FORGET mystic meerkats, uncanny octopuses and even good old-fashioned crystal balls – this eerie Anfield tale might freak you out.

Fans reckon Fabrizio Romano metamorphosed from transfer guru to “time traveller” – as he spooked them out with his mid-match messages in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Chelsea.

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The journalist’s millions of followers already believe he is in the loop with his transfer insights – but never before in a TIME loop.

Romano saw the Reds return top of the Premier League with Arne Slot‘s 10th victory in 11 matches since his summer arrival as boss.

But amid a new blitz of VAR dramas, the Italian sparked a conspiracy – with the mysterious timing of his posts about Diogo Jota.

The Liverpool winger was caught up in a major first-half talking point.

With the score goalless, the Portuguese hero escaped through the middle but was hauled down by Tosin Adarabioyo.

The Chelsea centre-back was only booked, leaving Arsenal fans furious as they claimed William Saliba’s red-card foul 24 hours earlier was identical.

Jota never fully recovered from the knock, meaning he was replaced by Darwin Nunez on the half-hour.

Unfortunate, you might think, but nothing untoward.

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Except, as one fan posted: “16:43pm: Fabrizio Romano tweets Diogo Jota has left the pitch with an injury despite him not.

“17:02pm: Diogo Jota leaves the pitch with an injury. Is this brother a time traveller…?”

A second observer added: “At least now we know why he knows all the transfer news? He’s a time traveller.”

A third supporter noted: “He also got the replacement correct.”

And a few went even further down the “sub leak” rabbit hole with suggestions like: “This just proves that football is scripted.”

But others attempted to ease the conundrum by pointing out: “He left the pitch for a few minutes earlier and Nunez was warming up.”

At least Romano didn’t share extra-early details of how Jota suffered his blow.

Otherwise it might have been a case of Whack to the Future.

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Glasgow City go into the international break top of the SWPL after handing unlucky Dundee United the biggest defeat of the season so far.

Extreme weather conditions took their toll on the weekend’s fixtures, with Aberdeen v Motherwell called off and the remaining matches played in stormy conditions.

City moved a point clear of Hearts at the top of the table after racking up 13 without reply against United at Foundation Park, as the bottom side saw their chances of a result end with the dismissal of goalkeeper Beth Rennie inside just two minutes for handling outside the area.

Lisa Evans converted the resultant free kick, before an Emily Whelan hat-trick, braces from Nicole Koslova and Brenna Lovera, and strikes from Natalia Wrobe, Aleigh Gambobe, Sofia Maata, Lisa Forrest and a first goal for the club for Katie Lockwood wrapped up the win.

Hearts had to wait until the 75th minute to breach Montrose’s defences, with Emma Brownlie cross to the back post finding Bayley Hutchison to head home the opener

Within two minutes Hutchison had doubled Hearts’ lead, turning home Sade Adamolekun’s low cross. Adamolekun set up the third with two minutes remaining, putting substitute Monica Forsyth to slot past Montrose goalkeeper Kirsten Pratt.

Edinburgh rivals Hibernian came within seconds of a win over Rangers, before Jo Potter’s side snatched a last-gasp draw in farcical weather conditions at Meadowbank.

Eilidh Adams had put the hosts ahead with her third penalty of the season, but missed from the spot late on as the wind continued to move the ball.

The visitors found a renewed spirit from the save, and pressed Hibs back up the field, winning a free kick in stoppage time. Katie Wilkinson’s effort was saved by Erin Clachers, but Rio Hardy nipped in to blast home the rebound and grab the equaliser.

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has pulled out of the Northern Ireland Open for medical reasons.

The Belfast event, which starts on Sunday, will be the third straight tournament the Englishman has missed after he sat out both the British Open and the Wuhan Open.

O’Sullivan’s withdrawal was confirmed by the World Snooker Tour on Sunday night and his first-round opponent Long Zehuang receives a bye into the last 32.

The 48-year-old has not played competitively since losing in the first round of the English Open on 17 September.

The current world number five lost to Judd Trump in three successive NI Open finals between 2018 and 2020 but also withdrew before last year’s event for medical reasons.

LUKE LITTLER was left “disgusted” as Luke Humphries dumped him out of the Czech Darts Open and romped to his TENTH title in just over a year.

The teen sensation could not stop the World No1 clinically winning their semi-final in Prague 7-4, before Humphries walloped Kim Huybrechts 8-1.

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Littler, 17, simply had no answer to old foe Humphries, who didn’t miss a double in the opening seven legs to lead 5-2. 

However, The Nuke was still in with a shout of coming back until a messy ninth leg. 

Both players made a hash of the checkouts, Littler blowing five chances to break the Humphries throw. 

‘Cool Hand’ took out double one to extend his lead to 6-3 and then delivered  double 12 kill to knock out his big rival and friend. 

Humphries ended with an average of 108 with an outstanding 53 per cent checkout success rate. 

Sky Sports Commentator Dan Dawson said: “It was a stunningly high quality game. 

“The World No1 has asserted his authority, Littler bows out with a tournament average of over 110. 

“As you can see he is disgusted he has not completed one of the greatest Euro tour campaigns we’ve ever seen.”

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Humphries went on to dismantle Belgium’s World No 38 Huybrechts to pick up the £30,000 top prize.

He said: “I think I played a solid game. When I played Ritchie Edhouse in my first game I felt good but I felt like I needed a spark. 

“It kind of did happen today. I felt that spark again. I still want to change something, I still know there’s another level in me that can get better. 

“Luke (Littler) was probably one of the fantastic players of the tournament. But I knew I could beat him. I’ve done it many times and I believed in myself. 

“It’s a nice way to cap off what hasn’t been my best ProTour year.”

‘The Nuke’ had stormed through to the last four with a new Euro Tour average record of 116.51 average in beating Damon Heta 6-3.

He then gave Michael van Gerwen a 6-1 battering. The Dutch star’s 112.19 average was the highest losing average in Euro Tour history. 

The Warrington whizkid hit six 180s – leaving MVG’s 112.19 average as the highest ever from a loser in the history of the PDC European Tour. 

And the gobsmacked Dutchman took it in the best possible spirit.

Alongside a picture of himself playfully grabbing Littler’s neck, he posted on X: “This is not gonna happen again.

“Fantastic game by @LukeTheNuke180. What a talent. All the best.”

Littler’s Czech run came after he appeared to let slip by mistake that he had a new girlfriend.

He was gaming with friend ‘Angry Ginge’ when a female voice off camera said: “I’m gonna try and get some sleep because I am so tired.”

Angry Ginge pressed him on who it was – with Littler seeing the funny side but also sounding unhappy his possible secret might be out.

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At the end of the U.S. GP in Austin, winner Charles Leclerc, runner-up Carlos Sainz, and third-place finisher Max Verstappen all stood on the podium — but something was missing. Three things, in fact. None of the podium finishers of the U.S. Grand Prix were awarded the much-hyped trophies from Pirelli that were shown off in the days before the race. 

Dubbed “Heroo,” built by Pirelli, and designed by Italian artist Matteo Macchiavelli, each of the original trophies had a black body and articulating arms made from carbon fiber, with a chromed head that matched the finishing position: gold (sprinkled with actual gold dust) for first, silver for second, and titanium for third.

After the race, Pirelli confirmed to Motorsport.com that the company — in conjunction with the race promoter, and after informing the FIA — pulled the trophies from usage because it had been made aware of potential similarities with other designs. (The trophies closely resemble sculptures and collectibles created by the brand Bearbrick.)

Sainz and Verstappen lofted miniature tires like the ones given as Saturday’s qualifying awards. Leclerc appeared to be holding a tall metallic tube-shaped trophy. All three had to be flown in by Pirelli from one of the company’s U.S. offices after it pulled the original trophies, the company confirmed to Motorsport.com.

Pirelli introduced the trophies at the start of the week, and showcased them on the grid the day before the race, posing them on the pit wall and giving them their own paddock pass credentials. Pirelli also originally mentioned that collectible “art toys” would be put on sale for the public, which also may have led to potential issues.

Since Sunday’s race ended, Pirelli went so far as to remove the original link on its press site announcing the trophies. 

Everton are ready to make a move for AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze, Manchester United retain hope of signing Alphonso Davies, Dusan Vlahovic could yet end up at Arsenal.

Everton are plotting a move to sign AC Milan’s Nigeria winger Samuel Chukwueze, 25, in the January transfer window. (Football Insider), external

Manchester United are aiming to convince Bayern Munich full-back Alphonso Davies, 23, to choose them over Real Madrid when the Canada international’s contract expires at the end of the season. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

Arsenal could land long-term Serbian target Dusan Vlahovic, 24, for a bargain price because the Juventus striker’s talks with his club over a new contract are not progressing well. (Caught Offside), external

Incoming England manager Thomas Tuchel has parted ways with long-time coaching partner Zsolt Low before taking up the Three Lions role. (Sun), external

Aston Villa have entered the race to sign Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo, 25, from Brentford. (TBR Football), external

Manchester United may loan Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee, 23, to Juventus if they sign RB Leipzig’s Slovenian frontman Benjamin Sesko, 21, next summer. (Tuttomercato – in Italian), external

Manchester City, Liverpool, and Tottenham have set their sights on Real Valladolid’s Spanish winger Raul Moro, 21. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

Borussia Dortmund’s English winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, 20, is drawing interest from Arsenal, Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest – though the German club want more than £50m for the player before they will consider selling. (Caught Offside), external

Arsenal, Juventus, AC Milan and Napoli are among the clubs watching Como and Argentina midfielder Nico Paz, 20. (Nicolo Schira on X), external