The houses of Liverpool players Sadio Mane and Dejan Lovren were broken into on Wednesday night during the club's 3-0 win over Maribor in the Champions League.

Burglars entered winger Mane's home before police officers were called to Lovren's address at around 8pm, where the thugs smashed a patio door.

The alleged perpetrators fled from centre-back Lovren's home after a person in the property told the burglars that they were going to ring the police.

The woman at the Croatian's house reported three offenders.

"It is not known yet if anything was stolen during this second incident but the occupier has been informed," a Merseyside Police spokesman said.

"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."

Neither player took part in the game due to injury, though both were at Anfield for the match at the time.

Lovren, who faced criticism for his performances last month, suffered an injury in the warm-up ahead of Liverpool's win over Huddersfield Town, while Mane is still recovering from a hamstring injury.