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Thugs targeted the homes of two Liverpool FC stars during the side’s Champions League tie last night.

Burglars broke into Sadio Mane ’s property and smashed a patio door at the nearby home of Dejan Lovren - where they fled after being shouted at.

Detectives are now appealing for information over the raids - the latest to target the family homes of Merseyside footballers.

Officers were called to Lovren’s Allerton address at around 8pm on Wednesday night - just 15 minutes after the Reds kicked off against Maribor at Anfield.

A woman at the property reported three offenders had smashed a patio door before fleeing when she shouted at them, telling them she was calling police.

Officers arrived at the home and soon discovered Mane’s nearby house had also been targeted.

A Merseyside Police spokesman today said: “It is not known yet if anything was stolen during this second incident but the occupier has been informed.”

Police scrambled a force helicopter in response to the incidents, leading to a search of the surrounding area - including the nearby cemetery.

With both recovering from injury, neither Mane nor Lovren were in the squad for Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over the Slovenian side . Both were at Anfield for the match, however.

The police spokesman added: “The investigation by detectives is in its early stages but it is believed the offenders fled in a car and officers would appeal to anyone who saw a vehicle being driven suspiciously in the area at around 8pm to contact them.”

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Last night’s incidents are the latest that have seen Merseyside footballers targeted.

A “hooded gang” raided Roberto Firmino’s Liverpool home just before Christmas of last year, with the thugs stealing jewellery, watches and clothes valued at £70,000.

Firmino was moved to a hotel with his wife and two young children following the raid, after which the club placed a security team at his home.

And a man tried to raid Everton forward Wayne Rooney’s £6m Cheshire mansion in August 2016 - while the then Man Utd player was at his own testimonial match.

Last December Robert McNamara, then 25 and from Scarborough, was jailed after he admitted attempting to enter Rooney’s home as a trespasser with intent to steal.

Six Reds players, including Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Daniel Agger had their Merseyside homes targeted in a spate of raids over an 18 month period spanning 2006 and 2007.

Those incidents each took place on matchdays, typically while the victims were involved in European or international games, and led to police offering personal security advice to Reds players.

*Anyone with information about the incidents at the homes of Mane and Lovren’s is asked to contact detectives on (0151) 777 4060, call 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. You can also use their online form: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.