Hakan Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez both scored twice as Inter Milan won 5-1 at Monza to extend their lead at the top of Serie A.
Marcus Thuram was also on target as Simone Inzaghi’s side moved five points clear of Juventus, who host Sassuolo on Tuesday night.
Inter had started brightly, with Federico Dimarco flashing an early chance across the face of goal with an angled drive from the edge of the area.
The visitors were awarded a penalty in the 12th minute for handball by Roberto Gagliardini as he jumped to block a header from Martinez. The decision was given after a review by the referee on the pitchside monitor.
Calhanoglu confidently dispatched the spot-kick low into the bottom right corner.
Before Monza could recover, they fell further behind in the 14th minute.
Dimarco got away down the left following a swift counter attack and played the ball across the six-yard box where Martinez swept it in from close range.
Inter showed little sign of sitting back, with Thuram volleying wide after another dangerous ball from Dimarco.
Monza thought they had reduced the deficit in the 28th minute when Matteo Pessina nodded in from a free-kick when the ball dropped through to the back post – only for the goal to be ruled out following a lengthy VAR review for offside.
There was a stoppage before half-time when Monza forward Dany Mota and Inter defender Benjamin Pavard both needed to be bandaged up following a clash of heads.
Thuram blasted wide of the right-hand post from 20 yards after another swift counter attack.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan sent a half-volley from the edge of the box flying just wide as Inter looked to further extend their lead in the second half.
Calhanoglu picked up a caution in the 59th minute, which will see him suspended for the next Serie A game against Fiorentina following the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The Turkey midfielder showed no signs of letting that concern him as he slotted in Inter’s third goal following another breakaway.
After clearing from a Monza corner, Mkhitaryan darted down the left and cut the ball back for Thuram who unselfishly laid it off for Calhanoglu to net his second of the night.
Pavard’s towering header was clawed away by Monza keeper Alessandro Sorrentino, before the hosts were awarded a penalty with 20 minutes left following a foul by Matteo Darmian on Mota.
Monza captain Pessina rolled the spot-kick into the bottom left corner, sending Yann Sommer the wrong way.
Inter were awarded their second penalty of the night in the 84th minute when Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro went through the back of substitute Davide Frattesi. Martinez confidently converted for his 18th Serie A goal of the season.
Four minutes later, Thuram cut inside from the left to fire in a low drive after yet another surging run from Mkhitaryan to complete the rout.
Mainoo one of three England players to pull out of Nations League squad
England have been dealt a triple injury blow before their Nations League matches, with Kobbie Mainoo, Morgan Gibbs-White and Ezri Konsa pulling out of the squad.
Earlier on Monday, the Three Lions were boosted by the confirmation that Harry Kane's injury against Eintracht Frankfurt was not serious, and he would be able to play a part in the October fixtures.
However, the trio did not arrive with the rest of the squad at St. George's Park, and Lee Carsley is not expected to call up any replacements.
Mainoo made his international debut earlier this year and has made 10 appearances for England, with one of those caps coming under Carsley against Ireland, but a knee injury that forced him off for Manchester United against Aston Villa will keep him out.
Konsa was also forced off in the second half of that match, having suffered a hamstring injury in the 0-0 draw.
Gibbs-White, who was handed his senior England debut by the manager last month, also sustained his issue on Sunday, in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea. At under-21 level, the midfielder made 15 appearances under Carsley, with only six players featuring more under him.
England host Greece at Wembley on Thursday before travelling to Helsinki to face Finland on Sunday.
Dixon settling nicely into life at Charlton Athletic; excited to represent Reggae Boyz once again
Charlton Athletic and Jamaica striker Kaheim Dixon says he’s settling into life nicely in the English capital after his summer move from Arnett Gardens FC.
Dixon, who turned 20 on October 4, recently recorded a goal and an assist on his debut for Charlton’s Under 21s against Watford Under 21s.
“Settling in well. I’ve been getting support on and off the field. They’re treating me like family,” Dixon said of his time at Charlton so far in an interview with JFF Live on Monday.
Dixon says he’s also getting support from fellow 20-year-old Reggae Boy Karoy Anderson who has been at Charlton Athletic since 2013 and broke into the first team in 2022.
“Yes, that’s my guy as well. He’s looking out for me as a fellow Jamaican,” Dixon said.
Dixon has been selected to represent the Reggae Boyz in their upcoming CONCACAF Nations League fixtures against Nicaragua and Honduras.
“It’s a great feeling coming back to the national camp to represent my country once again,” Dixon said.
“We’re looking to grab all six points from these games,” he added.
Jamaica will first take on Nicaragua on the road on October 10 before returning home to host Honduras on October 14.
The group held their first training session on Monday at Stadium East and will hold another one tomorrow.
“It was good, high intensity. Everyone was happy and smiling so I thought it was good,” Dixon said of the session on Monday.
Jamaica currently lead League A Group B of the Nations League with four points from two games, same as Nicaragua while Honduras are third on three.
Quansah signs new long-term Liverpool deal
Jarell Quansah has signed a long-term contract at Liverpool.
The defender has been at the club since the age of five and enjoyed an impressive breakout season under Jurgen Klopp last season.
He made 33 appearances in all competitions under the German and netted his first goal for the club in the Europa League in December against Union Saint-Gilloise.
Among Liverpool players in the Premier League last campaign, he made the joint-third most blocks (eight) and won 22 of his 25 tackles in the competition.
So far under Arne Slot, he has made just two appearances, playing the first half of their top-flight opener against Ipswich Town and the EFL Cup match against West Ham.
"I couldn't be happier at this minute," the 21-year-old told Liverpool's website.
"I think the way the new manager has come in; his coaching style has definitely been a massive part of that and I think it is the best club in the world for me to develop at and become a better player.
"I think the players around me, who I'm looking to work hard off and listen to, I think they're the best in the position at the minute. So, like I said, there is probably no better place I could be."
Liverpool are also reportedly in talks with Ibrahima Konate over a new contract, while the futures of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who are all in the final year of their contracts, are still yet to be sorted.
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