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