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)