I’m struggling with those calling Alexis Sanchez a callous mercenary for reneging on a verbal agreement he made to join Manchester City last summer after being offered more money elsewhere.

How does that work when you promise a shed-load of money to an Arsenal employee to break his contract early and come and move to you at a knock-down transfer fee?

Surely if Sanchez does go elsewhere for more money he’s merely doing to City what they wanted him to do to Arsenal. Next. Man United looking to wrap up Alexis Sanchez deal 'in next 24 hours' - and he could make his debut on Saturday
Alexis Sanchez appears headed to Man United instead of Man City (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

Coutinho's over the top price tag is no benchmark

Liverpool's attacking performance against Manchester City confirmed the views of those of us who sensed Philippe Coutinho’s loss would not be as great as many feared.

The way every player gave the 100% needed to end an exceptional team’s unbeaten run, proved Jurgen Klopp’s point that his sides need to be totally committed not to “one hero” but to a collective vision.

Liverpool celebrate on their way to victory over Man City - without Coutinho (
Image:
PA)

Coutinho’s £142 million fee was way over the top, fuelled by several exceptional factors.

I can’t see it becoming a bench-mark.

If it is you’d have to wonder what Harry Kane, who has just become Spurs' all-time top Premier League scorer aged 24, would go for if he demanded his “dream move” after the World Cup.

Surely £200 million wouldn’t buy him?
The £142m Barcelona shelled out for Coutinho was over the top (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)
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Shearer wrong on Guardiola vs Mourinho

Alan Shearer has contrasted Man City’s thrilling 4-3 defeat at Anfield with Manchester United’s drab 0-0 draw there earlier in the season as proof that Jose Mourinho is a more savvy tactician that Pep Guardiola, while throwing in a reminder that he has a bigger trophy haul than the Spaniard.

The praise is flawed on a few levels. If Shearer believes United fans would prefer their side to defend for their lives at Anfield like Mourinho’s did or attack like Guardiola’s he hasn’t spoken to many.
Guardiola or Mourinho? Shearer doesn't appear to have thought his stance out (
Image:
EPA-EFE / REX/Shutterstock)

If he can’t see that Mourinho is winning fewer and fewer of the trophies that matter the longer his career goes on (one League title in six years) he’s not looking very hard.

And if he believes any manager who parks the bus at Anfield this season and earns a goalless draw is more astute than Guardiola then come on down Alan Pardew.

You are officially an all-time coaching great.

Newcastle worth worrying about

One of football’s most insincere statements, often heard by a TV pundit, is how they’re “really worried” for a club they have no affinity with. But following the breakdown of talks between Mike Ashley and Amanda Staveley I would’t blame anyone for saying they’re worried for Newcastle.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley needs to give Rafa Benitez support in the transfer window (
Image:
PA)

That entire starting line-up of men who played in last year’s Championship that Rafa Benitez put out against Swansea on Saturday felt like one of his statements to the board. It said “until you buy me the players I want I won’t take the blame for this relegation battle.”

Unless Ashley goes against his vow and hands Benitez serious money over the next fortnight expect many more statements from him. One of them possibly terminal.