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      Premier League clubs ordered to stop splashing millions on players and help save struggling EFL sides

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      PREM clubs have been ordered by the Government to stop splashing millions on new players and bail out their skint EFL counterparts instead.
      Culture secretary Oliver Dowden yesterday demanded England’s top division “step up to the plate” and “start looking after the football family as a whole.”

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      Oliver Dowden has urged the Premier League to step up and help struggling EFL clubsCredit: Rex Features

      Dowden wants a deal agreed this week for Prem sides to cough up the £250million EFL chief Rick Parry says his clubs stand to lose due to the coronavirus pandemic.
      Asked by the  BBC’s Andrew Marr if he was going to insist Prem clubs “help poorer clubs, rather than spend huge amounts of money hiring a new striker,” Dowden replied: “That’s exactly what we’re saying to them.”
      Chelsea have spent a staggering £222m on Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech and Eduoard Mendy for this season.

      Manchester City’s imminent £50m capture of Ruben Dias will take their spending to nearly £130m, while Manchester United are still chasing England’s £100m-rated Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho.
      Prem clubs shared a whopping £2.5BILLION in prize money and “central funds” payments last season, with champions Liverpool bagging £158m, United £154m and Chelsea £153m.
      Parry has warned struggling EFL clubs will go bust without financial support and Dowden wants a deal agreed this week to bail them out.
      He declared: “The Prime Minister and I have been clear: the Premier League needs to start looking after the football family as a whole, and  they are having productive conversations, working closely with the EFL to see how they can support them.”

      Dowden revealed the Prem and EFL will meet on Tuesday for crunch talks on the crisis now  the Government has effectively ruled out any fans attending matches until March, adding: “I am hopeful they will reach a deal this week.”

      In a separate Sky News interview, Dowden declared: “The Premier League needs to step up to the plate. It needs to play its part.
      “I have been in  consultation with them this week and was very clear we expect them to support the EFL and provide that level of support.
      “These clubs are such an important part of our local community.”
      Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week announced  the planned reintroduction of fans to stadiums from October 1 had been scrapped due to fears of a second wave of Covid-19 infections.
      Asked if crowds would return by the end of the season, Dowden replied: “I would desperately love that to happen but in this rapidly moving situation with the virus, we  need to exercise caution.
      “Most people would agree, with rapidly rising cases, now is not the time to bring back crowds.”

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      Chelsea have spent £222m on stars including new club record signing Kai HavertzCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Dowden also hinted the Government would look to Germany, where the  Bundesliga have allowed their  stadiums  to be filled up to 20 per cent of capacity, providing the local area has an infection rate lower than 35 people per 100,000.
      Dowden later told Times Radio: “Let’s look to the Premier League first. We don’t want any club to go bust because of Covid and because of the inability to get fans into stadiums.”
      His comments came as the Prem giants were also urged to bail out grass roots football clubs.
      Ray Fiveash, chairman of Southern League side Welwyn Garden City, said: “We are worried about losing our very club.
      “We are looking for funding. The Premier League has had too much money and we haven’t had enough, it is dreadful.
      “The Premier League should move more money about.
      “Jamie Vardy and Stuart Pearce both played grassroots football and both went on to play for England.”

      Boris Johnson reveals new restrictions on sporting events More

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      Man Utd fear Victor Lindelof is ‘burned out’ and fatigued… despite playing just two games this season

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       MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly worried Victor Lindelof could be battling with fatigue – despite playing just two games so far this term. 
      The Swedish centre-back struggled during his team’s shock loss to Crystal Palace last weekend and was not involved in their midweek League Cup tie at Luton. 

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      Reports claim United officials are concerned Victor Lindelof could be struggling with fatigueCredit: Getty – Pool

      And while the ex-Benfica player, 26, made a comeback in United’s 3-2 away win against Brighton, the Daily Star claims the club fears the defender could be burdened by exhaustion. 
      Lindelof made 47 appearances for United last term, but was left out of Sweden’s Nations League game against Spain following team medics’ concerns over his physical condition. 
      And the 26-year-old’s recent performances have come in for criticism, with Red Devils icon Rio Ferdinand urging his old side to consider buying a new defender. 
      Ahead of the 3-2 win at Brighton, Ferdinand told BT Sport: “I want Jadon Sancho, he’s a generational talent, but the centre-back position should be a priority over anywhere else in the transfer window.

      “This was an area I’ve been mentioning for many months. It’s still not been addressed.”
      This month SunSport exclusively revealed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were on the hunt for at least two more signings ahead of transfer deadline day. 
      The Manchester giants have strengthened their midfield with a £39million swoop for Donny van der Beek this summer

      But it is unclear whether a new centre-half is a priority for the club who finished third in the Premier League last term. 

      However the Daily Star claims the club’s interest in bringing in a defender is intensifying, despite the recent return to fitness of Eric Bailly. 
      The Ivory Coast international, who spent most of last season sidelined by injury, made an appearance in United’s win against Brighton and in their 3-0 EFL Cup tie victory against Luton Town. 

      Mason Greenwood says, ‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ to play for Man Utd More

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      Oxford bus stalls for SIX HOURS en route to game as coronavirus-tackling alcohol spray sets off anti-drink-drive system

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      OXFORD UNITED had to abandon their team bus after an alcohol spray used to combat coronavirus set off the anti-drink-drive system.
      The bus stalled for six hours – meaning the squad had to use cars and taxis to reach Accrington’s ground in time for kick-off.

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      Oxford United went on to win the match 4-1Credit: Pro Sports Images

      Oxford’s coach sprayed sterilising alcohol gel around the cabin to make sure everyone on board is Covid-19 secure.
      But some of the spray was picked up by a sensor that stops the coach driver starting the vehicle if they have drunk alcohol.
      The League One stars had to find an alternative way of getting to the Wham Stadium.
      After the disastrous journey, manager Karl Robinson said: “Our coaches broke down.

      “We had to get changed in a hotel and make our way in staff cars, get taxis, you name it.
      “We also had four players test positive for Covid-19 on Thursday but it’s not Covid, there’s a flu going around.
      “But you can’t change it. Things aren’t falling in our favour but it’s not going to change our mentality.
      ” The players are motivated by what’s gone wrong.”

      Despite arriving later than planned, Oxford United managed to pick up three points with a 4-1 win.
      James Henry opened the scoring before Ryan Cassidy bagged the equaliser in the 72nd minute.
      An own-goal by Joe Pritchard gave them the lead before Matt Taylor found the net twice in two minutes.

      Michael Gove says govt is postponing return of fans to stadiums as he suggests it may have been wrong to stage events in early days of coronavirus More

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      Bowyer confirms Charlton plan THREE signings with Watson already in as embargo is lifted after Sandgaard takeover

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      LEE BOWYER hopes to make THREE signings before Sunday’s game against Lincoln City.
      And the first of them has already arrived with former Crystal Palace and Wigan midfielder Ben Watson arriving from Nottingham Forest.

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      Lee Bowyer is determined to strengthen his Charlton squad – and Ben Watson has already arrivedCredit: PA:Press Association

      Chartlon’s transfer embargo has been lifted following the arrival of new owner Thomas Sandgaard.
      The Danish businessman, 62, has insisted he wants to see his side “going for trophies”.
      And Bowyer, 43, faces a race against time to bolster his squad ahead of this weekend’s match.

      He said: “The embargo has been lifted, yeah.
      “We’re moving straight away to get people signed for the weekend.
      “We play Lincoln on Sunday and having a Sunday fixture has probably done us a favour because we’ve got that extra 24 hours to be able to bring players in who can then be available for the squad.
      “A minimum of two [signings before the match] and hopefully – I don’t think it’s the right thing to do [name the players] at the moment. ”

      Charlton confirmed the arrival of Ben Watson, 35, later on Friday evening.
      Bowyer said: “To bring in someone like Ben, with the experience that he has, is brilliant.
      “We have a few younger players with us at the moment, so having someone with his experience this season is going to be so important. I’m delighted that he’s chosen us.”

      Bowyer’s side have rejected offers for Alfie Doughty, Dillon Phillips and Macauley Bonne – and the new owner is not expected to sell any of his players anytime soon.
      Former Leeds star Bowyer continued: “We have to do it the right way in case things don’t go the way we want them to go.
      “Clubs will still make offers – I have no doubt in that.
      “We were never going to accept an offer that we didn’t see the value of the player.
      “So nothing has changed on those lines.
      “Obviously if the right offer came in and financially it would be good business for the football club then it doesn’t matter what player, you have to look at the situation and see if it the right deal for the club.

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      Thomas Sandgaard plays in a rock band and is recording their debut albumCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “Thomas is here now and he has said ‘no one is for sale’. But we were saying that before.
      “The most important thing is we’ve got financial stability and we don’t have to sell.
      “Whereas people before, I believe, were trying to take advantage of how weak we were.
      “Now they realise we’re not so weak anymore, so the price will definitely be right.”

      Thomas Sandgaard announces to Jim White that he is the new owner of Charlton Athletic More

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      Grimsby Town announce clash vs Cheltenham postponed after unnamed player tests positive for coronavirus

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      GRIMSBY TOWN have postponed their game against Cheltenham after one of their players tested positive for coronavirus.
      The League Two clash has been called off less than 24 hours before kick-off.

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      One member of Grimsby Town’s squad has contracted coronavirusCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Grimsby confirmed all of their players will now have to self-isolate.
      A statement posted to the club website read: “As a result of one of our first team squad players contracting Covid-19, our fixture away at Cheltenham Town, scheduled for Saturday 26th September, has been postponed.
      “In line with medical advice received from the EFL, our own medical team and in line with Government guidelines, all players will now face a period of self-isolation at home.
      “The club did consider testing the squad today however, the medical advice received was that such testing would be of no effect as the incubation period of the virus being a minimum of five days, with the squad last being in contact with the player three days ago.”

      The League Two side confirmed a date for the rescheduled match will be revealed in “due course”.
      Grimsby’s statement continued: “In addition, we have received confirmation from the EFL that match passes purchased for tomorrow’s fixture will be valid for the fixture when it is rearranged.
      “A revised date for the rearranged fixture will be confirmed in due course.”
      Cheltenham’s statment read: “Everyone at Cheltenham Town wishes the player involved a speedy recovery and we look forward to welcoming the Mariners later on in the season.”

      Leyton Orient’s game against Walsall on Saturday has also been suspended due to the club’s coronavirus crisis.
      Some 18 O’s players or staff tested positive for Covid-19 on the same day they were supposed to play Spurs in the Carabao Cup.
      Orient’s Carabao Cup clash against Tottenham also had to be called off.

      Michael Gove says govt is postponing return of fans to stadiums as he suggests it may have been wrong to stage events in early days of coronavirus More

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      Thomas Sandgaard is new Charlton owner, loves rock music, plays guitar in his own band, and is worth £400m

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      THOMAS SANDGAARD has two loves – rock music and football.
      And while most people are thinking towards their retirement at the age of 62, the US-based Danish businessman has decided to pursue new careers involving his biggest passions.

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      Rock ‘n’ roll businessman Thomas Sandgaard has bought CharltonCredit: Instagram / @sandgaardfnd

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      Sandgaard has acquired the club from ESICredit: Twitter

      Having acquired a personal wealth believed to be in excess of £400million supplying medical devices, Sandgaard is recording a debut rock album as lead guitarist of his newly-formed band The Guardian Angel.
      Alongside that, he has just completed a takeover of the Addicks from East Street Investments.
      And the musician has a Eurovision dream – to rock The Valley with European football.
      He told SunSport: “I’m competitive so want Charlton going for trophies.

      “The more important ones are when you’re in the Premier League – but to do that you need infrastructure supporting it.
      “Then we can be playing for silverware on a European level and I mean the Europa League and Champions League.”
      That is some claim for a club that has been out of the top flight for 13 seasons and had THREE different chairmen in the last year.

      SANDGAARD ON LEE BOWYER

      LEE has done a superb job and plays a positive high-energy game that you need to be successful.

      It’s the football I like to watch as a fan. He clearly has all the players playing for him and my first aim if I take over will be to make him my best friend.

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      Sandgaard plays in a rock band and is recording their debut albumCredit: Instagram / @sandgaardfnd

      Now, he’s the owner he can look forward.

      But the big question is why would a Dane living in the US want to buy a League One club in turmoil?
      Especially a man with experience in medical supplies.
      In 1996, he founded Zynex a company that markets electrotherapy devices for use in pain management, physical rehabilitation, neurological diagnosis and cardiac monitoring.
      He said: “I’ve two passions – rock music and football.
      “I was a bit of a nerd when I was 13 so decided to go out and buy a guitar because I wanted to be one of the cool kids and be a rock musician. 

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      Sandgaard made his £400m fortune supplying medical devicesCredit: Instagram @sandgaardfnd
      “But I also played football at amateur level in Denmark and started to love the English game when I watched Chelsea on TV winning the FA Cup in 1970.
      “I moved to the States more than 20 years ago to start my own business out of a one-bedroom flat and spent years personally bankrupting myself to make sure wages and bills were paid. 
      “But in the last few years I’ve reached a point financially where I can do something like this.
      “Three months ago, a friend asked, ‘Have you thought about owning an English football club?’
      “And I thought, ‘Wow, that could be one of the more positive things I could do in my life.’”

      Sandgaard on relationship with Charlton fans

      I WENT on social media mainly to try to get communicating with Roland Duchatelet and ESI, who were hesitant on picking up the phone at the start.

      But the happy side effect of that was I’ve started having great dialogue with the fans. I’ve learned so much from them and they’ve actually helped me a lot in my negotiations to buy the club.

      So Sandgaard networked with various clubs as well as coaching staff at several teams.
      He held talks with QPR but “they wanted a couple of hundred million” then looked at Sunderland before settling for Charlton.
      The Dane explained: “They stood out. Take the ownership drama and relegation out of the equation and everything is good.
      “The foundations are right, they’ve an amazing history and had a lot of Danish players over the years like Allan Simonsen, Dennis Rommedahl and Claus Jensen.”

      Sandgaard on immediate plans

      THE club needs stability.

      I am not going to make a wild claim that we will be in the Premier League in x-amount of years. No, we will focus on getting this club stable for the next two years and build from there.

      Sandgaard’s first concern is to keep Lee Bowyer as manager and vowed not to make sweeping changes to the long-suffering staff who have been trying to run the club in difficult circumstances.
      However, he will recruit experienced football executives to provide leadership.
      One person he will offer a role to is Peter Varney, who not only is a lifelong fan but was CEO when the club were in the Premier League.
      And he also has pledged to make sure the club remain at The Valley and their training ground with fears among fans that both could be sold for housing.
      And – although Sandgaard acknowledges there is a need for clubs to operate within their financial means – he has vowed to give Bowyer funds to strengthen.

      Sandgaard on his favourite player

      ALAN SIMONSEN – who joined Charlton from Barcelona – was one of the best Danish players ever.

      He had great vision and, like a chess player, could see four or five plays ahead. I
      He signed for Charlton after scoring the deciding goal for Barcelona in the European Cup Winners Cup final in 1982.

      He said: “I want to strike a balance between investing to be successful and sticking to within the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules. It’s about being smart and the best in the environment you’re in.
      “Fans were unhappy with Roland’s vision for the club and his investment. It’s maybe not how I’d have done things because we have different philosophies.
      “I’d focus more on football than just looking at Charlton as a capital investment.”
      So when will Sandgaard have time to finish this album? He has been working with Danish drummer Kenny Aranoff, who played with greats such as Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, BB King, Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Bon Jovi and Meat Loaf.
      And he in turn roped in Bon Jovi lead guitarist Phil X and Jane’s Addiction bassist Chris Chaney.
      Sandgaard – who has Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water as his personal mobile dialling tone – said: “We got together for five days straight in a studio for 12 hours solid and recorded nine tracks.

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      Now a takeover is done, Sandgaard can concentrate on recording his rock albumCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      “Covid-19 – and now Charlton – have delayed things but I’ve been buying up all the domain names for when we finally launch.”
      And he might do a gig at The Valley and invite assistant-manager and guitar-playing singer Johnnie Jackson to join him.
      He laughed: “I never knew about Johnnie but been checking him out online. He’s really good. If we get promoted, we’ll have to do a gig.”

      England wonderkid Jeremy Sarmiento impresses at Benfica after Charlton move More

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      English football offered life-saving £250m loan by American pension fund with no Government bailout

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      ENGLISH football has now been offered a life-saving £250million loan by an AMERICAN pension fund.
      It comes after Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston yesterday announced there would be no Government bailout for our game.

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      English football has been offered a live-saving mega money loan from across the pond

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      EFL chairman Parry has laid bare the extent of trouble the lower leagues are in – but they could be saved by this £250m US loanCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      EFL chairman Rick Parry said clubs will need up to £250m to survive the pandemic-hit season without fans.

      Rotherham chief Tony Stewart warned: “A lot of clubs in League One and League Two — even the Championship — will go into administration if no money is forthcoming.”
      The US proposal would see Premier League sides pay the interest on the debt, which would be paid back over a number of years by EFL clubs.

      It was revealed by former top agent turned football finance expert Jon Smith. He said: “EFL teams have a financial hurricane that will blow their way by the end of the transfer window.
      “By November, there are probably ten clubs that won’t exist unless they get help. What I and a few people have proposed, is that the funds I represent are prepared to put in the £200m and some the EFL needs, with interest paid by the Premier League.
      ‘Not money-laundering funds’
      “They are American pension funds, proper people — not money-laundering funds.”
      Smith insisted future EFL TV income would pay back the capital sum.

      He told talkSPORT he had “entered discussions” with the Prem, although League sources suggested that there were no ongoing talks.
      Top-flight teams are reluctant to hand over bailout cash to the EFL without guarantees on how it would be spent.

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      And Prem clubs were hardened by what was described privately as the “unhelpful” intervention by Huddleston.
      He told MPs: “We will expect the top tiers of professional sport to look at ways it can support itself with the Government focusing on those most in need.”
      Clubs have accused the Government of ignoring their pleas for stronger efforts to get fans back inside grounds — after plans to begin a staged reopening from October 1 were placed on hold.
      One Prem chief said: “We have done a lot for the Government — but we don’t know what they have done for us.
      “We have come up with lots of great ideas on health, safety and testing and been ignored.”
      Huddleston admitted the ban on fans “will have economic consequences.”
      Rotherham chairman Stewart added: “The Government, Premier League and EFL need to realise the dire consequences.
      “They know the disaster that is waiting to happen — but still nothing is forthcoming.”

      Boris Johnson reveals new restrictions on sporting events More

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      Lincoln 2 Liverpool 7: Minamino and Shaqiri inspire Klopp’s kids to set up Arsenal clash with dominant win

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      MOVE over Chelsea, there’s a new bunch of kids in town.
      Stamford Bridge has been the breeding ground for the best young talent coming through in England, but Liverpool now boast a crop ready set the world alight.

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      Liverpool set up a Carabao Cup clash against Arsenal with a 7-2 thrashing of Lincoln CityCredit: Reuters

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      Takumi Minamino scored twice as a young Reds side ran rampantCredit: Reuters

      Jurgen Klopp watched on as his dazzling youngsters turned on the style to seal a fourth round clash with Arsenal and Mikel Arteta is sure to be a worried man on the evidence of this display.
      It was men against boys – and youth came out on top.
      Lincoln were actually supposed to provide a stern test for Klopp’s team containing four teenagers, having won four matches already this season.
      Imps boss Michael Appleton had instructed his players to get stuck into the champions, to unsettle them and show them what senior football is all about.

      The trouble is they just couldn’t get close enough to Liverpool to put their foot in.
      Before the Anfield club splashed out on Thiago and Diogo Jota last week there had been claims from outside the club that there wasn’t enough strength in depth on Merseyside. Don’t believe a word of it.
      For jostling in line for a place in Klopp’s Premier League plans is a group full of quality right across the pitch – from debut-making 19-year-old Rhys Williams to Harvey Elliott two years his junior.
      And right now perhaps the best of the bunch is Curtis Jones, the local lad who has already started to make strides into the first team picture at Anfield.

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      It was a goal fest for Jurgen Klopp’s young RedsCredit: Rex Features

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      Curtis Jones continued to impress as he scored a doubleCredit: Reuters

      The 19-year-old looks to have the kind of footballing brain only the best possess, and his ability on the ball is just as good.
      He scored a brilliant double to put the Imps to the sword to cap a wonderful individual display which will surely give his manager food for thought as he tries to plot his way through the congested fixture list.
      It was actually a golden oldie who set Liverpool on their way – Xherdan Shaqiri sending a ninth minute free-kick dipping and curling into the top corner.
      At 28, and on the fringes of things now on Merseyside, his time at the club might be nearing an end but it was vintage Shaqiri providing a reminder of the quality he possesses in his left foot.

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      The likes of Virgil van Dikj helped steer Liverpool’s youngsters to victoryCredit: Reuters

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      Divock Origi bagged Liverpool’s seventh in the final momentsCredit: Getty – Pool
      Takumi Minamino is just at the start of his Anfield career and will hope to be challenging Roberto Firmino for a starting role in the coming months
      And he did his chances no harm with an emphatic finish to double the lead on 18 minutes as Lincoln were overrun.
      Then up stepped Jones to stamp his mark on the game, firing his first by controlling a Divock Origi knock-down before whipping a shot into the top corner on 32 minutes.
      Barely three minutes had passed before the teenager struck his second, and though it was aided by a deflection, the swivel of the hips to beat his man in the build-up was a joy to behold.

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      Xherdan Shaqiri displayed his brilliant technique despite being out of favourCredit: Rex Features

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      Takumi Minamino scored twice in the emphatic winCredit: Rex Features
      Liverpool were relentless, and they added a fifth within 20 seconds of the second half starting, Minamino following up after Elliott had been denied by keeper Alex Palmer.
      This mad match wasn’t finished there, though as Tayo Edun pulled a goal back to the delight of those home supporters lucky enough to be in the LNER Stadium.
      Marko Grujic fired a sixth for Liverpool on 65 minutes, but seconds later Lincoln found a second goal as Lewis Montsma headed in off the underside of the bar.
      Jota then came off the bench for his debut following his £41million move from Wolves and saw a low drive just pass the wrong side of the post.
      Origi made it seven with two minutes left, racing away on the break to shoot into the bottom corner.

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