo being loaned-out somewhere else or released.

“Who is Muwowo? I will leave everything to the chairman [the possibility of signing Muwowo] to reveal things at the right time. But the only thing I can tell you is that maybe you will hear that there will be some names that are coming from Orlando Pirates, I am not sure at the moment,” Seema told Marawa Sports Worldwide on Metro FM.

Last season, Chippa had three players - Tercious Malepe, Diamond Thopola and Meshack Maphangulke - on loan from Pirates and they have since been released to return to the Soweto giants.

Seema, who joined the Chilli Boys in July, says he is bringing in a new way of conducting transfer business by not signing a lot of players on loan from other clubs as was the case when he arrived in Port Elizabeth.

“There is a nice relationship between Orlando Pirates and Chippa United. They have been working together for a long time but having said that, I spoke to the chairman [Siviwe Mpengesi] and said when we are building our team we must also try not to get a lot of loaned players so that we can try and create a team that will sustain us for long,” said Seema.

“And then whenever that is possible I can take one or two loan players. It is a fact that whenever you have a hot property and for you to balance your books you need to have one of your own.

“But if you are playing with a lot of loaned players and then they become hot properties, come the end of the season they are leaving you and then you have to start afresh. That is something I cannot write off [signing loanees] but one thing I can tell you is that they won’t be as many as before.

“We are still looking at about two or three players but I cannot confirm where they are coming from but I cannot come and stop what has been happening before but the only thing that I can reduce as the chairman agreed is having a lot of loaned players.”

After releasing 15 players, Chippa United have signed Cameroonian striker Bienvenu Eva Nga, formerly of Bidvest Wits and Namibian left-back Riaan Hanamub on a three-year deal from Jomo Cosmos.

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.

Former AC Milan midfielder Federico Giunti believes Franck Kessie has become a great reference point for the Rossoneri following their impressive start to the season.

The Italian fashion capital outfit were 2-0 winners at newly-promoted Crotone on Sunday, with Kessie scoring from the penalty spot and Real Madrid loanee Brahim Diaz getting the other.

It was their second win after an opening day victory against Bologna which had veteran Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic netting a brace.

It continues Milan’s unbeaten league run which now stretches to 14 games (W11 D3), having not lost any match since the Serie A restart in June, effectively making them the most in-form team in the Italian top-flight.

Kessie has been a vital part of that success in his partnership with Algeria international Ismael Bennacer in a midfield double pivot. Giunti is very much impressed at how the Ivorian has grown since he joined the club from Atalanta, first on loan and then permanently.

"He is a player who has become a great reference point for the team. He has made exponential growth since he arrived. Giunti told Milan TV.

“We need players like Franck and he is making a difference as well as Bennacer. Kessie came from. a team with less pressure than Milan and needed time to manage expectations. The performances have grown a lot.”

Kessie has been labelled “The President” for his involvement both on and off the pitch and had coach Stefano Pioli to thank for the transformation that has occurred in the team.

“Why do they call me ‘The President’? Because I’m the president of the team, the head of the locker room,” he said.

“I have to thank Pioli, because he managed to give all this to the team. Now mentally we are fine and on the pitch it shows, everyone is fighting for every ball and this is what gives you the victory in every match.

“We must continue on this path and we must work without mounting our heads and with this right spirit until the end.”

Milan will take on Rio Ave in the final round of the Europa League qualifiers on Thursday before tackling newly-promoted Spezia on Sunday.

Kessie will then turn his attention to the international break where Ivory Coast play Belgium and Japan in friendlies.

Hector Bellerin believes Arsenal need to suffer losses in order to learn, with the “new identity” being pieced together by Mikel Arteta not about to fall into place “overnight”.

The Gunners have been making positive progress under Arteta as FA Cup and Community Shield successes have been savoured, while two Premier League victories and a place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup have been secured in 2020-21.

Momentum was halted somewhat by a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool on Monday, showing how far the north London outfit still have to go, but Bellerin sees plenty of cause for optimism.

He told the Gunners’ official website after coming unstuck at Anfield: “I think we are working really, really well.

“I think when you build a new identity, a new way of playing football, it's not something that happens overnight. It's something that takes a lot of time, it takes losses, it takes wins, it takes a lot of learning.

“We've got new players that have come in this season and they need to get used to the system. So there's many things but I think we can say that the fight that we put out [against Liverpool], in that sense I'm very proud of the boys and we'll look forward to the next game playing here.

“We know we're working really, really well so we're not going to let this affect us.”

Arsenal will be back on Merseyside for their next outing on Thursday, when they face Liverpool again with a place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup up for grabs.

Bellerin could figure once more in that contest, with the Spain international right-back still easing his way back to full match sharpness on the back of a cruciate knee ligament injury suffered in 2019.

He added: “Yeah, I feel that coming back from my long-term injury was very difficult for me.

“I felt like once I was back, my knee felt okay but really my body in general wasn't in the same place as it was pre-injury and I felt during lockdown I had the chance to focus on myself and do the dirty work, as you'd say.

“I've come back from it way stronger, I kept working through the summer and now I feel like I'm back to how I felt two minutes before that injury.

“So, for me it feels good. But the most important thing is that the team is playing better and better every day and that's what makes me happy.”

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Joseph Makhanya is of the view that a player such as Meshack Maphangule still has a future at the club and deserves an opportunity under coach Josef Zinnbauer.

‘Duku Duku’ said the German manager also has to consider giving an opportunity to young midfielder Tercious Maelepe, who has age on his side, and who can add versatility in the squad.

Midfielders Maphangule, Malepe, and defender Diamond Thopola have been released by Chippa United as they were on loan from the Soweto giants, and the Soweto-born legend also shared his thoughts on the trio’s impact at Mayfair.

“I’ve seen Maphangule playing in the heart of the park. I think he can add value to Pirates. These players are quality,” Makhanya told Goal.

“I can’t just mention Maphangule for the midfield role at Pirates because we don’t know what are the plans of the coach.

"Thopola is one of the good defenders in the PSL and I also see him as a quality right-back. Unfortunately, there is quality in his position.

“Remember there is [Abel] Mabaso who is doing well for the club. We don’t know what the coach has planned for the new season in terms of releasing some players.

“Tercious has age on his side, he is versatile and I think he has a bright future in football. Between him and Maphangule, I think they should be given a chance at Pirates.”

Although the Soweto giants have the likes of Ben Motshwari, Xola Mlambo, and Nkanyiso Zungu all battling it out for a spot in the middle of the park, Makhanya explained why the former Ajax Cape Town player should be handed a fair chance. 

"Tercious is a good player, he has been doing well for Chippa and it’s really sad because not all the players will get a good chance at Pirates. The coach can only play eleven players but we will see," he added.

“It’s really sad for the current players, teams are getting sold and some contracts are not renewed, but we will see what will happen next season with these guys."

Meanwhile, media reports suggest that the former African champions have loaned out defender Justice Chabalala to Bloemfontein Celtic for the 2020/21 season.

On the other hand, Pirates will return to the continental competition as they have qualified for the Caf Confederation Cup after finishing third in the PSL last season and it remains to be seen if Zinnbauer will release and retain some of the players.

Andy Robertson claims Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah would have been “quite happy” with his composed finish against Arsenal, with the defender going from villain to hero in Liverpool’s latest outing.

A heavyweight Premier League fixture at Anfield proved to be an eventful one for Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice left-back.

The 26-year-old has been a model of consistency throughout his time on Merseyside, earning a reputation as one of the finest exponents of his position along the way.

He did, however, make an uncharacteristic error against the Gunners which allowed Alexandre Lacazette to open the scoring.

Rather than dwell on that mistake, Robertson set about helping Liverpool to offer the perfect response, with his fifth goal for the club turning the game on its head after Mane had restored parity.

The Scot took his chance like a seasoned striker, with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross from the right knocked out of his feet before clipping the ball over the onrushing Bernd Leno.

“I love scoring and I love assisting but, first and foremost, I love defending,” Robertson told Liverpool’s official website on the back of a 3-1 win for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

“That’s why a part of me still won’t be happy because I know I caused the [Arsenal] goal. But the fact that we’re walking away with three points and I helped put the team in front and steered us to three points will probably help me sleep tonight.

“Of course, creating goals and scoring goals is something I like doing and something I want to do, so long may that continue. Hopefully I keep popping up in the right areas. I think I showed a bit of composure there – Mo or Sadio would have been quite happy with that!”

Robertson says he will learn from the lapse in concentration that saw him tee up Lacazette with a sloppy first touch, with defending Premier League champions Liverpool looking strong again as a collective.

He added: “I don’t think there were many negatives from the game. Our defensive display was very good, our attacking was very good. The only thing we can maybe say is we maybe could have taken a couple more of the chances.

“Of course, the goal could have been avoided – it was definitely the worst assist I’ve ever given! One I wasn’t happy about.

“Look, these mistakes happen unfortunately; 99 times out of 100 I clear that and the danger is cleared, but unfortunately that was the one time.

“Luckily, since I’ve came here, I’ve not made many mistakes. But unfortunately that was one and when you make a mistake like that, you always want the team to win and you to try to contribute in different ways.

“Luckily, I popped up at the other end and I didn’t let that get to me. So, I’m pleased about that. And hopefully the next time that ball comes in I’ll clear it 60 yards the other way.”

Segunda Division B side Deportivo La Coruna has announced the permanent signing of Uche Agbo from Belgian First Division A club Standard Liege.

The centre-forward put pen to paper on a four-year deal with the Spanish third-tier club after successful medicals.

The 24-year-old spent the second half of the 2019-20 season with the side and featured in nine league games but his efforts were not enough to help Fernando Vazquez’s men avoid relegation after finishing 19th on the table.

Swayed by his performances during his short stint with the club, the Blues and Whites have decided to secure the forward permanently.

“Uche Henry Agbo will continue in the ranks of the Real Club Deportivo,” read a statement from the club website.

“The Nigerian midfielder, who played for Depor in the second half of last season on loan from Standard Liege, has signed a contract for the next four seasons.”

Agbo joined Standard Liege in the summer of 2017 and featured in 45 league games for the Stade Maurice Dufrasne outfit.

During his four-year stay with Liege, he had loan spells with Rayo Vallecano, Braga and Deportivo La Coruna.

Agbo played for FC Taraba, JUTH and Enyimba in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) before moving to Europe to continue his development.

The midfielder teamed up with Italian side Udinese in 2013 and spent three years there before signing for Watford in 2016.

Agbo will hope to impress with Deportivo La Coruna and help them return to the Spanish second tier at the end of the 2020-21 season.

The midfielder could make his debut for the Abanca-Riazor outfit when they square off against Salamanca UDS on October 17.

The 24-year-old featured for Nigeria U20 before making his senior debut against Togo in a friendly in June 2017.

Mwinyi Zahera has predicted Simba SC will not go far in the Caf Champions League.

Zahera, who is currently the technical director of promoted side Gwambina FC and also handled Simba's rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC), was speaking after their weekend Mainland Premier League match.

During the match, Simba hammered Gwambina 3-0 with goals from striker Meddie Kagere, defender Pascal Wawa, and substitute Chris Mugalu which were enough to give them their second successive victory in the unfolding league, and are now looking settled in comparison with the two opening matches they played.

However, the Congolese coach believes the style of play Simba is exhibiting will work against them in the Champions League unless they change it quickly before the competition kicks off.

“I have watched Simba playing, they are playing well and they want to use passes, and if you look at how they played against our team [Gwambina], we managed to go with them tore to tore despite us losing in the fixture,” Zahera is quoted by Sokaletu.

“Simba have a lot of work to do to impress in the Caf competition especially because of the kind of football they are playing, when playing in Champions League, they will not be facing teams they are playing here in Tanzania but will meet teams such as Tout Puissant Mazembe, and they will attack you from all angles, they don’t know about passing and will also apply force.

“If this is how Simba will play in Champions League, then they will have tough times, they will have difficulties to reach far in the competition, they need to improve on many things and make sure they also apply force all the time so that they can win matches.”

In a different interview, Simba coach Sven Vandenbroexk lauded his strikers for their good display during the last two matches and added it was working well for them ahead of the Champions League matches.

“It feels great that every Simba striker is now able to find the back of the net especially when he gets a chance to do so,” Vandenbroeck told the club’s official website.

“We are now heading to the Caf Champions League and when I see my strikers in good form, it makes me very happy, it shows that we are ready to compete in the competition.”

Simba will carry the country’s flag in the competition for the third season in a row while Namungo FC will go for the Confederation Cup.

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.

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!"

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.