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    Man Utd verdict: Antony is already stuttering with some embarrassing, frustrating, frayed-temper moments included

    IT was the stop-start cameo which in many ways perfectly summed up Antony’s first four months at Manchester United.Ten minutes into the second half he slipped a bog standard pass to Diogo Dalot, on United’s right flank, 25 yards from the opposition goal.
    Antony poked home Manchester United’s openerCredit: Getty
    But the rest of his performance yielded a frustrating gameCredit: Getty
    Dalot rolled the perfect ball back beyond the Everton defence, where he thought Antony was running…only to see it drift harmlessly out for a goal kick.
    Instead of going for the return, Antony was rooted to the spot. Not so much stop-start, as start then stop.
    Which is how life at Old Trafford has been for the Brazilian since his £82 million arrival from Ajax last summer.
    An eye-watering fee, but one Erik ten Hag felt worth paying for a young man with a reputation as one of Europe’s best wingers.
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    And when Antony marked his debut against Arsenal with the opener in a 3-1 win, the Stretford End did indeed appear to have a new hero.
    Yet in reality that was probably as good as it got for the South American before he headed off to the World Cup.
    Yes, there were another couple of goals – one of the compensation strikes in an Etihad derby hiding – and the first in the league win at Everton.
    But there were also horrible moments. Embarrassing moments. Frustrating, frayed-temper moments.
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    None worse than the showboating spin against FC Sheriff in the Europa League, followed by a pass straight into touch.
    That was the last we saw of Antony until domestic action resumed after Qatar, although Ten Hag insisted he hadn’t featured because of injury.
    Whether it had been enough to keep him out for the five games it did is questionable, and the manager was fuming enough to say he “would correct him” after that spin.
    Ironically it was one of the things which had the Old Trafford crowd on its feet…and he’d done precious little for too long before that. It was the same again here against Everton.
    Three minutes on the clock he was sliding United’s opener into an empty net with a superbly timed far post arrival to meet Marcus Rashford’s cross.
    But if the fans thought that would be the injection of confidence he needed, how wrong they were.
    Instead it was a cut inside or, worse still, a cut back. Rarely even an attempt to take on his full back, aside of one flash of magic near the end, before he was eventually hooked.
    Ultimately it didn’t stop United’s progress into the fourth round. Yet even that, rather like Antony’s Old Trafford career, was more stuttering than full steam ahead. More

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    Man Utd ratings vs Everton: Marcus Rashford on fire again but Antony struggles after David De Gea shocker

    DAVID DE GEA has Marcus Rashford to thank after he inspired Manchester United past Everton in the FA Cup. The Spaniard produced a massive error in the first half which allowed a low-on confidence Everton side to net an equaliser and cause United a big FA Cup headache.
    Man Utd progressed past Everton in the FA CupCredit: Getty
    Marcus Rashford inspired the team into the next roundCredit: EPA
    David De Gea has Rashford to thank after his huge blunderCredit: ITV
    However, two dangerous Rashford runs from the left flank which saw low crosses zipped across the area resulted in two goals which gave the Red Devils enough to go progress.
    The first saw Rashford skip past Ben Godfrey to fire a ball to the far post for Antony to poke in the opener after four minutes.
    The second saw Christian Eriksen ping the ball cross field before Rashford take on and beat Seamus Coleman before whipping a cross into the six-yard area where Conor Coady turned the ball into his own net.
    Regardless, Erik ten Hag’s side are through, and in the cup that is all that matters.
    Here’s how SunSport’s Tony Robertson rated the Red Devils.
    David De Gea – 4
    Just what was he doing? A grievous error in the first half gave United all sorts of problems against a previously low-on confidence Everton side.
    He will have done himself no favours on his side in terms of sealing a new contract at Old Trafford, on the day Jack Butland has just arrived too.
    Diogo Dalot – 6
    Returned to the team for the first time since the International break and looked like he lacked some match sharpness.
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    Not his usual best but gave United security on the ball down the right flank.
    Raphael Varane – 7
    Did all he could in intercepting a pass right before De Gea’s gaffe made all his work mean nought.
    Good on the ball and assured in possession throughout.
    Luke Shaw – 6
    Returned to left centre back and while he once again proved solid there, a game on the knife edge needs Shaw’s ability on at left wing-back.
    Too slow to get back in and mark Dominic Calvert-Lewin when he netted a second Toffee’s equaliser – though it was ruled offside.
    Tyrell Malacia – 6
    Clear to see why he is such a reliable star for Ten Hag, but also why when is whole team is fit he is second choice to Luke Shaw at left-back.
    Produced a crunching tackle on Alex Iwobi on the second half, and flew into a number of other challenges throughout, which saw the Everton man to be forced off through injury.
    Tyrell Malacia flew into tackles throughout the clashCredit: Getty
    Casemiro – 6
    A below par game for the Brazilian, particularly poor on the ball a number of times but still broke up attacks generally well.
    Too easily shoved aside by Amadou Onana prior to Conor Coady’s equaliser in the first half.
    Christian Eriksen – 7
    Another quiet game for the Dane but distributed the ball well from his deeper playmaking role throughout.
    Pinged a beautiful pass to Rashford before he zipped in a low cross which caused Coady’s own goal.
    Bruno Fernandes – 6
    A similarly quiet game from him but in this new system he is no longer the only player relied upon to spark a United goal.
    Harried and harassed the Everton backline and midfield well.
    Antony – 5
    Poked home the opener inside four minutes but his game quickly unravelled with the exception of a few bright spots.
    His seeming complete unwillingness to use his right foot greatly hinders what he can offer this United side and often makes him more of a liability than a threat.
    Marcus Rashford – 9
    The best player on the pitch by far. Excellent burst of pace to set up to set up Antony’s opener.
    Remained bright throughout the first half and created United’s second goal with a dangerous run and zipped ball into the danger area to be turned into his own net by Coady.
    Well-deserved goal from the penalty spot at the end.
    Marcus Rashford created two goals and added one himselfCredit: Getty
    Anthony Martial – 6
    Linked play with team-mates well and showed why he is a good fit for the United system with some decent hold up play.
    However, squandered a one-on-one he should have scored vs Jordan Pickford which proves why Ten Hag is desperate for another striker.
    Subs
    Fred (on for Casemiro, 71 mins) 6
    Broke up play and launched counter-attacks much like his compatriot Casemiro, but added energy came at cost of midfield control.
    Alejandro Garnacho (on for Martial, 71 mins) 6
    Another bright cameo off the bench for him. Lacked real impetus but did won a penalty at the end.
    Must be wondering what more he can do to earn a start over Antony.
    Lisandro Martinez (on for Shaw, 77 mins) 6
    Dealt with the physical battle from Everton’s forward’s well. Welcome minutes in the tank while getting clattered by Onana late on.
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    Harry Maguire (on for Eriksen, 83 mins) 6
    Came on to help United deal with an aerial bombardment led by Calvert-Lewin.
    Scott McTominay (on for Antony, 83 mins) 6
    Like Maguire came on to help steady the ship in the latter stages. More

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    When is FA Cup fourth round draw? Date, start time, TV channel, live stream FREE details

    FA CUP action is back this weekend and fans are eager to see their teams progress to the next round.The third round of the competition got underway on Friday night as Manchester United beat Everton 3-1 at Old Trafford.
    Liverpool beat Chelsea in last season’s FA Cup finalCredit: Getty
    And tomorrow, Tottenham take on Portsmouth and Liverpool face Wolves, while Aston Villa host Stevenage.
    On Sunday, it’s a clash of the titans as Chelsea travel to Manchester City, just days after playing them in the Premier League.
    The final game of the round will be played between Arsenal and Oxford on Monday.
    When is the FA Cup fourth round draw?
    The FA Cup fourth round draw will take place on Monday, January 9.
    The draw will get underway after Arsenal’s away trip to Oxford at round 10.30pm GMT.
    What TV channel is it on?
    The FA Cup fourth round draw will be shown live on ITV 1/ITV X once the Oxford vs Arsenal game is over.
    You can live stream the draw from the ITV X app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
    How many teams will be in the hat?
    There will be 32 teams in the hat for the FA Cup fourth round draw.
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    Some teams will have to wait a little longer to find out their true fourth round fate, however, because of potential replays.
    Replays, in the event of a draw, are back this season up until, and including, the fourth round. More

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    Man Utd 3 Everton 1: Coady own goal, Antony & Rashford spare De Gea’s blushes after blunder to reach FA Cup fourth round

    ERIK TEN HAG COULD not wait for his first taste of a competition he calls ‘special’.And this didn’t let him down.
    Antony slid home early doors to give Man Utd the leadCredit: Reuters
    Conor Coady then got Everton level after a David de Gea howlerCredit: AFP
    The Utd keeper allowed this cross through his legs for Coady to slide homeCredit: ITV
    The Toffees defender then put through his own net to hand the victory to UtdCredit: Rex
    A thrilling FA Cup tie beneath the lights at Old Trafford which looked to have been decided by a Conor Coady own goal in the 52nd minute.
    An injury-time penalty from man of the match Marcus Rashford put extra gloss on the victory which saw Antony open the scoring on four minutes before Coady himself had levelled ten minutes later.
    So into the fourth round for Manchester United after a seventh successive win in all competitions.
    For Everton boss Frank Lampard the headache gets more intense although his side did not lie down here and were only denied a second equaliser by a very tight VAR decision.
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    With chants of ‘sack the board’ from the 9,000 away fans and the regular ‘we want Glazers out’ from the most vociferous home section the Director’s Box may not have felt the full warmth of the crowd last night.
    Both sides on the pitch did, however, as they played out a cracker that had an explosive opening 15 minutes.
    Ten Hag is clearly showing his intent to get silverware this season in whatever competition with the teams he fields.
    Last night’s eleven showed four changes from that which took Bournemouth apart by 3-0 here on Tuesday. It made it stronger if anything.
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    Indeed only the absence of Lisandro Martinez made it short of what many would consider to be his best side.
    Lampard also made four changes as he looked for a bounce back from that embarrassing 4-1 home defeat to Brighton on Tuesday.
    He reverted to the five at the back that had served him so well in earning a draw across town here at The Etihad against Manchester City on New Year’s Eve.
    Having said that it didn’t take long for United to breach it here with that early opening goal.
    United really are a great sight in full flow once again under Ten Hag.
    Anthony Martial was lively from the off and when he turned on the centre circle and sent the ball out wide to Marcus Rashford the Red Devils were off.
    There is nobody bursting with more confidence right now than the revived Rashford whether in front of goal or in linking with opponents.

    He has speed and swagger again earning him the yard he needed to deliver the perfect ball to the far post for Antony to slide onto and turn in.
    Martial had a long conversation with Bruno Fernandes on the plane out to Australia in pre-season about how they can start linking up better.
    They did just that when a poor clearance by Jordan Pickford bounced of Christian Eriksen and Fernandes put Martial in but his effort went just wide of the far post.
    Everton responded and on 12 minutes Demarai Gray’s shot from the edge of the area hit the post, the David De Gea’s head and fell back just the wrong side of the upright.
    But Everton were level when De Gea dropped a right clanger.
    The Spaniard had made three world-class saves in the win over Bournemouth but won’t want to see a replay of the moment that gifted the equaliser.
    Marcus Rashford added the gloss with a late penalty in additional timeCredit: Getty
    Amadou Onana fed Neal Maupay whose shot from a narrow angle squirmed through De Gea’s legs at the near post and Coady was there first to poke home.
    United almost regained their lead immediately when Rashford played Martial in one-on-one but Pickford came to the rescue.
    There is no let up in Ten Hag’s demands on his team and they have responded.
    Witness the workrate in winning the ball back in Everton’s defensive corner just before half time as four men hounded down the visitors who were trying to play out from the back.
    Diogo Dalot’s crunching tackle on Idrissa Gueye won the battle in the end and when the ball sprang to Christian Eriksen his shot went just over the angle.
    The second-half did not start well for Everton with first Alex Iwobi stretchered off after he went over on his ankle following a challenge from Tyrell Malacia.
    Then came the own-goal but credit Rashford for forcing the error.
    Eriksen found him with one of his pinpoint cross field balls that the 25-year-old immediately brought under his control.
    Seamus Coleman shuffled to block all angles but Rashford evaded him with ease before pulling a ball back from the byline into the six-yard box.
    Coady felt he had to intervene but in so doing turned the ball past his own goalkeeper.
    Everton thought they had an equaliser on 73 minutes after a slick break saw Coleman find Demarai Gray who fired the ball into the near post from Dominic Calvert Lewin, just on as a sub, turned it in.
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    It had always looked tight when Coleman found Gray and the VAR concluded he was just offside.
    Rashford then put the icing on the cake from the spot as United saw it out. Ten Hag marches on. More

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    Everton star Alex Iwobi almost in tears as he’s stretchered off with nasty ankle injury during Man Utd clash

    ALEX IWOBI was stretchered off the pitch after suffering a horror ankle injury in Everton’s FA Cup clash at Manchester United.The Toffees midfielder put his hands over his face as he left the field looking visibly emotional.
    Alex Iwobi was stretchered off with a nasty ankle injuryCredit: Getty
    Iwobi’s right ankle rolled following a tackle from Tyrell MalaciaCredit: AP
    His foot appeared to get stuck in the turfCredit: Getty
    An emotional Iwobi covered his face with his hands as he was stretchered offCredit: Reuters
    Ex-Arsenal ace Iwobi, 26, rolled his ankle following a challenge by Tyrell Malacia during the FA Cup third round game.
    The Everton star was on the charge down the right hand side when tackled by Malacia, who got a foot on the ball.
    He fell to the ground after appearing to get his foot caught in the turf.
    Toffees skipper Seamus Coleman immediately called for doctors to tend to the midfielder.
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    After being treated to on the field, Iwobi was taken off by stretcher.
    The injury comes as a huge blow to under-fire boss Frank Lampard.
    Iwobi has started all 18 of Everton’s Premier League games this season.
    The FA Cup clash was 1-1 when Iwobi went off midway through the second-half.
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    Antony had put United ahead early doors, only for Conor Coady to equalise for the visitors after a David De Gea howler.
    Coady then had a shocker of his own, scoring an own goal that saw the Red Devils retake the lead.
    Rashford then sealed the win from the spot in injury time to send United the Red Devils into the hat for the fourth round. More

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    ‘Are Interpol after him?’ – Fans beg Roy Keane to bring back beard as he shows off moustache on ITV’s Man Utd coverage

    ROY KEANE returned to TV screens after his stint with ITV at the World Cup.And the Manchester United legend caused an instant stir on coverage of Friday’s FA Cup clash between the Red Devils and Everton.
    Roy Keane showed off a new look ahead of the FA Cup third roundCredit: ITV
    Fans begged for Keane to grow back his iconic beardCredit: Getty
    ITV pundit Keane, 51, showed off a new look ahead of the game.
    The Old Trafford icon sported a bushy moustache, having shaved off his legendary beard for the World Cup final last month.
    On that occasion Keane had an impressive moustache complete with a soul patch under his bottom lip.
    Now though Keane has shaved off the soul patch, but kept the moustache.
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    While has array of facial hair is impressive, fans have been left crying out for Keane to bring back his iconic beard.
    One joked on social media: “Roy Keane looks different every time he’s on TV. Are Interpol after him or summat!?”
    Another added: “Someone please tell Roy Keane that tash is criminal. Grow that beard back NOW.”
    A third quipped: “Please lose the caterpillar under your nose. Beard yes, but muzzy = No.”
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    And a fourth declared: “What the hell is that on Roy Keane’s face. Bring the beard back.”
    On the pitch Antony put the Red Devils ahead early on after poking home a Marcus Rashford cross.
    But Erik ten Hag’s side weren’t ahead for long.
    A howler from David De Gea allowed Conor Coady to stab into the back of the net from close range.
    Coady himself then scored an own goal that saw United retake the lead, before Rashford sealed the win in injury time from the spot. More

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    ‘The f*** is he doing?’ – Man Utd fans slam David De Gea after howler gifts Everton equaliser in FA Cup clash

    DAVID DE GEA came under the spotlight of Manchester United fans after a huge error in their FA Cup clash against Everton.The usually reliable Spaniard failed to deal with a low cross at from Neal Maupay, seeing the ball cannon off both feet before it squirmed through his legs to allow Conor Coady to tap in.

    David De Gea failed to deal with Neal Maupay’s low crossCredit: ITV
    The ball then cannoned off both feetCredit: ITV
    And squirmed through his legsCredit: ITV
    Straight into the path of Conor CoadyCredit: ITV
    Who tapped the ball home to equaliseCredit: ITV
    And the bizarre incident left United fans wondering just what he was doing.
    Taking to Twitter one fan asked: “What on earth was De Gea doing?!”
    A second added: “What the hell was that 😳”
    A third remarked: “What did I just watch?”
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    Some fans tried to guess just what may have transpired.
    “Break dancing by the looks of it,” said one fan.
    A second said: “Making errors since he’s not done many this season. It’s tradition.”
    While another suggested: “Keeping the game interesting.”
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    The blunder comes on the day Crystal Palace keeper Jack Butland was brought in on loan to provide back up.
    And some fans want the Englishman between the sticks straight away.
    One fan said: “De Gea howler. Time for Butland.”
    A second added: “Butland where you at mate de gea is sleeping.”
    Another fan declared: “De Gea, I will forever be haunted by this comical nonsense.”
    Antony had opened the scoring for United after four minutes following an excellent burst of pace from Marcus Rashford to set up a passing lane to the far post.
    Rashford then created a second when he burst into the box and whipped a cross into a dangerous area which Coady inadvertently turned into his own net.
    The Englishman then rounded out a superb evening for himself as he netted a penalty won by Alejandro Garnacho. More

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    How Chelsea could line up for Man City rematch in FA Cup with injury-plagued Blues missing Sterling, Mount and Pulisic

    CHELSEA travel to Manchester City in the FA Cup on Sunday – three days after being beaten by Pep Guardiola’s side in the Premier League.Graham Potter’s side is now even more injury-plagued than it was for the 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
    How Chelsea could line up against Everton
    Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic were both replaced early on through injury, while Mason Mount picked up a knock in training on Wednesday.
    It remains to be seen whether any of the Chelsea trio will be involved in the weekend rematch with City.
    Last season’s losing finalists will have to get past the Premier League champions in order to be in the hat for the fourth round.
    But Potter could rotate heavily to protect his ailing squad for the league, where they are currently languishing in 10th.
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    Youngsters Lewis Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka both impressed off the bench on Thursday and could be in from the start on Sunday.
    Conor Gallagher may play in midfield alongside Chukwuemeka, having come off the bench in the last three Prem matches.
    Injuries to attackers could see Omari Hutchinson, 19, get the nod from the start.
    While injuries also mean Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kai Havertz are likely to start despite poor showings on Thursday, with World Cup sensation Hakim Ziyech an option on the right.
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    At the back Reece James’ latest injury means Cesar Azpilicueta is likely to continue on the right of defence.
    But 38-year-old Thiago Silva may be given a rest, with Trevoh Chalobah and Kalidou Koulibaly a possible centre-back pairing.
    Chalobah has been an unused sub in the last two games.
    £35million new signing Benoit Badiashile is another option, but Potter may be reluctant to throw the 21-year-old in from the start straight away.
    Another possible Chelsea line up vs Man City More