Mkhitaryan endures miserable debut as Arsenal slump at Swansea

Welcome to Arsenal, Henrikh Mkhitaryan. You would feel sorry for the new arrival if this was -- in any way -- a surprise, but The Armenian international surely knew what he was joining: A side, whose 3-1 defeat to the team at the bottom of the Premier League, could not be described as a shock.

Sam Clucas scored twice and Jordan Ayew added the other when taking advantage of a comical error by Petr Cech. As the hosts roared to victory, it seemed long ago that Nacho Monreal gave the away side a lead in the first half. From there it was textbook Arsenal, with plenty of pleasant football but nothing to show for it.

It has been like this for so long that such a result won't change anything. Or, at least, while Arsene Wenger is still in charge. The Liberty Stadium bounced at the end as their team celebrated a win that followed victory in their last league games vs. Liverpool, while the Arsenal fans slunk home as they have done many times before.

Against Swansea, the Frenchman came on for what is set to be his last Gunners' appearance
There was a slight surprise on the Arsenal teamsheet, not so much on the pitch but the bench, where new signing Mkhitaryan sat beside Olivier Giroud, despite the French striker's apparently impending move to Chelsea.

In the wake of his side's disappointing display in South Wales, Wenger paid tribute to his departing forward.

It's a tribute to Olivier (that he played) because he is a guy who gave great service to the club, he never let us down on the commitment front and saved us many times,' Wenger said.

'I took him from Montpellier and made him a strong international player for France. We have come together through good and bad but always his behaviour was top, top class.' 

‘Serba salah dibuatnya...’(Stadium Cheras jadi rebutan)

Adnan (tengah) bersama dua pemain baharu Kuala Lumpur, Achmad Jufriyanto (kiri) dan Muhammad Syazwan Andik pada majlis menandatangani kontrak pemain baharu, semalam.

PERSATUAN Bola Sepak Kuala Lumpur (KLFA) meluahkan kebimbangan seandainya banyak pasukan berminat menggunakan Stadium Cheras sebagai gelanggang rasmi saingan Liga Malaysia (Liga-M) 2018.

Presidennya, Datuk Seri Adnan Md Ikhsan berkata, pelbagai masalah boleh timbul sekiranya stadium itu diguna pakai banyak pasukan dalam saingan Liga Malaysia 2018.

“Sebenarnya dah ada beberapa pasukan buat permohonan untuk menggunakan Stadium Cheras. Sebelum ini dua pasukan Liga Perdana iaitu PDRM dan UKM menyatakan minat mereka beraksi di situ.

“Tapi perlu ingat padang hanya satu. Kalau satu pasukan Liga Super dan satu pasukan Liga Perdana guna mungkin boleh bergilir-gilir, tapi kalau ada dua pasukan Liga Super yang jadikan stadium itu sebagai gelanggang rasmi mungkin boleh timbul masalah nanti,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditemui selepas majlis menandatangani pemain baharu di Menara Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan, semalam.

Jawapan itu seolah-olah memberi bayangan bahawa KLFA tidak begitu selesa dengan pendirian pasukan Selangor yang berminat menjadikan Stadium Cheras sebagai gelanggang rasmi mereka selepas gagal mendapatkan Stadium Shah Alam dan Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil sebelum ini.

Bagaimanapun, Adnan menjelaskan beliau dan persatuan tidak mempunyai sebarang masalah dengan pasukan Selangor memandangkan kedua-dua pasukan boleh dianggap seperti adik-beradik.

“Bukan kita ada masalah dengan mereka atau apa, cumanya kita bimbang jika terlalu banyak pasukan menggunakan  padang itu dalam banyak perlawanan berasingan, ia akan menjejaskan kualiti padang itu sendiri.

“Lagi pun, mungkin akan timbul isu lain membabitkan jadual perlawanan pula. Semua sedia maklum jadual perlawanan liga kita sentiasa padat,” katanya lagi.

Difahamkan setakat ini hanya pasukan Liga Perdana, iaitu PDRM FA sahaja yang mendapat kelulusan untuk menjadikan Stadium KLFA Cheras sebagai gelanggang rasmi.

Status permohonan Selangor berkaitan gelanggang rasmi pasukan sehingga kini masih belum diputuskan oleh pentadbir Liga Malaysia, Perkongsian Liabiliti Terhad Bola Sepak Malaysia (FMLLP).

Liverpool crash out of FA Cup at hands of West Brom

• Roberto Firmino earned Liverpool an early lead in spectacular fashion as he lobbed Ben Foster
• Jay Rodriguez was on hand to respond for West Brom as he netted twice inside four minutes at Anfield
• Joel Matip scored an own goal before Mohamed Salah clawed one back late on for the home side
• West Brom held on for a heroic FA Cup upset over Jurgen Klopp's side to move into the fifth round draw 

Jurgen Klopp’s first trophy in England won’t be the 2018 FA Cup. Liverpool’s exit against West Brom was every bit as chaotic and confusing as the use of the video assistant referee saw the first half alone over-run by seven minutes.

In possibly the wackiest evening Anfield has ever witnessed, Liverpool took the lead, were 3-1 behind at half-time and narrowly failed to gain a replay after Mo Salah netted his 25th goal of the season late on.

To add to the Saturday night drama, referee Craig Pawson used VAR Andre Marriner eight times, two of which led to lengthy delays.

*Referee Craig Pawson called upon aid from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) on numerous occasions during the encounter

First, he disallowed a goal by Albion’s Craig Dawson after guidance in his earpiece. Then, midway through the first half, it took three minutes 54 seconds between Mo Salah being fouled by Jake Livermore and Roberto Firmino taking the resulting penalty. as Mr Pawson heard from Mr Marriner and then went to the touchline to check the offence himself on a monitor.

To add to the farce, Firmino then crashed the resulting spot-kick against the underside of the crossbar. It was that sort of occasion.

Advocates of VAR will say justice was served because two major decisions were judged correctly because of technology.

But the flow of the game was constantly interrupted and the fans inside Anfield had no access to replays meaning they spent a lot of time sitting and waiting rather than watching.

‘Are we going to start taking goals away from the entertainment for those slight margins. That is a worry,’ said Pardew aftewards, and he was the winning manager.

Though it was a terrific game, a proper cup-tie, it hat was despite rather than because of VAR. To add to the confusion, only four minutes of overtime was played at the end of the first half even though the delays had been a lot longer that.

Even without the distraction of VAR, Liverpool will know their cup exit was self-inflicted and manager Jurgen Klopp didn’t try to pretend otherwise. ‘It was poor defending. Just bad goals,’ he said.

Both he and Pardew made only three changes each which gave the fourth round tie a sense of importance. Liverpool have won just one trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2006 so any chance of silverware is not to be taken lightly.

Saturday night football might not be everyone’s cup of tea, or pint of lager, but there was a crackling atmosphere under the lights at Anfield, the kind that inspires forwards and makes defenders wither.

Perhaps it explains why there were three goals in the opening 11 minutes.

Liverpool struck first when Jonny Evans, in possibly his last Baggies game before joining Arsenal, reacted badly to Chris Brunt’s wayward pass, waiting for goalkeeper Ben Foster to come out and claim.

Instead, it allowed Salah to nip in and though Foster raced out to block the Egyptian’s shot, Firmino lifted the rebound into an empty net with a cute finish.

who broke the deadlock first after two errors in a row from Albion.

Liverpool’s lead lasted barely just a minute. Brunt won a 50-50 with Georginio Wijnaldum, accelerated past Trent Alexander-Arnold and squared a pass to Jay Rodriguez.

The forward hit a brilliant finish with the outside of his right boot that swerved away from Mignolet and, incredibly, he then scored again after 11 minutes to put the visitors ahead. 

This time, Emre Can was guilty, beaten beaten in midfield by Grzegorz Krychowiak. The Pole motored into the box, slipped a pass outside to Kieran Gibbs and his first-time cross was sidefooted home by an unmarked Rodriguez from eight yards.

The striker is currently waiting to hear if he’s going to face an FA charge of racial abuse after an incident earlier this month involving Brighton’s Gaetan Bong. Pardew described his on-pitch contribution last night as ‘terrific’ but Klopp could only howl at more defensive frailties.

‘Long ball, West Brom win the first challenge, win the second challenge. We should have cleared the ball but then the disaster starts with the run of Rodriguez and fantastic finish.

‘For the second goal we lose Rodriguez in the box. It makes no sense.’

The drama then took a modern twist with a double dose of VAR. First, Craig Dawson rose above Firmino to head in a Brunt corner to make it 3-1. Or so Albion thought. The referee asked whether the goal should stand and over in west London Marriner checked the footage and found that Gareth Barry had been standing in front of Mignolet, in an offside position.

Instead of being 3-1 down, it was only 2-1 and Firmino was then given his chance to level from the spot which he fluffed.

Albion had to reshuffle before half-time when Kieran Gibbs and Hal Robson-Kanu both limped off.

But they still scored again before the interval, Krychowiak finding Dawson whose low cross was turned into his own net by Joel Matip. The German attempted a backheeled clearance, missed and watched as the ball hit his standing left leg and rolled over the line.

West Brom didn’t hold back as they kept their lead in the second half. Ahmed Hegazi left Firmino doubled up in pain after stamping on his foot but got away with it.

Klopp made a triple change and watched as Foster saved from two of his subs, Danny Ings and James Milner. Jordan Henderson also came on for his first action of 2018 following a hamstring injury.

After 78 minutes, Liverpool scored their second goal. Alexander-Arnold’s cross from the right bounced off Firmino and fell nicely for Salah, who despatched his finish first-time past Foster.

*Salah jogs back to the centre after his late effort proved not enough to revive Liverpool's FA Cup hopes

It was the Egyptian’s 25th goal of an extraordinary debut season in England. Not quite as extraordinary as this game, however. 

PERAK perkenal jersi baharu 2018

Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Zambry Abd. Kadir (tiga dari kiri) menyarungkan kalungan kapten pasukan kepada Nasir Basharudin yang dilantik secara rasmi sebagai ketua pasukan skuad Perak.

IPOH - Perak melancarkan jersi baharu yang menggunakan jenama Al-Ikhsan secara rasmi bagi menghadapi saingan Liga Malaysia (Liga M) musim ini di Bulatan Amanjaya, Meru di sini sebentar tadi.

Pengenalan jersi tersebut disempurnakan oleh Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abd. Kadir di hadapan kira-kira 2,000 penyokong pasukan The Bos Gaurus.

Turut hadir, Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Perak (Pafa), Datuk Seri Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan.

Pasukan Perak telah menggunakan jenama Al-Ikhsan empat tahun berturut-turut sejak tahun 2015 dan memperkenalkan jersi utama berwarna kuning dan merah bagi jersi kedua untuk musim 2018.

Pada majlis tersebut, Pafa memperkenalkan seramai 25 pemain yang menyertai skuad The Bos Gaurus pada saingan Liga M musim ini.

Zambry turut menyarungkan kalungan kapten pasukan kepada Nasir Basharudin yang dilantik secara rasmi sebagai ketua pasukan skuad The Bos Gaurus. - K! ONLINE

Liverpool idam belasah West Brom (kosmo)

Liverpool tewas mengejut pada aksi liga ketika menentang Swansea & mereka mahu mempamerkan kebangkitan ketika berdepan West Brom pagi esok

LIVERPOOL – Liverpool sedia menjadikan West Bromwich Albion sebagai mangsa kebangkitan pada pusingan keempat Piala FA di Anfield awal pagi esok.

Skuad kendalian Jurgen Klopp itu tewas mengejut 0-1 kepada pasukan tangga tercorot, Swansea City pada aksi Liga Perdana England Selasa lalu.

Justeru, mereka sedia untuk kembali ke landasan sebenar dengan menjadikan West Brom sebagai mangsa dalam aksi Piala FA sekali gus melangkah ke pusingan kelima.

The Reds dilihat memiliki peluang cerah untuk menewaskan West Brom apabila pemain-pemain utama seperti Sadio Mane dan Mohamed Salah berada pada prestasi terbaik ketika ini.

Pada masa sama, bek kiri Liverpool, Alberto Moreno mula kembali menjalani latihan penuh selepas pulih daripada kecederaan buku lali sejak 6 Disember lalu.

“Saya tahu bukan mudah untuk kembali merebut tempat dalam kesebelasan utama selepas pulih daripada kecederaan, lebih-lebih lagi pasukan seperti Liverpool.

“Apabila saya mengalami kecederaan, Andy Robertson mengisi kekosongan yang ditinggalkan dan dia menggunakan peluang itu dengan baik. Bagaimanapun, saya sedia merampas kembali tempat saya daripadanya,” tegas Moreno. – Agensi

Coutinho mulakan langkah kanan

COUTINHO (kanan) membuat debut bersama Barcelona apabila membantu pasukan itu mencatat kemenangan 2-1 secara agregat ketika menentang Espanyol pada aksi Piala Raja Sepanyol awal pagi semalam.

BARCELONA – Ketua jurulatih Barcelona, Ernesto Valverde menaruh harapan yang tinggi terhadap pemain tengah baharu, Philippe Coutinho selepas pemain tonggak kelahiran Brazil itu beraksi cemerlang pada debut di saingan suku akhir kedua Piala Raja Sepanyol menentang Espa­nyol awal pagi semalam.

Pada aksi yang berlangsung di Camp Nou itu, bekas pemain Liverpool tersebut masuk sebagai pemain gantian pada minit ke-68 dan hampir berjaya membantu rakan pasukan, Luis Suarez meledakkan gol ketiga buat Barcelona pada aksi yang berkesudahan dengan keputusan 2-0.

Barcelona mengesahkan tempat ke aksi separuh akhir menerusi kemenangan secara agregat 2-1.

“Pemain yang hebat sentiasa cepat menyesuaikan diri dalam apa jua keadaan. Countinho telah menunjukkan keserasian dengan corak permainan kami pada hari ini (semalam).

“Kami menaruh harapan yang sangat tinggi kepadanya untuk membantu jentera sera­ngan Barcelona menjadi lebih tajam. Gaya dan corak permainannya sangat sesuai di sini, malah dia juga sangat cekap dalam melepaskan diri apabila berhadapan situasi satu lawan satu.

“Perlawanan ini adalah permulaan baginya. Bukan mudah untuk pemain baharu turun beraksi pada perlawanan yang sukar seperti ini tetapi Coutinho berjaya melakukannya de­ngan cemerlang,” ujar Valverde.

Pada aksi tersebut, gol pembukaan terhasil menerusi percubaan Suarez seawal minit kesembilan manakala gol kedua dijaringkan gol pemain terbaik dunia, Lio­nel Messi pada minit ke-25.

Mengulas mengenai aksi anak buahnya, pengendali berusia 53 tahun itu mengakui dia sangat berpuas hati dengan prestasi para pemain sambil menjelaskan tuah lebih memihak kepada pasukannya.

“Kami bernasib baik kerana Espanyol tidak menjaringkan satu gol yang boleh membuatkan kami tersingkir pada saingan ini,” kata­nya. – Agensi

Sanchez stars in comfortable FA Cup win over Yeovil

PLAYER RATINGS: Alexis Sanchez was driving force but Marcos Rojo buckled under pressure

• Sanchez (8) was at the heart of everything good about United on his debut 
• Unconvincing Rojo (5) was fortunate to escape his sixth booking in nine games 
• Victor Lindelof (6) is still getting used to the physical aspect of English football

Manchester United (4-3-3)

Sergio Romero – 6.5

Largely untroubled, but produced a good low save early on to deny Jordan Green. Solid enough with his handling, but still miles off the class of David de Gea.

Matteo Darmian – 6

Failed to deal with one driving run from Ryan Dickson. You wanted to see more in attack from the Italian, especially against League Two opposition. That's why Antonio Valencia is No 1.

Victor Lindelof – 6 

Better than his centre-half partner, but still room for improvement. Getting used to the physical aspect of English football, he was certainly given a rough working over here.

Marcos Rojo – 5 

Decent enough on the ball, but thoroughly unconvincing at centre-half. Put under pressure far too easily by Sam Surridge and mistimed a series of challenges. Lucky to escape without a first-half booking.

Luke Shaw – 6.5 

Neat and tidy in possession and worked well with Alexis Sanchez down the left. Could have overlapped United's new signing on the outside on occasion when he cut inside. Not spectacular, but not bad either.

Michael Carrick (captain) – 7 

Only his second appearance of the season following a long-term absence and a small procedure on his heart. Solid enough in midfield and passed the ball well. Helped young Scott McTominay through the game alongside him.

Ander Herrera – 7

Scored the second goal which ended Yeovil's hopes with a crisp finish. The Spaniard ended a flowing team move in fine fashion, but had Sanchez to thank for the assist. Still tends to let some games pass him by.

Scott McTominay – 6 

Has been given his chance by Jose Mourinho. Produced an impressive display in the Carabao Cup win at Swansea earlier in the season. Growing into his United career.

Juan Mata – 6.5 

Bit-part figure. You got the feeling he was operating at half pace here. Had a second-half goal ruled out for offside and was replaced shortly after, perhaps with Tottenham in mind.

Alexis Sanchez – 8 

Was at the heart of everything good about United on his debut for the Red Devils. Showed few signs of rustiness, driving at the Yeovil defence and creating the first goal for Marcus Rashford. One turn had the home crowd gasping in admiration and he also set-up Herrera's clincher. Impressive.

Marcus Rashford – 7 

Frustrated figure in the first half. Couldn't stretch the Yeovil defence, but showed predatory instincts to score crucial opening goal before the break. The hosts were always going to struggle to come back from there.

Subs: Lukaku - 7 (for Mata 65), Lingard - 7 (for Sanchez 72), Gomes – 6 (for Rashford 88)

Manager: Jose Mourinho - 7

CARABAO CUP : ARSENAL ke final slps tumpaskn Chelsea

Arsenal into the final

Just two days after Alexis Sanchez completed his move to Manchester United, Arsenal have shown they can still succeed without the Chile international by booking their place in the Carabao Cup final, where they will meet Manchester City.

It was not pretty - two deflections off Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger led to the Gunners' goals - but Arsene Wenger, who is yet to lift this trophy, will not mind. "You won't remember who scored and how they scored. Who cares? Another final for Arsenal, another final for Arsene. That was the right answer after Alexis Sanchez left," said Sky Sports pundit Thierry Henry.

Chelsea coach Antonio Conte: "My thoughts are there is disappointment for the final result. I think my players must be pleased with their effort, we tried to reach the final, we conceded two goals and we were unlucky, two deflections

Swansea kejutkan the Reds (Swansea 1 - 0 Liverpool)

RESULT EPL 130118 : WEST HAM Lanzini & SPURS Kane berpesta gol

Manuel Lanzini and Marko Arnautovic secure an emphatic victory for the Hammers after Mark Noble's opener

MC menang lagi | Watford jd mangsa

Sterling goal after 38 seconds was Man City’s 3rd fastest goal in #PL history, behind Jesus Navas v Spurs in Nov '13 (13 seconds) & Geovanni against Wigan in Dec '07 (29 seconds)

Harga Van Dijk ‘tidak sihat’

VAN DIJK menjadi pemain pertahanan termahal dunia selepas Liverpool memecahkan rekod pembelian bintang Belanda itu daripada Southampton Rabu lalu.

LIVERPOOL – Pengurus Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp menyifatkan pembelian mencecah nilai £75 juta (RM410 juta) untuk mendapatkan Virgil Van Dijk sebagai ‘tidak sihat’, namun menjelaskan The Reds hanya mengikut serta menyesuaikan diri dengan harga pasaran pemain.

Van Dijk, 26, sah menyertai Liverpool dari Southampton berkuat kuasa 1 Januari selepas kedua-dua kelab Liga Perdana England itu bersetuju dengan memecah rekod perpindahan dunia pemain pertahanan.

Klopp sebelum ini mempersoalkan Manchester United membeli Paul Pogba dengan nilai £89 juta (RM487 juta) pada tahun lalu berkata, Liverpool tidak memiliki banyak pilihan selepas pasaran pemain dilihat mula berubah selepas Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) membeli Neymar daripada Barcelona dengan yuran perpindahan termahal dunia bernilai £198 juta (RM1.084 ­bilion).

“Yuran perpindahan £75 juta bagus untuk Southampton. Mereka juga mahu menguatkan pasukan.

“Adakah kamu fikir, apabila mereka pergi ke kelab, jika pemain itu bukan ejen bebas, adakah kelab ini sanggup menerima bidaan sebanyak £5 juta (RM27 juta) bagi mengintai pengganti?

“Saya akui harganya ‘tidak sihat’ tetapi itu realiti dalam pasaran dan kami harus menyesuaikan diri dengan baik,” kata Klopp.

Harga Van Dijk melonjak selepas menandatangani kontrak baharu pada Mei tahun lalu dan melanjutkan kontraknya sehingga 2022. – AGENSI