Zinchenko gets deserved reward for fighting spirit

ZINCHENKO GETS HIS REWARD ALEKS Zinchenko has lived a charmed life at Manchester City. After an uninspiring time away on loan, he could have gone to Napoli in the summer of 2017 but opted to stay and wait for an opportunity. It came thanks to his willingness and ability to play in a different position and he ended the season with two winners’ medals.

Even then, Pep Guardiola was willing to sell him with serious interest from Wolves among others, and he could have also left this January.

However, the decision to stay and fight for his place has won out every time and Mendy’s injury continues to present chances.

If the fact that the Ukrainian is the only player to have started in every round of the League Cup hints at his role as a squad or fringe player, that he was picked for the league game against Chelsea earlier this month highlights just how far he has risen.

This was one of his most accomplished performances defensively, successfully shackling two excellent players in first Willian and then Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Another medal for the collection, and Zinchenko’s place in the squad has never been more secure.

JORGINHO SHOWS HIS CYNICAL SIDE JORGINHO has been the poster boy for Maurizio Sarri’s faltering Chelsea in much the same way that John Stones was scapegoated in Guardiola’s first year, but the Chelsea midfielder produced a textbook Fernandinho foul as Raheem Sterling raced towards goal in the final ten minutes of normal time. It gave him a yellow card but also provided some much-needed respite for his team, who cut out any danger that the free-kick presented. It was a timely reminder that the Italian is more useful than has been made out at times this season.

NICE TOUCH FROM CITY FANS THERE was applause and singing from the whole City end after 32 minutes in support of the fan critically injured in Germany this week. After the horrible news, it was a nice touch to show that the whole Blue family is fighting for one of their own.

ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE LEAGUE LIVERPOOL’S point at Old Trafford takes them top of the table by a point but the performance and result should encourage City. Against a United team missing Anthony Martial and Nemanja Matic that then had to make three substitutions before half-time and leaving Marcus Rashford to soldier on his own up front, Jurgen Klopp’s side produced the kind of anaemic performance up front that proved Jose Mourinho’s undoing in trying to catch City last year.

It is now one win in the last five games for the league leaders after failing to break down a Bayern Munich defence at Anfield, and that will add to the pressure for their games with Watford and Everton this week.

On paper, City have it easier with a home tie against West Ham before a trip to Bournemouth - but injuries to Laporte and Fernandinho could make things much harder.