CLAIRE BLOOMFIELD IN PARIS: It was a mixed for Liverpool as Virgil van Dijk was pipped to the Ballon d'Or by six-time winner Lionel Messi, but Alisson was crowned the world's best goalkeeper.

The three Premier League clubs have sounded out Neymar's representatives about a potential move for the wantaway Brazilian - yet a return to Barcelona is still considered the most likely destination.

The 20-year-old has enjoyed a fine season at the Mestalla, scoring six goals and providing seven assists in 35 outings for the La Liga side this campaign, attracting plenty of interest.

The Borussia Dortmund star, 20, has been linked with a move back to the Premier League, with Manchester United reportedly in pole position to land the England forward this summer.

Luis Suarez finished that season as top goalscorer with 31 goals, but was forced to sit out this opening five matches as punishment for his assault on the Chelsea defender the season before.

When Jordan Henderson leads Liverpool out at Old Trafford on Sunday to the sound of This Is The One by the Stone Roses, he finds himself in an exclusive club. He played in their last win there.

Rio Ferdinand, who was on the pitch in October 2011 when Luis Suarez abused Patrice Evra, hit out at the length of time it has taken for any apology to come from those associated with Liverpool.

The Reds captain had just made his £20m move to Anfield from Sunderland in 2011 but at just 20-years-old was still finding his feet in the top flight despite excellent performances for the Black Cats.

Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has revealed that Liverpool sent him a letter apologising for how they handled the racist abuse he received from Luis Suarez in 2011.

The Uruguay international made the move to Nou Camp from the Reds in the summer of 2014 for a fee of £75million. Suarez was sensational during his time at Anfield, scoring 82 goals in 133 games.

Former Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli admitted the Reds 'let football down' in their support of Luis Suarez during his racial abuse case with Patrice Evra.

During a game between Liverpool and Manchester United in 2011, Evra and Luis Suarez were involved in an altercation and the Frenchman alleged that the former Reds star called him the N-word.

Kept his posting brief

The 41-year-old spent six-and-a-half years at Liverpool's academy and oversaw two of the Reds' first-team games this campaign but will now take charge of the League One side.

JACK GAUGHAN AT THE HIGHBURY STADIUM: Neil Critchley started coaching at Crewe's academy in his teens but taking charge of his first Blackpool fixture did not figure in the grand plan.

Grande, who won best pop song, donned an over-sized sweatshirt and knee-high boots to the special event.

It's the party that EVERYBODY wants to be seen at - and Jennifer Lopez, Kylie Jenner and Winnie Harlow battled it out for most extravagantly dressed at the MTV VMAs afterparty held on Monday.

After Liverpool wished him happy birthday on Twitter, the club's supporters inevitably took to social media to sing his praises after quickly becoming a fan favourite on Merseyside.

Despite being just 17-years-old, Liverpool starlet Ki-jana Hoever is making heads turn weekly. On the brink of U17 World Cup glory with Holland, Sportsmail takes a look at the 'new Van Dijk.'

Holland and Liverpool star Gini Wijnaldum says he would walk from the pitch were he to be targeted with racial abuse, just as Ahmad Mendes Moreira was recently in a Dutch second division tie.

A number of former wait staff at the restaurant of prominent TV personality and chef George Calombaris are alleging they were underpaid.

MasterChef viewers have mercilessly mocked George Calombaris over a 2017 scandal in which he was accused of underpaying his staff.

Kai Havertz is one of Europe's most exciting young players and is sought-after by clubs across Europe including Premier League giants Liverpool and Manchester United.

RB Leipzig chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff insists he isn't concerned about the prospect of losing Timo Werner this summer despite persistent links with Liverpool.

The 24-year-old German has scored 27 goals in all competitions this season and has fired RB Leipzig into the Champions League quarter-finals and made them Bundesliga title contenders.

The supermodel, 34, celebrated John's achievement in style as they attended the Sony Music Entertainment 2020 Post-Grammy Reception at NeueHouse Hollywood in LA on Sunday.

The Be Careful hitmaker, 27, and her husband, 28, appeared in great spirits as they attended Meek Mill's afterparty following the music event at Avenue in Los Angeles on Sunday.

After cutting an ethereal figure on the Grammy Awards red carpet, she was seen letting loose at a number of exclusive post-ceremony soirées on Sunday night.

The director of a trendy Bondi bar accused of underpaying staff while taking luxury vacations has hit back at the allegations, claiming she's been 'thrown under the bus'.

The veteran goalkeeper, could start for Liverpool away at Southampton on Saturday in the Premier League as they look to maintain their fast start to the season following their 4-1 victory over Norwich.

Organisers of the Beijing World Challenge have denied that they kicked out Justin Gatlin from their meeting and said they were 'perplexed' by the controversial sprinter's claim.

Former Manchester United and Tottenham star Dimitar Berbatov has urged Timo Werner to sign for Bayern Munich instead of Liverpool this summer. He has impressed for RB Leipzig.

Kai Havertz is one of Europe's most exciting young players and is sought-after by clubs across Europe including Premier League giants Liverpool and Manchester United.

Phil Thompson believes it is not too late for Philippe Coutinho to reignite his career by rejoining Liverpool in the summer, despite failing to achieve success at Barcelona.

Mamadou Sakho has revealed that he turned down Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Arsenal to join Liverpool. The defender joined Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain in 2013 for £18million.

RB Leipzig are yet to speak to clubs about in-demand striker Timo Werner, with Liverpool and Bayern Munich reportedly interested in a summer move for the prolific goalscorer.

Jurgen Klopp has been told Ferran Torres would be a 'perfect fit' if Liverpool make a summer move for the Valencia starlet. The 20-year-old winger has been linked with Barcelona Bayern and Dortmund.

Atletico Madrid full-back Kieran Trippier has come out in defence of his team's tactics in the valiant Champions League last-16 victory over holders Liverpool.

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: Jordi Cruyff's Monday morning column in Diario Sport was the perfect riposte to Michael Owen's tweet last week dismissing a Diego Simeone masterclass.

Barcelona hurried their signing of Gustavo Maia from Sao Paulo in order to beat competition from Liverpool and Atletico Madrid. Barca have reportedly agreed to pay an initial fee of £1million.

Maxi Rodriguez moved to Anfield from La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid 10 years ago on a free transfer after establishing himself with the Argentina national team.

Liverpool council's director of public health has suggested the rise in coronavirus cases in the city may be influenced by the decision to allow the Reds' match against Atletico to take place.

The visitors went on to win the game on March 11 and advance to the quarter-final stage of the Champions League - but there were concerns pre-match that it should not have been held.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente has auctioned off the shirt in which he scored two goals against Liverpool to raise money for Spain's fight against coronavirus. 

Around 3,000 Atletico Madrid supporters travelled for their Champions League victory in Liverpool. It came a day after LaLiga announced league games would play behind closed doors.

A scientific adviser is interested to see whether there is a link between the number of coronavirus deaths in Liverpool and Spain after the Reds faced Atletico Madrid at Anfield in March.

The match has since received a huge amount of scrutiny after a huge crowd of 54,000 - with 3,000 fans arriving from Madrid - were allowed to attend the match, against the advice of the WHO.

Diego Simeone's side prevailed at Anfield on March 11 to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals but it came against a backdrop of sporting uncertainty because of Covid-19.

The Spaniard's playing days so far have taken him from Spain, to Italy, to England and back to his homeland again, but the Liverpool centre-back has made a lasting impression.

Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final at home to Atletico Madrid will be the focus of an inquiry by the city council over concerns it spread coronavirus in the area.