Of all the places to start his Manchester United career, Alexis Sánchez did so in the FA Cup fourth round at Huish Park, where the highest-paid player in Premier League history was kicked up in the air, booed by the locals and finally sent home with the sponsors’ man of the match award.
A double FA Cup winner, Sánchez knows this competition as well as any Englishman and, given his route to the top from a small town in northern Chile, there is nothing for him to fear at a League Two stadium on a chilly January night.
Even so, it is clear that the stakes have been raised with his move from Arsenal to United, and he is under greater scrutiny than ever before. He came up with two assists and Darren Way, the Yeovil Town manager, talked in awe of a “world-class performance”.
Jose Mourinho substituted his Chilean with around 19 minutes remaining and Sánchez's patience wearing thin with some of the treatment meted out. Mourinho said that a first-half foul on Sánchez by defender Nathan Smith should have been a red card, but he understood why referee Paul Tierney had been so reluctant to do so early in the game.
Victory was never in doubt for United, even with a team that had 10 changes from the side that beat Burnley last Saturday, and Yeovil struggled to get close.
Marcus Rashford was gifted a goal just before half-time when Thomas James, the Yeovil full-back, simply failed to realise how near the forward was to him and had the ball taken off his toe just yards from his own goal.
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- Take a look at the highlights from the game in this one. Alexis Sanchez, of course, making his debut for Manchester United after signing with them. And this is the pitch at Yeovil, not the best.
- Not the best, certainly, but one that Alexis Sanchez showed well on in his debut for Manchester United. Here, this one he sets up Scott McTominay who has a good stirke, and this is just finding its way into the corner. It's a wonderful save from the goalkeeper to keep that one at 0-0. And then, good old fashioned English tackle here. Welcome to Yeovil.
- You know, a lot of defenders said he actually got the ball.
- Alexis from a long way out. This one was comfortable for the goalkeeper, but he was leading at half time, Alexis Sanchez, in passes, touches, and shots for United. And he actually plays this pass to Rashford that lead to the goal.
- He was excellent all over the field. Again, defenders let the ball drift away from them, and Rashford needed that goal for his competence. Poor Tom Jones, gonna-- name in lights here. He doesn't get back quick enough, then when he realizes the ball's played in behind him, just clear your lines, then you could argue with a goalkeeper afterwards. You don't get that sort of time, and put that away. You gotta learn from your mistakes.
- Didn't have the best of days, young James, did he? And this one-- I just love how Alexis Sanchez just drags this ball inside, and creates the space out wide then for Ander Herrera who just smashes that one home with the left foot. It's a good strike, and you'll just see here-- here is James again. He gets sucked inside, two runners outside of him, late into the path. It's a well-timed pass from Alexis, yet again, and Herrera with the second.
- Yeah, standing ovation. I though he was excellent. Everything you'd expect from an experienced player. He had energy, getting on the free kicks, corners, a class act. And again, when you can bring the quality that they have to come-- and I thought they were ruthless, as Stewad rightly said. Going forward, always trying to create chances, and there's the-- he's like the FA Cup king. He likes his competition for Manchester United, Lingard. They keep on backing off, four of them around them, and he tucks it away. There just seems to be a good feeling about the club, a good mood. And whether that's Sanchez coming in, because look at the red shirts going forward again.
- And Lukaku, who initially falls over his role that makes all the way up from the back and it's a confident finish from the big man, the Belgian striker. Lukaku on the score sheet again, and just--
Goals from Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku seal Manchester United passage to the fifth round of the FA Cup in Somerset
FA Cup Match previews FA Cup fourth round: match previews All the news and match previews for this weekend’s FA Cup fourth-round matches Brighton supporters show their enthusiasm with a tinfoil replica of the FA Cup trophy. Their side face Middlesbrough in the fourth round today. Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Cardiff City v Manchester City
If Manchester City are to complete the quadruple they will have to get past a team whose form has been somewhat mixed in recent weeks. Cardiff are undefeated in four games having lost their previous four games, but with the canny Neil Warnock in charge and a raucous crowd behind them, they are sure to provide a test for Pep Guardiola’s side. In spite of that the Premier Leagues leaders, for whom Kyle Walker is fit having been taking off as an injury precaution in the midweek victory at Bristol City, should come through their trip to Wales unscathed. Sachin Nakrani
Sunday 4pm
Live BBC One
Venue Cardiff City Stadium
Referee Lee Mason
Head to head Cardiff wins 9 Manchester City wins 20 Draws 20
Odds H 10-1 A 1-3 D 5-1
CARDIFF CITY
Subs from Murphy, Wilson, Halford, Harris, Mendez-Laing, Paterson, Pilkington, Damour, Gounongbe, Meité, Coxe, Healey
Doubtful None
Injured Bryson (achilles, Feb), Connolly (calf), Gunnarsson (knee), Peltier (hip), Ward (knee, all unknown)
Suspended None
MANCHESTER CITY
Subs from Ederson, Touré, Adarabioyo, Díaz, Walker, Mangala, Otamendi, Sané
Doubtful Kompany (calf)
Injured Jesus (knee, Feb), Foden (ankle, Mar), Mendy (knee, Apr), Delph (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Chelsea v Newcastle United
Antonio Conte and Rafael Benítez may have very different objectives this season, but at least they can empathise with each other’s frustrations in the mid-winter window. The visitors, beaten here in early December, are unable to use their solitary addition to date given Kenedy is on loan from the Premier League champions. Conte will be tempted, though, to offer his own new player, Ross Barkley, game-time, possibly from the substitutes’ bench. The Italian insists he is still “happy” in south-west London. This fixture will test his mood. Dominic Fifield
Sunday 1.30pm
Live BT Sport 2
Venue Stamford Bridge
Referee Kevin Friend
Head to head Chelsea wins 68 Newcastle wins 52 Draws 40
Odds H 1-2 A 7-1 D 4-1
CHELSEA
Subs from Eduardo, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Rüdiger, Fàbregas, Moses, Kanté, Palmer, Barkley, Scott, Sterling, Musonda, Hudson-Odoi
Doubtful Barkley (match fitness), Fàbregas (hamstring), Cahill (hamstring), Drinkwater (match fitness)
Injured Courtois (ankle, 31 Jan), Morata (back, Feb), Willian (hamstring, Feb)
Suspended None
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Subs from Woodman, Darlow, Lascelles, Dummett, Yedlin, Lejeune, Shelvey, Hayden, Mitrovic, Aarons, Saivet, Gayle
Doubtful Lejeune (foot)
Injured Gámez (ankle, unknown)
Suspended None
Huddersfield Town v Birmingham City
Steve Cotterill should not be too fazed by the opposition considering Birmingham beat Huddersfield on the penultimate game of last season when staring relegation full in the face. The Blues are going toe-to-toe at the bottom of the second tier once again, though, and David Wagner is likely to let Alex Pritchard have free reign against a defence that has more important battles yet to come. Graham Searles
Saturday 3pm
Venue John Smith’s Stadium
Referee Neil Swarbrick
Head to head Huddersfield wins 40 Birmingham wins 38 Draws 31
Odds H 3-4 A 5-1 D 5-2
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
Subs from Coleman, Green, Sabiri, Palmer, Mounié, Billing, Hefele, Williams, Quaner, Löwe, Smith, Schindler, Lolley, Cranie
Doubtful Cranie (ankle), Lolley (hamstring), Löwe (foot)
Injured Stankovic (knee, Feb), Kachunga (knee, Mar)
Suspended None
BIRMINGHAM CITY
Subs from Trueman, Kuszczak, Maghoma, Adams, Morrison, Gardner, Jenkinson, Jutkiewicz, Roberts, Bramall, Lowe, Dacres-Cogley, O’Keeffe, Harding
Doubtful Gardner (groin) Injured Vassell (knee, unknown) Suspended None
Hull City v Nottingham Forest
After their win against Arsenal in the third round, drawing Hull was perhaps a minor comedown for Nottingham Forest, but that is nothing compared to the state their opponents are in. Hull have one win in their past 15 league games, the appointment of Nigel Adkins having not halted their slide. The FA Cup might provide respite, but there is a chance Adkins will make changes with a crucial Championship game against Leeds on Tuesday. A number of players, including Will Keane, Evandro and Fraizer Campbell, have recently returned from injury, so this could be a chance to get some game time. Nick Miller
Saturday 3pm
Venue KCom Stadium
Referee Stuart Attwell
Head to head Hull wins 25 Nottingham Forest wins 29 Draws 9
Odds H 6-4 A 2-1 D 9-4
HULL CITY
Subs from McGregor, Mannion, Andrew, Diomandé, Grosicki, Tomori, Dawson, Meyler, Larsson, Evandro, Bowen, Campbell, Luer, Odubajo
Doubtful Grosicki (ankle)
Injured Hernández (achilles, Feb), Mason (skull, unknown)
Suspended None
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Subs from Henderson, Evtimov, Traoré, Carayol, Darikwa, Mills, Vellios, Ward, Cohen, McKay, Vaughan, Hobbs, Walker, Smith
Doubtful Ward (hamstring)
Injured Murpjy (rib, Feb)
Suspended Bridcutt (first of two)
Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion
Jürgen Klopp will demand another positive reaction to defeat after his side’s 18-game unbeaten run came to a surprising end at Swansea on Monday. He will also be looking to avoid a repeat of last season’s fourth round when another west Midlands club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, won at Anfield as Klopp’s rotation policy backfired. West Bromwich Albion secured a merited goalless draw at Liverpool last month and have shown signs of recovery of late under Alan Pardew. Albion have also won four of the seven previous FA Cup ties between the clubs. Andy Hunter
Saturday 7.45pm
Live BT Sport 2
Venue Anfield
Referee Craig Pawson
Head to head Liverpool wins 68 West Brom wins 38 Draws 43
Odds H 1-3 A 10-1 D 5-1
LIVERPOOL
Subs from Karius, Can, Gomez, Lallana, Lovren, Klavan, Moreno, Milner, Solanke, Woodburn, Markovic, Ings, Sturridge
Doubtful None
Injured Clyne (back, Feb), Ward (back, unknown)
Suspended None
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Subs from Myhill, McAuley, Field, Robson-Kanu, Yacob, Livermore, Burke, Nyom
Doubtful None
Injured Chadli (thigh, Feb), Morrison (thigh, Feb)
Suspended None
Middlesbrough v Brighton & Hove Albion
A rerun of the final day of the 2015-16 Championship season when both teams were vying for automatic promotion. Middlesbrough won – albeit narrowly – at the Riverside with Brighton losing out in the play-offs. With Tony Pulis anxious to earn his new Boro side a play-off place and Chris Hughton desperate to keep Brighton in the Premier League, neither manager is likely to be left heartbroken by defeat. Neither will want a replay. Louise Taylor
Saturday 3pm
Venue Riverside Stadium
Referee Anthony Taylor
Head to head Middlesbrough wins 24 Brighton wins 9 Draws 13
Odds H 5-4 A 5-2 D 2-1
MIDDLESBROUGH
Subs from Randolph, Mejías, Clayton, Christie, Gestede, Braithwaite, Fletcher, Johnson, Fry, Guedioura, Da Silva, Baker
Doubtful None
Injured None
Suspended None
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Subs from Krul, Mäenpää, Hünemeier, Rosenior, Schelotto, Goldson, Kayal, Skalak, Lua Lua, March, Baldock, Bong
Doubtful None
Injured Locadia (hamstring, Feb), Sidwell (back, unknown)
Suspended None
Millwall v Rochdale
Rochdale will undoubtedly be fresher than Millwall as the League One side have not played since 13 January but rust could work against them. Neil Harris’s side are likely to be confident after their epic 4-3 win against Leeds last week and Rochdale’s record of one win from their past six games, in all competitions, will further boost their hopes of making the fifth round. Graham Searles
Saturday 3pm
Venue The Den
Referee Andrew Madley
Head to head Millwall wins 6 Rochdale wins 3 Draws 3
Odds H 4-7 A 6-1 D 11-5
MILLWALL
Subs from Archer, King, Shackell, Meredith, Gregory, Romeo, Tunnicliffe, Morison, Twardek, Saville, Philpot, Smith
Doubtful None
Injured O’Brien (ankle, 24 Feb), Webster (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
ROCHDALE
Subs from Collis, Moore, McNulty, Brown, Williams, Thompson, Adshead, Cannon, Morley, Kitching, Gillam
Doubtful Thompson (match fitness)
Injured Davies (knee, 10 Feb), Canavan (ankle, May), Keane (groin, May)
Cup-tied Dobre, Hart, Knott
Suspended None
MK Dons v Coventry City
MK Dons are struggling in League One and as a result have won one more FA Cup match than the two league games from which Dan Micciche’s side have earned three points since October. Micciche was not in charge then, though, and as such will hope his first game in charge can provide fresh influence and continue their Cup progress. Coventry are fairing much better in League Two, sitting sixth, and may consider their route back to League One of much greater importance. Graham Searles
Saturday 3pm
Venue Stadium MK
Referee Peter Bankes
Head to head MK Dons wins 3 Coventry wins 3 Draws 2
Odds H 6-5 A 5-2 D 9-4
MK Dons v Coventry
MK DONS
Subs from Sietsma, Upson, Cissé, Pawlett, Seager, Muirhead, McGrandles, Rasulo, Ugbo, Logan, Jackson, Nombe, Thomas-Asante, Kasumu
Doubtful None Injured Walsh (knee, May) Suspended Aneke (first of three)
COVENTRY CITY
Subs from O’Brien, McDonald, Kelly, Vincenti, Hyam, Beavon, Dion Kelly‑Evans, Devon Kelly-Evans, Hayness, Barrett, Maycock, Sayoud, Stevenson, Camwell, Finn, Ponticelli, Thompson
Doubtful McDonald (groin)
Injured Jones (knee, May), Andreu (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Newport County v Tottenham Hotspur
The League Two side’s manager, Mike Flynn, said: “I’m hoping the gods are with us,” before the plum tie with Tottenham at Rodney Parade, where temporary seating has been erected to swell the capacity to around 10,000. Flynn should have Joss Labadie and Matty Dolan available again, both having been absent for the midweek draw with Morecambe. Tottenham will hope to avoid being pushed as hard by League Two opposition as they were at this stage of the FA Cup last season, when they required an 89th-minute goal from Dele Alli to secure a 4-3 home win against Wycombe. Gregg Bakowski
Saturday 5.30pm
Live BT Sport 2
Venue Rodney Parade
Referee Roger East
Head to head Newport wins 0 Tottenham wins 0 Draws 0
Odds H 18-1 A 1-5 D 7-1
NEWPORT COUNTY
Subs from Bittner, Collins, Hayes, McCoulsky, Osadebe, Reid, White, Labadie, Dolan
Doubtful Dolan (hamstring), Labadie (hamstring)
Injured Owen-Evans (thigh, Feb), Rigg (hip, Feb), Marlon (unknown)
Suspended None
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Subs from Lloris, Gazzaniga, Aurier, Davies, Sánchez, Dier, Oakley-Boothe, Eriksen, Lamela, Alli
Doubtful Aurier (calf), Eriksen (illness), Lamela (glute), Lloris (illnes)
Injured Alderweireld (hamstring, 31 Jan), Rose (knee, 31 Jan), Winks (ankle, 31 Jan)
Suspended None
Notts County v Swansea City
Second-top in League Two hosts the Premier League’s bottom side in what could be a classic Cup shock yet Notts County will have noted how Swansea City dispatched Liverpool in their last outing, Jürgen Klopp’s side gave Manchester City a first league defeat. Still, at Meadow Lane, County are sure to attack the Swans and so this should be an invigorating watch. Jamie Jackson
Saturday 3pm
Venue Meadow Lane
Referee Michael Jones
Head to head Notts County wins 24 Swansea wins 30 Draws 16
Odds H 7-2 A Evens D 13-5
NOTTS COUNTY
Subs from Collin, Searson-Smithard, Ameobi, Smith, Forte, Dickinson, Walker, Bird, Dearle, Hawkridge, Nolan, Saunders
Doubtful None
Injured Tootle (illness, Feb)
Suspended Fitzsimons (first of three), Virtue-Thick (one match)
SWANSEA CITY
Subs from Fabianski, Roberts, Britton, Carroll, Fernández, Dyer, Routledge, McBurnie, Abraham, Mawson, Sanches
Doubtful Abraham (hip), Fernández (nose), Sanches (hamstring)
Injured None
Suspended None
Peterborough United v Leicester City
The last time these two sides faced each other, in the Championship five years ago, promotion-chasing Leicester featuring future Premier League winners Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan and Jamie Vardy were beaten by a Peterborough side that were relegated. As he did in the third round, Claude Puel is almost certain to rest most of his first-choice players, which will give Kelechi Iheanacho a rare run-out, while new signing Fousseni Diabaté should play up front. The Peterborough manager, Grant McCann, will take charge of his 100th game, and should put out a strong side, though the striker Jack Marriott is a doubt with a hip problem. Nick Miller
Saturday 12.30pm
Live BT Sport 2
Venue London Road
Referee Michael Oliver
Head to head Peterborough wins 6 Leicester wins 6 Draws 4
Odds H 9-2 A 4-7 D 3-1
PETERBOROUGH UTD
Subs from O’Malley, Tyler, Baldwin, Cooper, Doughty, Kanu, Penny, Ward, Edwards, Miller, Lopes, Anderson, Nabi, Burrows, Cartwright, Freestone, Barker, Douglas, Borg
Doubtful Marriott (hip)
Injured None
Suspended None
LEICESTER CITY
Subs from Schmeichel, Hamer, Dragovic, Chilwell, James, Ndidi, Okazaki, Mahrez, Vardy, Ulloa, King, Slimani, Musa, Simpson, Barnes, Knight
Doubtful None
Injured Morgan (hamstring, unknown)
Suspended None
Sheffield United v Preston North End
Preston were worthy winners when the teams met in the Championship in December but with both clubs involved in a tight scrap to make the play-offs and, with Chris Wilder and Alex Neil having an eye on important league matches in midweek, the lineups will feature a number of changes. Wilder has ruled out Kieron Freeman and David Brooks for the Blades but Ched Evans has recovered from ankle surgery and is set to feature for the first time since September. Ben Davies and Sean Maguire are out for North End, who will give a first starting place to the striker Louis Moult, who signed from Motherwell and made his debut as a substitute against Birmingham last weekend. Tony Paley
Saturday 3pm
Venue Bramall Lane
Referee Graham Scott
Head to head Sheffield Utd winsH 49 Preston wins 35 Draws 30
Odds H 5-4 A 5-2 D 2-1
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Subs from Eastwood, Donaldson, Duffy, Holmes, Lafferty, Lundstram, Sharp, Slater, Norrington-Davies
Doubtful None
Injured Freeman (knee, Feb), Brooks (illness, unknown), Coutts (leg, unknown)
Cup-tied Whiteman
Suspended None
PRESTON NORTH END
Subs from Hudson, Boyle, Cunningham, Gallagher, Johnson, Barkhuizen, Robinson, Spurr, Hugill, Davies
Doubtful Spurr (knee)
Injured Davies (hamstring, unknown), Maguire (hamstring, unknown)
Suspended None
Southampton v Watford
These two teams meet in the Cup just a fortnight after their 2-2 draw in the league and Mauricio Pellegrino may not have envisaged then that he would outlast Marco Silva. His replacement and fellow La Liga alumnus, Javi Gracia, takes charge of Watford for the first time. Both managers’ primary objective is staying in the Premier League, but a win would provide either side with a needed morale boost. The stakes are certainly lower than their last Cup meeting – the 2003 semi-final at Villa Park, won by Southampton. Niall McVeigh
Saturday 3pm
Venue St Mary’s
Referee Bobby Madley
Head to head Southampton wins 21 Watford wins 18 Draws 11
Odds H Evens A 17-5 D 27-10
SOUTHAMPTON
Subs from McCarthy, Taylor, Soares, Hoedt, Pied, Davis, Højbjerg, Tadic, Long, Gardos, Hesketh, McQueen, Obafemi, Sims
Doubtful Bertrand, Long, McQueen (all illness)
Injured Austin (thigh, Mar)
Suspended None
WATFORD
Subs from Okaka, Sinclair, Mariappa, Watson, Holebas, Capoue
Doubtful Cleverley (hamstring)
Injured Gomes (back, 31 Jan), Britos (foot), Cathcart (knee), Chalobah (knee), Deeney (illness), Hughes (hamstring), Kaboul (foot), Success (knee), Femenía (hamstring, all Feb), Wagué (hamstring, both unknown) Suspended None
Wigan Athletic v West Ham United
Wigan are five points clear at the top of League One, West Ham not quite as many above the relegation positions so there is the possibility of a Championship next season. The stage could be set then for another Cup upset at the DW Stadium following Bournemouth’s exit in the previous round. Both sides are likely to rest players with an eye on upcoming league games but, with West Ham unable to call on Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini, Wigan could have the forward momentum to go through. Paul Wilson
Saturday 3pm
Venue DW Stadium
Referee Chris Kavanagh
Head to head Wigan wins 8 West Ham wins 11 Draws 2
Odds H 17-10 A 2-1 D 2-1
WIGAN ATHLETIC
Subs from Walton, Jacobs, Burn, Powell, Fulton, Byrne, Vaughan, Hunt, Jones, Morgan, James, Merrie, MacDonald
Doubtful None
Injured None
Suspended None
WEST HAM UNITED
Subs from Adrián, Trott, Collins, Zabaleta, Makasi, Cresswell, Johnson, Kouyaté, Noble, Haksabanovic, Antonio, Diangana, Neufville, Ayew, Quina
Doubtful Antonio (match fitness), Ayew (hamstring), Cresswell (cramp), Kouyaté (ankle), Noble (foot)
Injured Reid (groin, 30 Jan), Arnautovic (hamstring, Feb), Fonte (ankle, Feb), Lanzini (hamstring, Mar), Carroll (foot, Apr), Sakho (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
