Fabio Borini 'emotional' upon Sunderland return

Fabio Borini: Celebrates scoring against Newcastle during his first spell

Fabio Borini admitted he was "emotional" upon sealing his return to Sunderland from Liverpool in a deal thought to be worth around £7million.

The Italian international, who enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at the Stadium of Light during the 2013/14 season, has signed a four-year deal with Dick Advocaat's side.

Borini became a fan favourite during his initial temporary stay on Wearside, and will link up with fellow new signings Sebastian Coates, Jeremain Lens, Younes Kaboul and Ola Toivonen, with the fee for Borini understood to rise to around £10million with clauses.

Talking to the Black Cats' website on his return, the 24-year-old said: "I am delighted to be back at Sunderland. It is a club I know really well from my time here previously.

"It will be emotional for me to play at the Stadium of Light again and I can't wait to get back on the pitch as a Sunderland player."

Head coach Advocaat added: "Fabio is a great addition to the squad who will make our front line stronger. He can play in a number of attacking positions which is a huge benefit to the team."

The club's sporting director, Lee Congerton, also praised the deal, saying: "Fabio is a player who I've known since he was 15 years old and I was fortunate enough to help recruit him to Chelsea.

"He has developed into a Barclays Premier League striker which we have already seen from his previous loan spell at the club, and we are delighted to have him here on a permanent basis."

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Rumour Mill: Real eye shock Moreno move

Alberto Moreno: Off to Real Madrid?

Liverpool defender Alberto Moreno to Real Madrid, Juventus' interest in Samir Nasri and Victor Moses to West Ham are among Monday's transfer rumours.

ARSENAL

- Olivier Giroud says Karim Benzema would have been a good addition for Arsenal this summer, but admits the Gunners are unlikely to sign him.

ASTON VILLA

- Aston Villa are struggling to offload high-earner Charles N'Zogbia. (Birmingham Mail)

- Norwich have lodged a £2.2million bid for FC Midtjylland central defender Erik Sviatchenko, with the Danish international also attracting interest from Aston Villa, Everton and West Brom. (Eastern Daily Press)

BOURNEMOUTH

- Napoli midfielder Jonathan de Guzman will join Bournemouth on loan for the season on Monday. (Daily Mail)

- Bournemouth are looking to make a deadline day bid for Queens Park Rangers star Charlie Austin. (Daily Mirror)

CHELSEA

- Victor Moses is set to sign a new contract at Chelsea and then join West Ham on loan. (Daily Express)

- Chelsea have reopened talks with Juventus and are preparing a £87.5m bid for Paul Pogba. (Daily Star)

CRYSTAL PALACE

EVERTON

- Everton defender John Stones "did not mean to hand in his transfer request" and was "put under massive pressure", claims Roberto Martinez.

- Everton are interested in young Spanish striker Juan Munoz, who currently plies his trade for La Liga outfit Sevilla. (Tutto Mercato)

- Norwich have lodged a £2.2million bid for FC Midtjylland central defender Erik Sviatchenko, with the Danish international also attracting interest from Aston Villa, Everton and West Brom. (Eastern Daily Press)

LEICESTER CITY

- Claudio Ranieri has rubbished reports of Leicester's interest in Yuto Nagatomo after claims the Foxes had agreed a £3m fee for the left-back.

LIVERPOOL

- Real Madrid are eyeing a surprise move for Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno. (Tuttomercato)

- Sunderland have agreed a fee of around £7million for Liverpool striker Fabio Borini, with the Italian set to sign a four-year deal, according to reports. Lazio had earlier ruled themselves out of the running for the 24-year-old.

MANCHESTER CITY

- Juventus are keen to sign Samir Nasri from Manchester City following the £54million capture of Kevin De Bruyne - but the Frenchman does not want to leave. (Daily Mirror)

MANCHESTER UNITED

- Gary Neville has told Man United to buy a striker before the transfer window closes, saying it's a situation that needs "urgently resolving".

- Louis van Gaal "does not know" if David De Gea will still be a Man United player on Tuesday - with the Spanish window due to shut on Monday.

- Manchester United have made "no contact" with Ajax over rumoured goalkeeping target Jasper Cillessen, according to club chief Marc Overmars.

- Borussia Dortmund look to have fought off several rivals as they close in on the season-long loan signing of Adnan Januzaj from Man United.

NEWCASTLE

- Steve McClaren does not expect Newcastle to make any further additions this summer, but the manager admits "we cannot discount anything".

NORWICH

- Norwich have lodged a £2.2million bid for FC Midtjylland central defender Erik Sviatchenko, with the Danish international also attracting interest from Aston Villa, Everton and West Brom. (Eastern Daily Press)

SOUTHAMPTON

- Southampton must do everything to ensure no more of their star names leave before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, Jose Fonte says.

- Celtic have agreed a fee with Dinamo Zagreb for defender Jozo Simunovic, with the deal potentially paving the way for Virgil van Dijk to join Southampton. (Sky Sports)

SUNDERLAND

- Sunderland have agreed a fee of around £7million for Liverpool striker Fabio Borini, with the Italian set to sign a four-year deal, according to reports.

- Borussia Dortmund's Adrian Ramos is just one of a number of other strikers that Sunderland are pursuing before tomorrow's transfer deadline. (Shields Gazette)

SWANSEA CITY

- Garry Monk said that Swansea City will resist any potential bids for striker Bafetimbi Gomis before the transfer window closes - although the striker has a £7million release clause. (Daily Telegraph)

TOTTENHAM

- Tottenham have submitted a £19 million bid for Zenit midfielder Axel Witsel (Calcio Mercato). However, the Russian side are demanding a British transfer record fee of around £72million for the Belgian.

- Tottenham have resisted a late loan offer from Napoli for midfielder Moussa Dembele. (Sport Mediaset)

- Ligue 1 side Marseille have 'initiated talks' over signing Spurs flop Erik Lamela. (gianlucadimarzio.com)

WATFORD

- Sheffield Wednesday have identified Watford forward Matej Vydra as a potential striker signing. (Sheffield Star)

WEST BROM

- Tony Pulis is targeting Charlie Austin and Matt Phillips in a double raid on Queens Park Rangers - if Saido Berahino leaves West Brom. (Daily Telegraph)

- Norwich have lodged a £2.2million bid for FC Midtjylland central defender Erik Sviatchenko, with the Danish international also attracting interest from Aston Villa, Everton and West Brom. (Eastern Daily Press)

WEST HAM

- Victor Moses is set to sign a new contract at Chelsea and then join West Ham on loan. (Daily Express)

- West Ham have reportedly agreed a fee with Hull for Nikica Jelavic, with the Croatian striker now set to undergo a medical with the Hammers.

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Sunderland and Liverpool 'agree' £7m Fabio Borini fee

Fabio Borini: In line to return to Sunderland

Sunderland have agreed a fee of around £7million for Liverpool striker Fabio Borini, with the Italian set to sign a four-year deal, according to reports.

It is understood that the 24-year-old Italian was due to head for Wearside to undergo a medical ahead of a move before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

A successful completion would end the lengthy pursuit of a man who played a key role in the Black Cats' run to the 2014 Capital One Cup final, in which he scored the opening goal, and their remarkable escape from Premier League relegation at the end of the same season.

Former head coach Gus Poyet made Borini his number one target last summer, but was unable to persuade him to swap Merseyside for the north-east as he sought to establish himself at Anfield.

However, he has been unable to force his way into Brendan Rodgers' plans - he made just 18 appearances last season and is yet to figure this - and has been linked with a series of clubs this summer, several of them in his native Italy.

Speculation has mounted in recent days that Watford could tempt Borini to Vicarage Road, but Sunderland, who collected their second league point of a testing start to the new season in a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on Saturday, hope to beat them to the punch with a lucrative deal which is understood to be worth around £60,000-a-week to him.

Borini's capture would further appease Poyet's successor Dick Advocaat, who has spent recent weeks urging owner Ellis Short and sporting director Lee Congerton to deliver the five or six "quality" summer signings he believes are vital if the club is to avoid yet another scrap for top-flight survival.

Significantly, new boys Yann M'Vila and Jeremain Lens both scored at Villa Park, where there was a seat on the bench for Sweden international Ola Toivonen, Advocaat's latest recruit.

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Power Rankings: Chelsea & Spurs bottom

Chelsea: Joint bottom of the Power Rankings after home defeat

West Ham and Crystal Palace are the week's Power Rankings winners after beating Liverpool and Chelsea, who are joint bottom overall with Spurs.

In Power Rankings, we award points from 0.5 up to 10 decided by an algorithm based on bookmaker odds and winning margins.

It helps, particularly in the early stages of the season, before every team has played all the others, to highlight the real value of the points won and lost.

Manchester United, for example, have got seven points in the actual Premier League table, but they were odds-on favourites to beat Tottenham and Aston Villa yet won by only a goal - and were odds-on against Newcastle, when they were held. It earned them a point in reality, but the Power Rankings highlight the fact that Louis van Gaal's side will actually rue two dropped points.

At the other end of the scale, despite West Ham being top, the Power Rankings can be used to highlight their dropped points - they have claimed two wins that few other teams will manage yet are only in mid-table after slipping up in games they were expected to win. For them, it's a case of 'if only'.

Week 4

Crystal Palace - 10: Near 10/1 shots to win at Stamford Bridge, Palace did exactly that as the Premier League champions suffered another early-season blow.

West Ham - 10: They weren't quite so unfancied going into their game at Liverpool, but a three-goal winning margin also sees West Ham also claim maximum points. After winning at Arsenal on the opening day, they have claimed two of the three 10-point hauls awarded so far.

Southampton - 4: They were odds-on favourites to beat Norwich, but Steven Whittaker's sending-off aided Saints as they racked up bonus points in a 3-0 win.

Swansea - 4: It may appear harsh, but Swansea also only claim four points having edged their way past Manchester United at just short of 3/1 with the bookies.

West Brom - 4: Claiming four points earlier in the weekend were West Brom after two red cards helped Tony Pulis' side to what was deemed an unlikely win at Stoke.

Manchester City - 3: A comfortable home win over Watford earned City another three points, but the exploits of West Ham and Palace sees Manuel Pellegrini's side surrender top spot - for now, at least.

Arsenal - 2: Odds-on favourites to win at Newcastle, Arsenal failed to claim any bonus points having scraped only a 1-0 win in the North East.

Everton - 2: Roberto Martinez's Everton, however, gain a point courtesy of a draw against the odds at well-fancied Tottenham.

Sunderland - 2: Another team gaining a point were Sunderland, who were 19/5 outsiders going into their game at Aston Villa.

Bournemouth - 1: A draw against Leicester at Dean Court earns Bournemouth a point, exactly as it did in reality.

Leicester - 1: The visitors also claim a point to stay just ahead of their actual tally for the season.

Tottenham - 1: Everton gained an extra point for the draw at White Hart Lane, but Spurs were favourites and so have to make do with one.

Aston Villa - 0.5: Villa, meanwhile, claim only half a point having been strong favourites to see off Sunderland at Villa Park.

Power Rankings

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• Related Liverpool News

• Sunderland and Reds 'agree' £7m Borini fee
• Lazio not interested in signing Borini
• Power Rankings: Chelsea & Spurs bottom
• Lovren: I'll bounce back from mistakes
• Carra: Lovren 'David Luiz-like' v West Ham
• Liverpool v West Ham player ratings
• Markovic undergoes Fenerbahce medical
• Liverpool collapse to West Ham defeat

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Power Rankings, 2015-16
Team	Power Rankings Points	Official Points
West Ham	20	6
Crystal Palace	17	9
Manchester City	15	12
Swansea	13	8
Everton	9.5	5
Leicester	9	8
Liverpool	7	3
Newcastle	6	2
Southampton	6	5
Aston Villa	5.5	4
West Brom	5.5	4
Bournemouth	5	4
Norwich	5	4
Arsenal	4.5	7
Manchester United	4.5	7
Stoke	4.5	2
Watford	4.5	3
Sunderland	3.5	2
Chelsea	2.5	4
Tottenham	2.5	3

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Lazio not interested in signing Fabio Borini from Liverpool

Fabio Borini: Unable to find a buyer

Lazio have ruled out signing Liverpool striker Fabio Borini, with the Reds struggling to offload the forward before transfer deadline day.

Borini, the first signing made under Brendan Rodgers tenure in the summer of 2012, has failed to make an impact at Liverpool over his three years, with a loan spell at Sunderland his biggest success during the period.

The Italian international finds himself behind Christian Benteke, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings and Divock Origi in the pecking order at Anfield, and a handful of clubs have been linked to the striker.

Bologna, Inter Milan and Lazio are all targeting the striker according to reports, but the latter appear to have ruled themselves out of the running with transfer deadline day looming.

When asked about the potential of signing Borini and a list of other players, Lazio chief Igli Tare responded: "None of those players will come to Lazio, we will be sending players out.

"In terms of incomings, we'll see if there are some players leaving and then there might be something happening on incomings", he added.

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Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren moves on from West Ham struggles

Dejan Lovren: Struggled to contain the West Ham attack

Dejan Lovren has vowed to recover from his nightmare in Liverpool's 3-0 loss to West Ham - and has "already forgotten" about his mistakes.

The Croatia international's errors, twice being dispossessed in the lead-up to West Ham's crucial second goal, were immediately leapt upon by his critics.

Lovren's first season at Anfield after his £20m move from Southampton in July 2014 was far from the success it was expected to be, and he lost his spot last November after a string of shaky performances.

He recovered his place after injury to Mamadou Sakho later in the campaign, and this summer was re-installed as the preferred partner for Martin Skrtel.

Three straight clean sheets suggested manager Brendan Rodgers had made the right choice, but whether he's selected for their next match at Manchester United after the international break is another question.

"The game is finished and I have forgotten about it already. What can I do?" Lovren said.

"The first minute after the second goal I wanted to go under the table, but in these moments you need to keep your head up. I tried everything but it was a bad decision. Mistakes happen.

"Things like that happen but I don't think it will shake myself and the team. I am the first one disappointed with myself but now we have to go away with the national teams and in two weeks we have Manchester United.

"We need to now keep our heads up in the tough moments but you see other clubs losing at home and we wish we could have taken 10 points from the four games but we didn't.

"We need to forget this and I know we will be better. We need to do it because of us and the fans. We didn't deserve this."

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Jamie Carragher: Dejan Lovren 'David Luiz-like' in defeat

Dejan Lovren: Vies with Diafra Sakho during Liverpool's defeat to West Ham

Jamie Carragher has described Dejan Lovren's performance in Liverpool's defeat to West Ham on Saturday as "David Luiz-like".

The Hammers ended a 52-game wait for a win at Anfield courtesy of goals from Manuel Lanzini, Mark Noble and Diafra Sakho.

Philippe Coutinho's red card shortly after the restart compounded a miserable afternoon for the Reds but Carragher's focus was on a defensive display littered with "mistakes". 

"It was back to the bad days of last season at home for Liverpool with defensive mistakes," Carragher told Sky Sports.

"Lanzini was excellent on the day but it was a poor header from [Martin] Skrtel and then [Joe] Gomez just needed to sort out his feet at the back post. 

"I don't know what Lovren's doing [for the second goal]. He has two or three chances to clear his lines. It probably summed up his whole display.

"Coutinho had gone off by [the time of the third goal] but every goal could have been prevented.

"The only way to describe Lovren's performance was David Luiz-like.

"He was doing things you don't really want to see centre-backs do: 50-yard passes - that at time got there - but there was one occasion where he did a double stepover and then got tackled.

"I don't know if it's overconfidence after a couple of good performances but I'm watching him thinking, just do the basics.

"You've got three clean sheets; your job is to keep them out, not show everyone what else you can do. Defend first."

Coutinho will miss Liverpool's crunch trip to Manchester United on September 12, and Carragher concedes his absence could be costly.

"It's a massive blow - he's Liverpool's best player by a long way," he added. "He wasn't at his best yesterday but every time the ball comes to him you think something could happen. He's going to be a massive miss.

"After speaking about their great start, you've got to go to Old Trafford and it could end up being a bad start."

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Liverpool's Lazar Markovic completes Fenerbahce medical

Lazar Markovic: Liverpool winger set to join Fenerbahce on loan

Lazar Markovic is a step closer to finalising his loan move from Liverpool to Fenerbahce after completing his medical with the Turkish outfit.

The Serbian moved to Anfield last summer in a £20million transfer from Benfica but scored only three goals last season against Bournemouth, Sunderland and Tottenham.

Having started only 23 games from a possible 58, he hasn't been involved at all so far this season and could have his move confirmed later on Sunday.

Markovic is set to spend the rest of the campaign in Istanbul, where he will team up with former Manchester United striker Robin van Persie.

Fenerbahce will play in the Europa League group phase, where they will face Scottish champions Celtic, Ajax and Molde.

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Saturday stats: Chelsea struggles continue

Read all of the statistics from Saturday's eight Premier League games including details of Chelsea's porous defence and Liverpool's blunt attack.

Newcastle United v Arsenal
Arsenal have now won eight successive Premier League games against Newcastle United.

Aleksandar Mitrovic has been given a red card and two yellows in his first four Premier League appearances for the Magpies.

Mitrovic was sent off after 15:35 minutes today. He was booked 0:22 seconds after coming on in his first match and 01:31 minutes after coming on in his second match.

Newcastle have been shown nine red cards since the start of last season, more than any other Premier League side.

Despite having had the 54 shots (excl. blocked) the Gunners have scored only three goals in the Premier League this season - and two of these have been own goals.

The Magpies have won just two of their 12 home Premier League matches in 2015 (W2 D4 L6).

Arsenal are unbeaten in nine Premier League visits to St James' Park (W5 D4).

Arsene Wenger has won 10 of his 11 meetings with Steve McClaren in the Premier League (L1).

Aston Villa v Sunderland
Aston Villa have only kept one clean sheet in their last 11 Premier League games at Villa Park.

Only two teams have conceded more PL penalties than Sunderland (6) since the start of last season (Spurs 8, West Brom 7).

Scott Sinclair has scored five of his six Premier League penalties. He went on to net more than once in a top-flight game for the first time.

Sinclair has scored five goals in his last two games in all competitions.

Jeremain Lens has two assists and one goal in four Premier League appearances.

Tim Sherwood's win percentage as Premier League manager has fallen below 50% for the first time (49%).

Sunderland have won just eight points in 12 Premier League away games in 2015 (W1 D5 L6).

Aston Villa have won just four of their last 19 Barclays Premier League matches at Villa Park.

Bournemouth v Leicester City
Callum Wilson has scored four goals in his last two league games.

Jamie Vardy has three goals and an assist in his last five Premier League appearances.

Five of the eight penalties in the top-flight this season have been won and taken by the same player, including Vardy's today.

Leicester City have gone five away games unbeaten for the first time in the Premier League.

Bournemouth have only lost one of their last 12 home league matches (W6 D5).

After leading 1-0 at half-time in this game, Bournemouth only managed a single blocked shot in the second-half as Leicester came back to draw.

Chelsea v Crystal Palace
Bakary Sako has scored five goals and made four assists in his last nine league appearances (for Wolves and Crystal Palace).

Jose Mourinho managed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge for the 100th time in the Premier League, but saw his side lose for only the second time.

It was also the Portuguese tactician's 200th Premier League game; despite defeat, he has more points than any other manager at this stage (453).

Falcao scored his first Premier League goal since January 31st; he had gone 15 games without one before today.

Chelsea have conceded 2+ goals in back-to-back Premier League home games for the first time since November 2011.

The Blues have also conceded 2+ games in four consecutive games (all venues) for the first time since December 2006.

Chelsea have conceded nine goals in four games this term; their worst defensive record at this stage since 1971/72 (10).

Chelsea's four point total is the second lowest at this stage of a Premier League season by a reigning champion, after Blackburn's three in 1995/96.

Jose Mourinho's last seven Premier League defeats have come against a manager with a surname starting with P.

No team has won more points than Crystal Palace away from home in the Premier League in 2015 (25 - same as Arsenal).

Liverpool v West Ham United
Manuel Lanzini's goal for West Ham at Liverpool today is the fastest scored in the Premier League so far in 2015-16 (2:28).

Mark Noble has scored in consecutive Premier League games for the first time in his career.

Noble has been sent off on four occasions in the Premier League - in two of these, he's also scored.

West Ham United have been shown six red cards in 10 games this season (all comps), compared to three in 43 matches in 2014-15.

This was the first Premier League game since January 10th 2015 to see both sides receive a red card.

This was West Ham's first top-flight league victory at Anfield since September 1963; ending a run of 42 successive top-flight trips there without a win.

Liverpool mustered just one shot on target in this game; the third time that they have done had just one shot on target at Anfield in a PL match since the start of last season (never 0 shots).

Manchester City v Watford
Watford have failed to register a shot on target in their last two Premier League games.

Eight of Fernandinho's Premier League goals have been scored at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City are unbeaten in their last 25 home Premier League games against newly-promoted opposition (W23 D2 L0), with their last defeat coming against Reading in February 2007.

There were 978 successful passes in this match; the most in a single Premier League game so far this season (Man City - 593, Watford - 385).

Watford have won just three of their 40 Premier League away matches (W3 D7 L30).

Manchester City have become the ninth team to win 10+ successive Premier League games.

Stoke v West Bromwich Albion
Stoke had two players sent off in the first half of this match - the 10th time that a side have been reduced to nine men in the Premier League before half-time.

This was the 3rd quickest that a side has been reduced to 10 men in a single Premier League game (31 mins).

The last team to have two men sent off in the first half of a Premier League game before today was also Stoke (v Newcastle on 26/12/2013).

Strangely, Stoke only committed four fouls in this match (and received two reds) - only one team have conceded fewer in a single PL game this season (Arsenal; 2 v Liverpool).

Salomon Rondon scored his first Premier League goal for WBA with his seventh shot (incl. blocked).

Tony Pulis managed his first game back at the Britannia Stadium since leaving the club in May 2013.

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No more home comforts for Premier League sides

There have been just seven home wins from the Premier League's opening 38 games so far this season. What are visiting sides doing differently?

The lack of wins for home sides is among the main talking points from Saturday's Premier League games. Do Arsenal and Liverpool need reinforcements?

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Brendan Rodgers: Liverpool 'didn't defend well at all'

Brendan Rodgers: Mistakes 'can happen', says boss

Brendan Rodgers admitted Liverpool "didn't defend well at all" in their 3-0 defeat to West Ham, but added that mistakes "can happen".

After three clean sheets and an unbeaten start to the season, morale was beginning to rise at Anfield after a disappointing 2014/15 campaign.

However, the Reds succumbed to the defensive errors which scuppered last season, with Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren both at fault for West Ham's opening two goals for Manuel Lanzini and Mark Noble.

A third was added by Diafra Sakho in the dying minutes, and while Rodgers admitted his defence must improve, he added that mistakes "can happen".

"The first goal is a cheap goal and that gave them a motivation and fight," the Northern Irishman told BBC Sport. "The second was a mistake, which can happen.

"We didn't defend moments well at all. We need to be much better than that. That opportunity to work the goalkeeper didn't happen. We are disappointed but we'll reflect on it and come back and look to win our next game."

The clash also saw two red cards, one each for Philippe Coutinho - who will now miss the game against Manchester United after the international break - and Mark Noble.

Rodgers felt both dismissals did not warrant the punishments they received.

"Very harsh," he told Sky Sports of the Coutinho red. "I thought both were.

"I don't know what Philippe was booked for on the first one. And on the second one, you can see his two feet are nowhere near the player.

"Actually, their guy runs into Philippe so to get booked for that was very harsh."

After watching his side's first defeat of the season, Rodgers refused to panic, instead attributing the loss to a change in home records in the Premier League.

Manchester City were the only hosts to secure all three points this weekend; one of only seven games so far this season which has seen the home side victorious.

On this record, Rodgers added: "Teams are setting up differently away from home.

"They're well organised and closing the spaces. Unless you can get that early goal it can be very difficult and that's something you'll see all season.

"Unfortunately for us we conceded the early goal which gave West Ham even more motivation to hang onto their lead.

"I think the first goal was critical. Obviously West Ham, like at Arsenal, were coming to sit and block, block, block and make it difficult for us. To then concede after only a few minutes was very disappointing.

"We then make a mistake for the second one. All of a sudden we're 2-0 down. We didn't have enough creativity to break them down.

"When we lose Coutinho it made it really, really difficult for us.

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Impossible to make case for Reds defence

Dejan Lovren: Not good enough for Liverpool

After a brief hiatus at the start of the season, Liverpool's defensive issues emphatically returned against West Ham. Brendan Rodgers must learn from his own mistakes.

"We are doing extra sessions on every aspect of our defending in terms of in-game static and moving positions and our set-pieces. We are putting in an awful lot of work into that organisation, it is one of the things I picked up on from last season."

Even with Brendan Rodgers' remarkable ability to shoot himself in the foot, the juxtaposition between what the above infers and what was on show at Anfield on Saturday was stark.

Three clean sheets from three opening games and the ailment that afflicted Liverpool's campaign last season appeared to be remedied. Nathaniel Clyne represented a steady summer addition at right-back, while Joe Gomez was the revelation of the season on the left-hand side.

The sight of an 18-year-old centre-half with 24 senior career appearances - all for second-tier side Charlton - starting the Reds' opening four games at left-back ahead of actual left-back Alberto Moreno may seem bizarre, but it's not even the biggest defensive phenomenon witnessed at Anfield so far in this embryonic season. No, step forward Dejan Lovren.

A much-maligned £20million purchase from Southampton last summer, Lovren struggled to stamp his authority at the base of the Liverpool defence to say the least. A joint league-high seven errors leading to shots or goals matched only by Rob Green; keeper for relegated QPR.

Having helped keep Stoke, Bournemouth and Arsenal at bay, many, including Rodgers himself, felt this would be a renaissance for the Croatian. Those buying into said thought process will surely have quietly abandoned such claims after watching his performance against West Ham.

With his side already 1-0 down, Lovren looked to escort the bright Manuel Lanzini out of play, with the midfielder stranded alone by the byline. Lovren managed to gain possession before almost falling over his own feet, then inexplicably tapping the ball to Lanzini. The Argentinean duly added to his earlier goal with an assist for Mark Noble.

Of course, let's not forget the aforementioned opening goal. Defensive partner Martin Skrtel - himself the curator of a joint-sixth highest five errors leading to shots or goals last season - able to head only to Aaron Cresswell, with his cross-cum-shot converted by Lanzini within three minutes.

Diafra Sakho's icing on the cake saw Lovren go walkabout while Skrtel begged for mercy; the striker passing the ball into a net barely guarded by Simon Mignolet.

It begs the question: How have Liverpool not learnt from their (numerous) mistakes of last season?

Uncharacteristic of recent times, the Reds enjoyed a positive window overall, adding that key striker and strengthening in defence and midfield. Somehow, the central defence has remained untouched.

A side looking to breach the Champions League places simply should not enter a Premier League season with Lovren and Skrtel as their first choices, while Gomez, Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho provide back-up.

It's a curious case, that of French international Sakho. Perceived as clumsy and mistake-prone in possession, the 25-year-old is by far the best option at Rodgers' defensive disposal. One fears that Rodgers' own pride in choosing Lovren and Skrtel as his pairing will act as the biggest obstacle in Sakho's reintroduction to first-team action.

"We are putting in an awful lot of work into that organisation, it is one of the things I picked up on from last season," said Rodgers on Friday. "We brought in a lot of players thinking they could maybe settle into it quickly but the learning aspect from that was that I needed to do more on that (defensive) front this season."

A slight admission from the Northern Irishman of his mistakes last season, where the Reds conceded just three and five goals fewer than relegated Hull and Burnley respectively.

Compare this with Rodgers' comments in April of 2014, following a demoralising - and title-deciding - 2-0 defeat to Chelsea. Of the Blues' defensive performance, Rodgers said: "It's the style of football, it's defensive, and the polar opposite of the way we work. It gets results. It's the opposite to how we work and hopefully over time and with preparation it will get us long-term results."

A Freudian slip of epic proportions lies within. "It's defensive, and the polar opposite of the way we work. It gets results." Gary Neville may have accused Arsene Wenger of being "arrogant or naive" earlier this week, but such barbs should be saved for Rodgers.

The Liverpool boss is almost certainly drinking in the last-chance saloon this season, but he needs to learn and mature as a manager. In the meantime, Champions League qualification is a mere pipedream.

With just three days remaining of the transfer window, it appears unlikely the Reds will add to their dilapidated defensive ranks in time. It should never have been left so late in the first place.

Matt Stead

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Liverpool 0 West Ham 3: Brendan Rodgers' side stunned

Manuel Lanzini: Celebrates his early goal

West Ham eased to a 3-0 victory over a stunned Liverpool at Anfield, with Philippe Coutinho and Mark Noble both sent off during the clash.

The curse of the manager's press conference came to the fore as after praising the new defensive stability which brought three clean sheets, Brendan Rodgers saw his side concede the fastest goal of the season so far to Manuel Lanzini inside three minutes.

Rodgers had also championed Dejan Lovren for overcoming his problems in his maiden season and showing he could be a "top-class" centre-back but the £20milion Croatian repaid his manager's praise with a disastrous piece of defending to allow Noble to score.

The West Ham captain was harshly sent off late on, after Liverpool's Coutinho had already been shown a second yellow card, but Diafra Sakho made it 3-0 in added time and 18,978 days after Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters - before they were World Cup winners with England - scored at Anfield, the Hammers had their long-awaited victory.

It was celebrated long and loud by the visiting fans and rightly so as the last time they had the chance to do so the Beatles had just achieved their second number one with She Loves You and a 17-year-old Northern Irishman called George Best had made his Manchester United debut.

As if that was not enough, Coutinho, already cautioned for dissent, was sent off when he slipped trying to close down Dimitri Payet and brought down the midfielder with his body.

It means the influential Brazilian playmaker will miss Liverpool's visit to Old Trafford when the Premier League resumes after the international break.

None of which will matter to West Ham, who were full value for their two first-half goals.

The lively Lanzini had a hand in both, sneaking in front of youngster Joe Gomez to turn in Aaron Cresswell's low cross-shot before then totally embarrassing the hapless Lovren.

Lanzini, considerably smaller and lightweight, outmuscled the 6ft 2ins international out by the touchline and although the centre-back managed to recover possession, he then messed about near the byline and was robbed again as his tormentor crossed for Noble to drive home, whose afternoon was spoiled late by the bizarre decision of referee Kevin Friend to send him off for a challenge on debutant Danny Ings.

Roberto Firmino came closest for a shot-shy Liverpool, crashing a 25-yard effort against the post in the first half on the way to their first defeat of the campaign.

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