Roberto De Zerbi praised Jurgen Klopp after the Liverpool manager intervened to try and calm him as he protested against a refereeing decision during the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Brighton at the Amex Stadium.

The Italian was shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor for remonstrating with the fourth official when his team were denied a penalty for a possible handball against Virgil van Dijk.

The ball struck the defender on the leg and bounced up onto his arm, with the manager insistent his side should have been given a spot-kick as they sought a way back from 2-1 down.

Klopp went into Brighton’s technical area to try and sooth the situation, putting his arms around De Zerbi in what he described as “using his age” to try and assuage the situation.

De Zerbi, who saw his side come back to draw for the second time in three days after Thursday’s Europa League meeting with Marseille, said that whilst he felt his team were hard done by over the decision, he believed the foul by Trent Alexander-Arnold on Solly March from which Brighton later equalised through Lewis Dunk should not have been a free-kick.

“I love Klopp,” he said. “He can do what he wants because I have a big respect and I consider him one of the best coaches in the world. I like his behaviour, and when he says something, 99 per cent I agree with him.

“In that situation, I think there was a clear penalty and I told the referee, I think in a good way, what I thought in the moment.

“I think there was a penalty, but there wasn’t a foul when we scored the second goal. I’m honest, and I told Jurgen my opinion.”

Brighton are sixth going into the international break having won five of their first eight Premier League games.

De Zerbi has made an average of seven changes between matches this season as he seeks to navigate the demands made by a first season in Europe for the club.

Despite recording a fourth winless game in a row in all competitions the manager praised his players’ character, particularly in the context of bouncing back from the 6-1 defeat against Aston Villa to register two comeback draws.

“The most important thing for me has been the reaction after Villa Park,” he said. “We started the game in Marseille, one of the best stadiums in Europe, and we started losing 2-0. After that moment, there was only one team on the pitch – Brighton.

“To do it, you have to show character, to show the right attitude, the right behaviour and passion. The most important thing in my idea of football is passion, is the character.

“After that we can speak about tactical disposition, the quality of the players, recruitment. But without that part of football, in my opinion, you can’t play or work in football.”

Johan Lange has been appointed as Tottenham’s new technical director.

Lange has performed a similar role at Premier League rivals Aston Villa since the summer of 2020, but will begin work at Spurs from November 1.

The arrival of ex-Sevilla director of football Monchi at Villa Park in June changed the position of Lange, who will replace Fabio Paratici as Tottenham’s key figure in recruitment.

Spurs’ chief football officer Scott Munn said: “Johan has demonstrated an excellent track record of scouting and signing many talented and successful youth and senior players.

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“He is a welcome addition as we strengthen our football operations.”

Spurs have been searching for Paratici’s replacement since his resignation in April from his role as the club’s managing director of football.

Paratici was hit with a two-and-a-half-year ban from working in Italy in January as part of sanctions dished out after his former club Juventus were found guilty of false accounting, with his suspension extended worldwide by FIFA in March.

After leaving his Tottenham role following a failed appeal, it was confirmed that the Italian could work in football on a consultancy basis, which the PA news agency understands he has continued to do at Spurs in recent months.

The arrival of Lange on November 1 is the latest restructure by the club after Munn officially joined from the City Group last month, while Leonardo Gabbanini, previously chief scout, departed days later.

Lange will be responsible for Spurs’ recruitment and talent identification across both their senior and academy teams.

Tottenham have also shifted towards using analytics and data more during the past 12 months and Lange, who was previously assistant at Wolves, will play a key role in trying to improve the club’s work in that area.

The Dane began his coaching career at Copenhagen in 2008 before moving to England in 2012 to work with then Wolves boss Stale Solbakken.

He returned to Copenhagen in 2014 and took on the role of technical director, with Lange credited with overseeing a successful period at the Superliga outfit.

A move to Villa followed and Lange has been involved in the transfers of Emi Martinez, Matty Cash and Ollie Watkins during the past three years.

It has helped take Villa from relegation candidates to a Europa Conference League side under the management of Unai Emery.

Lange saw his role at the midlands club switch to global director of football development and international academies this summer.

“The club can confirm Johan is leaving his role and departs with the best wishes and gratitude of everyone here for his commitment and service during his time,” a Villa statement read.

Matthew Kitson will become Villa’s new director of global development, working alongside academy boss Mark Harrison and Monchi at Villa Park.

Bukayo Saka will miss England’s upcoming internationals with Australia and Italy, the Football Association has confirmed.

The Arsenal attacker was called up to Gareth Southgate’s squad on Thursday, despite concerns over his fitness after being substituted in recent matches at Bournemouth and Lens.

Saka subsequently sat out Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday with a hamstring issue and club boss Mikel Arteta said afterwards the 22-year-old would have to pull out of the England squad.

Saka met up with England’s medical staff at St George’s Park on Monday and it has now been confirmed he will return to Arsenal for further treatment.

“The forward reported to St George’s Park on Monday alongside the rest of the Three Lions’ squad,” an FA statement read.

“Having missed Arsenal’s Premier League win against Manchester City on Sunday through injury, Saka was assessed by the England medical team and it was decided the player would continue his rehabilitation at his club.

“No replacements are planned with Gareth Southgate having a squad of 25 players to work with.”

Southgate’s side host Australia in a friendly at Wembley on Friday night before they take on Italy in London next Tuesday.

Ben Davies has taken over the Wales captaincy hoping his club Tottenham’s rise to the top of the Premier League can benefit the Dragons’ Euro 2024 ambitions.

Davies replaces the injured Aaron Ramsey as skipper for Wednesday’s friendly with Gibraltar and the vital European Championship qualifier against Croatia in Cardiff on Sunday.

The long-serving Tottenham full-back has been used by new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou as a substitute so far this season but the 30-year-old says he has arrived for international duty in good spirits.

Davies said: “Players want to be in winning teams and right now I’m lucky enough that I’m in a squad where we are picking up good results and doing well.

“It’s about bringing that intensity and enthusiasm and the stuff that is working into the training camp this week.

“The Gibraltar game is important to us as a group that we get minutes together on the field.

“Hopefully we pick up another good result that gives us confidence going into the big game against Croatia.”

Cardiff midfielder Ramsey misses out this week with a knee tendon injury and is also set to be sidelined for the final Euro qualifiers against Armenia and Turkey next month.

It is a big setback for a Wales side who are also without Davies’ Tottenham team-mate Brennan Johnson through injury and in need of a positive result against Croatia to keep automatic hopes of qualification for next summer’s final in Germany alive.

“Aaron’s a great player and to be without him is definitely a blow,” said Davies.

“It gives the boys who have come in his absence before another chance to show what they can do and we’re excited for the games.

“We believe in the younger players we’ve got, the players coming through and those that have come through in the last few years.

“You can call it a transitional period, but I believe we’ve got players ready to go right now.”

On the captaincy, Davies – who has done the job previously, most recently in the goalless friendly with South Korea last month – added: “It’s something I’m incredibly proud to do.

“I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve done it before but it’s nice going into the games knowing the situation we’re in. I’m ready for it.

”I’ve been seen as one of the leaders in the group for a while now, so it doesn’t feel too different.

“I’ll just be myself, stick to the values I’ve got, and hopefully get the boys going for the games.”

The first meeting between Wales and Gibraltar at senior men’s level marks the return of the Dragons to Wrexham’s SToK Cae Ras.

The ground staged Wales’ first home game in 1877 and is often referred to as the spiritual home of Welsh football.

But Wales have only played there once since 2008 – a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago in March 2019.

Davies said: “It is something that has actually been playing on the boys’ minds for a while.

“We are very appreciative as a group of the efforts of the North Walian fans to come to Cardiff to watch games, especially in midweek and the late ones. We know it is a tough, long journey at times.

“But we are incredibly grateful to get the chance to come up north and play at Wrexham and in front of our loyal fans. We can’t wait to play in front of them.”

Scotland assistant coach John Carver admits getting another win over Spain would be all the sweeter given the “disrespectful” comments some of their opponents made in the wake of their Hampden defeat.

Carver was “agitated” by criticism from the likes of Manchester City midfielder Rodri after Scotland beat Spain 2-0 in March.

But the former Newcastle interim manager believes his players will not be distracted by the issue ahead of Thursday’s return fixture in Seville, in which Scotland can qualify for Euro 2024.

Spain captain Rodri claimed the way Scotland played was “rubbish” as he accused them of wasting time, provoking his team-mates and falling over, while debutant David Garcia argued the Hampden grass was too long.

Carver said: “I have got to be honest, I didn’t like it. I felt it was disrespectful. But it was their prerogative to say whatever they wanted to say. Whether they used that as an excuse, I don’t know.

“As far I was concerned, it agitated me and I’m sure it would have got to some of the players.

“But there’s a long time gone since then and it’s about being professional and having a clear head going into this game. So I don’t think it will be a distraction.

“Any win is sweet and you celebrate it for sure, but after what they said it would be nice to win.”

Spain have scored 16 goals in their subsequent three qualifiers and will be out to surpass Scotland’s 2-0 win to give themselves the best chance of topping the group.

Carver added: “I think they will be out to prove a point. A lot has changed since then, they had just brought in a new manager, they had changed quite a bit of the team.

“They are now more settled and have had a couple of great results and scored some goals.

“It’s a different type of game. They will have one eye on what happened at Hampden when we beat them, but they are professionals like we are and their minds will be on this game.”

Scotland have won all five of their Euro 2024 qualifiers and a point on Thursday would be enough to seal a place in next summer’s finals in Germany, while victory would secure top spot in the group.

Even defeat could lead to qualification if Norway fail to beat Cyprus at the same time, or fail to beat Spain three days later in Oslo.

Carver is just focused on getting as many points as possible rather than thinking about qualification.

“It would be great, but to be honest I am not even thinking about that,” he said. “We are in a great position, we still have three games left in this group. I want to get as many points as we can and keep this run going.

“You can say a point would be good enough, but I want to get nine points and, if not nine points, then seven points.

“That’s the attitude we have got to have because you know what it’s like going into tournaments – if you eventually get there you want to go into it with confidence.”

Carver confirmed manager Steve Clarke was still considering whether to switch to a back four following Kieran Tierney’s hamstring injury.

“We have had many, many hours of discussions on the telephone and continued that on Sunday,” he said. “It’s something we are definitely thinking about, but I am not going to give too much away.”

Scotland have lost Ryan Jack after the midfielder missed Rangers’ last two matches with injury, with nobody called up in his place.

Barcelona’s Jules Kounde faces an indefinite lay-off after his knee injury was diagnosed as medial collateral ligament damage, the club has said.

The France defender will miss his nation’s forthcoming fixtures against the Netherlands and Scotland and is the latest Barca player to be ruled out through injury.

The 24-year-old was forced out of Barca’s 2-2 LaLiga draw at Granada on Sunday night.

The Catalan club said on their official website: “Tests this Monday morning have revealed that Jules Kounde has sprained the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee, and the French defender will be unable to play until the injury heals.

“This also means he will miss out on playing for his country during the international break.”

Kounde has featured in all 11 of Barca’s matches this season, starting in every game bar one, and made his 50th appearance for the club in all competitions in last week’s Champions League win in Porto.

Barca boss Xavi is already without injured players Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.

Pep Guardiola lost back-to-back Premier League games for only the third time as Manchester City went down 1-0 to Arsenal on Sunday.

It has happened only six times in all competitions for City under Guardiola and here, the PA news agency looks at the Spaniard’s overall managerial record.

No points from six

Gabriel Martinelli’s winner for Arsenal followed Hwang Hee-chan’s for Wolves against City last weekend.

It was the first time City had taken no points from a pair of league games since losing to Crystal Palace and Leicester across Christmas 2018.

Luka Milivojevic’s penalty proved decisive for Palace before Kevin De Bruyne cut the final margin to 3-2, and Leicester then overcame Bernardo Silva’s Boxing Day opener to win 2-1 through Marc Albrighton and Ricardo Pereira.

The Foxes were also the team to inflict City’s second successive loss in December 2016, Jamie Vardy with a hat-trick as Claudio Ranieri’s side won 4-2. Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho were suspended after late red cards as City lost their previous game 3-1 to Chelsea.

Long run at an end

Before this weekend, City were out on their own in terms of time without back-to-back Premier League defeats.

Ten teams had suffered that fate this season – Burnley, Sheffield United and Bournemouth most recently, plus West Ham, Brentford, Luton, Manchester United, Wolves, Newcastle and Everton.

Eight more of the 20 current top-flight sides – Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Crystal Palace – lost back-to-back games earlier in 2023.

The one other exception, Brighton, last did so in October of last year – almost four years more recently than City, whose run since Boxing Day 2018 stood at 178 games.

City host Brighton in their next game after the international break.

Three in a row

Albion will be the team looking to inflict a first hat-trick of Premier League defeats on Guardiola, whose team are alone in losing no more than two in a row since his arrival in 2016.

Arsenal and Spurs are closest with their longest run being three defeats. Fulham had the longest losing run overall, nine games, with eight for Sheffield United and Palace.

Guardiola has twice lost three in a row across all competitions with City, first in April 2018 when a 3-2 league defeat to a Paul Pogba-inspired Manchester United was sandwiched between losses in both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool.

The other sequence spanned three competitions and two seasons – the 2021 Champions League final against Chelsea followed by the Community Shield against Leicester and the 2021-22 Premier League opener at Tottenham.

The recent Wolves loss came on the back of a Carabao Cup exit against Newcastle, while the December 2018 Premier League defeats were uninterrupted by any other competition.

The other pairs came in early 2020, to Manchester United in the League Cup and Tottenham in the league, and January of this year when Southampton knocked them out of the Carabao Cup – and denied them a shot at a quadruple – before the Red Devils beat them in the league.

Long-term pattern for Pep

Guardiola’s Barcelona side lost back-to-back LaLiga games only twice in four seasons, both in 2009 – first to Espanyol and Atletico Madrid, then Mallorca and Osasuna.

They also lost Champions League and league games consecutively twice, to Wisla Krakow and Numancia in his second and third games in charge in 2008 and to Chelsea and Real Madrid in April 2012.

With Bayern Munich in May 2015, he suffered consecutive defeats to Bayer Leverkusen and Augsburg domestically and Barca in the Champions League. They won the return leg of that tie but Freiburg then made it three straight league defeats.

His only other consecutive Bundesliga losses came in April 2014 against Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund.

Gabriel Martinelli says Arsenal’s inherent belief will only be boosted by beating champions Manchester City as Mikel Arteta’s men look to go one step further than last season.

The Gunners captured the imagination during a strong 2022-23 campaign, only to ultimately finish second as Pep Guardiola’s side scooped a third straight title in a storming end to the season.

Arsenal’s inability to take a point off them was key in them finishing second and Sunday saw them finally beat City in the league for the first time since 2015, building on their Community Shield shoot-out triumph against the treble winners.

The half-time introduction of Martinelli after three weeks out with a hamstring injury proved inspired, adding extra impetus to the attack before eventually hitting a late winner that deflected in off Nathan Ake to seal a 1-0 victory.

“We know how hard it is to play against them,” the Brazil international said. “It was a great performance from the team and a great win.

“Of course (it gives us more belief we can win this season’s title). We are Arsenal and we are always believing about the title.

“To win against a big side like them is great and we just need to carry on.

“A special day for me. I tried my best, really hard, to be back with the team and it was a great moment for me.

“It’s always good to win against the big teams and we did it today. I’m so happy.”

Arsenal remain unbeaten eight league matches into the season and are level in terms of points and goal difference with leaders Tottenham, with their bitter rivals only ahead on goals scored.

“When you play for Arsenal you have to always believe and this is what we do,” Martinelli said as they look to bring the Premier League title back to north London for the first time since 2004.

“We play for Arsenal and we always believe we can win the titles.

“It’s another year. We’re going to try to improve things and try to do better than last year.

“Yeah, I think (there is more depth). We have a great team and it’s important to have a lot of options.”

Sunday’s victory win was made all the more impressive by the fact Arsenal’s star man Bukayo Saka was missing, with a muscle injury ending his run of 87 successive Premier League appearances.

“We know our potential,” Martinelli said. “We know his potential and how important he is for us.

“Today we did our best, tried to win the game for our fans, for us and for B as well.”

Arsenal return to action at Chelsea after the international break, while wounded City look to get their title defence back on track at home to Brighton.

Guardiola’s men have lost three of their last four matches in all competitions, including back-to-back Premier League matches for the first time since December 2018.

City midfielder Bernardo Silva said: “It’s a setback but it’s still the beginning. We’re far away from the end of the season.

“It was not the result we wanted. Against a tough opponent it is never easy to play.

“We felt the game was tough for both teams. Both are tough and organised and tense. We had a few chances in the beginning.

“In the end it was a deflection. In my opinion we gave them too much time to think at that moment. We have to be more intense in the pressing.

“It is what it is. It’s part of football and we move onto the next one.”

City struggled to lay a glove on an Arsenal side that they had beaten in 12 consecutive Premier League meetings before Sunday.

Guardiola’s men mustered a mere four shots at the Emirates Stadium, but Silva is not getting carried away with the loss or the recent drop off.

“Some of these results we were not expecting and we didn’t want them to happen,” he told club media.

“Last season we won the treble but there was a point that nothing was going our way.

“How you overcome these moments is what defines the team and we will keep fighting for all the games. We’re going for it again.”

Birmingham have sacked head coach John Eustace despite a bright start to the season, increasing rumours of former England captain Wayne Rooney taking charge at the club.

Eustace led Birmingham to safety last season, while a come-from-behind 3-1 derby win over West Brom on Friday left Blues sixth in the Sky Bet Championship after 11 fixtures heading into the international break.

While Birmingham recognised in a statement Eustace had “helped to stabilise and strengthen the club” in his 15 months at the helm, they have decided to part company with the ex-Republic of Ireland assistant.

“It is essential that the board of directors and the football management are fully aligned on the importance of implementing a winning mentality and a culture of ambition across the entire football club,” the statement on Birmingham’s official website said.

“With this in mind, Birmingham City has parted company with head coach John Eustace.

“A new first-team manager will be announced in the coming days who will be responsible for creating an identity and clear ‘no fear’ playing style that all Birmingham City teams will adopt and embrace.”

Eustace succeeded Lee Bowyer in July 2022 and helped Birmingham finish nine points above the drop zone in the second tier amid off-field issues surrounding the ownership of the club.

Despite just three defeats so far this season, it was reported over the weekend Eustace’s position was under threat as the club’s new American owners sought a big-name appointment.

Former Manchester United striker Rooney would seemingly fit the bill after he announced on Sunday he would be leaving DC United following their failure to qualify for the Major League Soccer play-offs.

“It’s just the right time,” he said in quotes reported by the Washington Post.

“I have really enjoyed my time here. But I just feel it’s the right time to go back to England. What lies ahead, I don’t know.”

The UK and Ireland’s bid to host Euro 2028 is poised to get the formal seal of approval on Tuesday.

The UEFA executive committee is set to give the green light to the five-nation bid, which is unopposed after Turkey withdrew last week to focus on its joint bid with Italy for Euro 2032.

Ten stadia were included in the UK-Ireland’s bid submission in April. Six of the venues are in England, with one each from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The six in England are Wembley, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Etihad Stadium, St James’ Park, Villa Park and Everton’s new home at Bramley-Moore Dock.

A redeveloped Casement Park in Belfast, the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Hampden Park in Glasgow and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff are the other stadia included in the submission.

Even with Turkey in the running, the five-nation bid was the overwhelming favourite to be selected.

Senior UEFA sources have indicated the importance of another Euro in a major football market, following on from next year’s tournament in Germany, as European football’s governing body seeks to further replenish its reserves after the financial shock of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The five nations released a joint statement last week following Turkey’s withdrawal, stating they had a “compelling” and “ground-breaking” proposal for UEFA to consider, which would deliver “lasting legacies” across the whole of Ireland and the UK.

There are nevertheless some major issues that need to be addressed if the UK-Ireland bid is accepted by the ExCo.

For a start, the Casement Park site is derelict and plans by the Gaelic Athletic Association to redevelop it with a 34,000 capacity have been mired in controversy and hit by delays.

The Casement project has been delayed by a series of legal challenges and is further complicated by the lack of a functioning Executive at Stormont.

The redevelopment has also been hit by rising costs, with an original projected price tag from almost a decade ago of £77.5million now believed to have spiralled well above £100m.

The GAA is part-funding the project but has yet to reach an agreement with Stormont on how to cover a multi-million-pound shortfall.

Wembley would be expected to host the final in 2028, another major test for the 90,000-capacity venue after the chaos surrounding its hosting of the Euro 2020 final.

Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt said in June: “One of the things I am absolutely convinced UEFA’s Exco will ask us is, ‘How can you assure us nobody will storm the turnstiles?’

“We have to convince every one of those Exco members we have not only thought about it, but that we have planned for it – that we know what we would do in what order and who is accountable.”

England manager Gareth Southgate said it was a “brilliant opportunity” for the nations involved and added: “They will have huge pride in hosting and if the teams get qualified as well then there’s obviously some home advantage to hosting as well.”

Qualification for all of the hosts is not guaranteed.

UEFA’s preferred approach is that all five nations enter qualification, with two host-nation places kept in reserve for any that fail to make it.

However, if more than two do not qualify by right, then only the best two to miss out will be given host-nation places.

What the papers say

Wayne Rooney is in the running to become Birmingham manager, the Times reports. The former England and Manchester United captain is looking for a now role after leaving MLS side DC United.

The Mirror says Rooney would bring former Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole and former Manchester United team-mate John O’Shea with him if he is to get the job.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are reportedly keeping an eye on Palmeiras midfielder Luis Guilherme and Flamengo winger Lorran, who are both 17, according the the Daily Star. The Brazilian teenagers could cost the club a combined £100million.

Social media round-upPlayers to watch

Lionel Messi: Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino says he knows nothing about rumours linking the Argentina forward to Barcelona on a loan deal, Goal reports.

Jack Clarke: North-East publication the Chronicle says Sunderland face a fight to keep the winger amid interest from Brentford.

Lamine Yamal became LaLiga’s youngest-ever goal scorer as he helped Barcelona fight back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Granada.

Yamal, aged 16 years and 87 days, struck in first-half stoppage time after Barca had trailed to Bryan Zaragoza’s brace and substitute Sergi Roberto’s late strike rescued the visitors a point.

Granada forward Zaragoza opened the scoring after just 17 seconds – the fastest goal in LaLiga this season – as Xavi’s side missed the chance to close to within a point of leaders Real Madrid.

Manchester United loanee Mason Greenwood scored his first goal for Getafe in a 2-2 draw at second-bottom Celta Vigo.

Greenwood regained Getafe’s first-half lead after Borja Mayoral’s early opener, but Celta twice hit back through Jonathan Bamba and Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Domingos Duarte’s first-half dismissal for two yellow-card offences had left Getafe with 10 men.

Atletico Madrid consolidated fourth place as Antoine Griezmann’s late penalty sealed a 2-1 home win against Real Sociedad after Mikel Oyarzabal had cancelled out Samuel Lino’s opener for the hosts.

Real Betis were held 1-1 at lowly Alaves and had Willian Jose sent off in added time. Former Leicester forward Ayoze Perez put the visitors ahead before ex-Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin’s own goal earned Alaves a point.

Las Palmas made it three wins in four matches as they won 2-1 at Villarreal.

Bayer Leverkusen maintained their one-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a 3-1 home win against Cologne.

Kingsley Coman’s double, which sandwiched Leroy Sane’s effort, helped Bayern Munich to a 3-0 home win against Freiburg, which kept them two points behind the leaders in third.

Eintracht Frankfurt secured their first league win since August thanks to goals from Hugo Larsson and Ansgar Knauff.

Defending Serie A champions Napoli slipped to their second league defeat of the season as they went down 3-1 at home to Fiorentina.

Victor Osimhen’s penalty in first-half stoppage time cancelled out an early strike from Josip Brekalo, but Giacomo Bonaventura restored Fiorentina’s lead and substitute Nicolas Gonzalez added a late third.

Jose Mourinho’s Roma climbed up to 10th and made it three straight wins with a 4-1 victory at Cagliari.

Mourinho’s side, 4-0 Europa League winners against Servette in midweek, were on target through Houssem Aouar, Romelu Lukaku’s double and Andrea Belotti before Cagliari’s late consolation via Nahitan Nandez’s penalty.

Monza extended their unbeaten league run to five matches by beating Salernitana 3-0 at home and Frosinone maintained their impressive start with a 2-1 victory over visitors Verona.

Lazio let slip a 2-0 lead at home against Atalanta before Matias Vecino’s late strike clinched them a 3-2 win.

In Ligue 1, Paris St Germain climbed to within two points of leaders Monaco after a 3-1 win at Rennes.

PSG bounced back from their midweek Champions League defeat at Newcastle with first-half goals from Vitinha and Achraf Hakimi.

Amine Gouiri pulled one back for the hosts, but PSG substitute Randal Kolo Muani restored the visitors’ two-goal advantage.

Montpellier’s home game against Clermont was abandoned in stoppage time after visiting goalkeeper Mory Diaw was stunned by a firework.

The home side were leading 4-2 when a firecracker was thrown from the stands and exploded near Diaw as he prepared to take a goal-kick and he was later carried off the field on a stretcher.

Martin Satriano’s stoppage-time equaliser rescued a point for high-flying Brest in a 1-1 home draw against Toulouse, who had led through Frank Magri.

Arouna Sangante’s own goal set Marseille on their way to a 3-0 home win against Le Havre, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ismaila Sarr also on the scoresheet.

Lyon’s winless start to the season was extended to eight matches as they were held 3-3 at home by fellow strugglers Lorient, while Lens drew 1-1 at home against Lille.

Paris St Germain returned to winning ways following their Champions League thrashing at Newcastle with a 3-1 Ligue 1 victory over Rennes.

First-half goals from Vitinha and Achraf Hakimi put Luis Enrique’s side in the ascendancy at Roazhon Park.

Amine Gouiri pulled one back for the hosts on 57 minutes but substitute Randal Kolo Muani swiftly restored the visitors’ two-goal advantage.

PSG, who suffered a 4-1 hammering on Tyneside on Wednesday, made their intentions clear by peppering the Rennes back line from the start.

Kylian Mbappe, making his 400th professional appearance, found space in neat pockets on the left and nearly opened the scoring with a curled effort which flew narrowly over.

Superstar forward Mbappe was largely anonymous in midweek but had the bit between his teeth on Sunday evening as he looked to break the deadlock.

And the French champions did just that after 33 minutes through Vitinha’s blockbuster.

The Portugal international picked up the ball just inside the box and produced a stunning dipping effort into the top corner which caught Steve Mandanda flat-footed.

The opener seemed to relax PSG, who upped the tempo and doubled their advantage four minutes later.

The creative Warren Zaire-Emery picked up the ball and whipped it to the back post, where Hakimi nodded home his side’s second goal.

PSG picked up where they had left off after the interval, with a lightning Mbappe run resulting in the winger slipping in the well positioned Goncalo Ramos, but he was unable to stroke the ball pass Mandanda.

Despite having been largely outplayed, Rennes managed to get themselves on the scoresheet in the 57th minute, when Ludovic Blas cut in and picked out the unmarked Gouiri, whose header beat Gianluigi Donnarumma.

But any hopes the hosts had of getting back on level terms were quashed almost immediately when a lapse in concentration proved costly.

Hakimi burst forward, glided past his marker as if he was not there and produced an inch-perfect cross to Kolo Muani who undid Rennes’ hard work straight from the restart to make it 3-1.

Kolo Muani had another effort chalked off for offside, with PSG then having to be on their guard as Blas looked to add to his assist tally.

The Rennes midfielder kept Lucas Hernandez busy on the right and produced a couple of dangerous passes into the box which were dealt with by the composed Marquinhos and Milan Skriniar.

Mbappe conjured up one of the misses of the season when, after a great run, he rounded Mandanda only to blast his shot over with the goal gaping, but PSG were well worth the points and saw out five minutes of stoppage time to claim a convincing away win.

Sevilla have sacked manager Jose Luis Mendilibar.

The Europa League holders drew 2-2 with Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga on Saturday, leaving them 14th with two wins, two draws and four defeats.

Mendilibar was hired in March but has become the club’s third manager to be dismissed inside 12 months.

The 62-year-old guided Sevilla away from relegation danger with a 12th-placed finish last season and beat Jose Mourinho’s Roma on penalties in May to clinch their seventh Europa League title.

Sevilla’s next match after the international break is a trip to Real Madrid before they host Arsenal in the Champions League.

Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal became the youngest-ever goalscorer in LaLiga history as his side came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw at Granada.

Yamal, aged 16 years and 87 days, hauled Barca back into the game after they had trailed to Bryan Zaragoza’s first-half double and substitute Sergi Roberto’s late strike rescued them a point.

Granada forward Zaragoza opened the scoring after just 17 seconds – the fastest goal in LaLiga this season – and Xavi’s side missed the chance to close to within a point of leaders Real Madrid.

Barca, who made it back-to-back Champions League wins this season with a 1-0 win in Porto on Wednesday night, were stunned by Granada’s lightning start.

The home side had hit back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Almeria last week and after winning possession from Barca’s kick-off, Zaragoza arrowed an angled shot into the bottom corner after running on to Lucas Boye’s pass.

Granada goalkeeper Andre Ferreira denied Joao Felix and Gavi as Barcelona looked to get back on level terms, but the home side struck again with their second attempt on goal.

Gerard Gumbau found Zaragoza in the penalty area and the young forward brilliantly made space before burying his finish into the top corner.

Felix saw another effort saved by Ferreira, but Yamal hauled the visitors back into it in first-half stoppage time, converting into an open goal at the far post.

Barca laid siege on Granada at the start of the second half, with Fermin Lopez volleying straight at Ferreira.

The Granada goalkeeper produced the save of the match to keep out Ferran Torres’ close-range effort in the 69th minute after Ronald Araujo had headed a free-kick back across goal.

Granada continued to frustrate the visitors and with 15 minutes left Yamal was replaced by Oriol Romeu.

But with time running out, Roberto, a 61st-minute replacement for Lopez, came to their rescue, despatching Alejandro Balde’s cross from in front of goal.

Granada protested there had been a foul during the build-up and almost snatched the lead again when Zaragoza’s shot hit a post.

In a dramatic finish, Felix thought he had won it for Barca only for his effort to be ruled out for offside and Granada held on for a point.