Burglars target TWO Premier League footballers' homes as they play Liverpool Champions League match at Anfield

  • The Merseyside homes of Sadio Mane and Dejan Lovren were targeted in raids
  • Burglars broke into Mane's property and attempted to break into Lovren's 
  • The injured players were at Anfield watching Liverpool in the Champions League 
  • It comes just days after defender Lovren revealed he had received death threats 

Thieves targeted the homes of two Premier League footballers while their club was playing in the Champions League on TV.

Burglars broke into Liverpool star Sadio Mane's property and attempted to raid his teammate Dejan Lovren's house but fled when they were confronted.

Detectives are now appealing for information on the raids, which happened while Liverpool were playing Maribor in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Police were called to Lovren's home in the city at around 8pm, just 15 minutes after the game had kicked off.

Thieves targeted the homes of Sadio Mane (left) and Dejan Lovren (right) while the pair were at Anfield watching Liverpool play in the Champions League
Liverpool star Dejan Lovren, whose home has been targeted by thieves

Thieves targeted the homes of Sadio Mane (left) and Dejan Lovren (right) while the pair were at Anfield watching Liverpool play in the Champions League

Thieves smashed the patio door of Lovren (pictured here with his wife Anita) but ran off when a woman confronted them. It is not known if the woman was Lovren's wife

Thieves smashed the patio door of Lovren (pictured here with his wife Anita) but ran off when a woman confronted them. It is not known if the woman was Lovren's wife

When officers arrived at Lovren's home they discovered Mane's nearby house had also been targeted

When officers arrived at Lovren's home they discovered Mane's nearby house had also been targeted

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 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, who earns £90,000-a-week, nor Lovren, who earns £100,000-a-week, 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.'

The attempted raid comes just days  after Lovren received death threats.

The attempted raid comes just days after Lovren (pictured here with wife Anita), revealed he had received death threats
Dejan Lovren and wife Anita

The attempted raid comes just days after Lovren (pictured here with wife Anita), revealed he had received death threats

Mane (pictured here with Liverpool teammate Georginio Wijnaldum) is recovering from injury so did not play but was at Anfield to watch the game

Mane (pictured here with Liverpool teammate Georginio Wijnaldum) is recovering from injury so did not play but was at Anfield to watch the game

These are the latest incidents of Merseyside footballers being targeted by burglars. Roberto Firmino and Wayne Rooney have also fallen victim to raiders

These are the latest incidents of Merseyside footballers being targeted by burglars. Roberto Firmino and Wayne Rooney have also fallen victim to raiders

Earlier this week he revealed he had received a message on social media which read:  'I'm gonna murder ur family u Croatian pr*ck'.

And the 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 Liverpool 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 Liverpool players.