Tough COVID-19 restrictions have cast a pre-winter gloom across Merseyside but at least Everton supporters have something to lift their spirits after their side's storming start to the Premier League season.

On Saturday Carlo Ancelotti's table-toppers host champions Liverpool at Goodison Park flushed with a rare sense of superiority over their Mersey rivals. Everton boast the only 100% record in the Premier League from teams that have played four games, are averaging three goals per game and in Dominic Calvert-Lewin have the division's joint-leading scorer.

MANCHESTER, England — Premier League clubs on Wednesday rejected plans put forward by Liverpool and Manchester United for radical changes to the league's structures and finances and said they would conduct their own review of the game.

The "Project Big Picture" proposals would have seen an increase in funds for the 72 clubs in the Football League (EFL) but also include special voting rights for the biggest clubs in the Premier League and a reduction of teams in the top flight from 20 to 18.

A West Ham United supporter has been banned from attending soccer games for three years after he pleaded guilty to racially abusing Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.

Bradley Thumwood, 48, was handed a ban ordering after appearing at Thames Magistrates' Court on Tuesday following an incident during West Ham's 2-0 defeat by Liverpool at the London Stadium on Jan. 29.

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has said their embarrassing 7-2 thrashing at Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday was unacceptable and vowed that the players will react positively after the international break.

A sensational first-half hat-trick from Ollie Watkins helped Aston Villa to a stunning 7-2 victory over Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday to end the champions' 100% start to the season in extraordinary fashion.

Liverpool started badly at Villa Park as a poor pass from Adrian — deputizing for Alisson in goal for the visitors after the Brazilian picked up a shoulder injury — gifted Watkins the opener in the fourth minute.

Oh NO, Adrián!

Liverpool forward Sadio Mané has become the second player from the English Premier League champions to test positive for COVID-19 this week.

The club said in a statement on Friday that the Senegalese, who scored in Monday's 3-1 league win over Arsenal, has displayed minor symptoms of the virus but feels in good health overall.

Sadio Mane has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently self-isolating according to the necessary guidelines.