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Special Darwin

Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for Darwin Nunez after the Uruguayan forward's game-changing cameo against Fulham.

The 24-year-old entered the fray in the second half at Anfield and assisted both goals as Liverpool secured a 2-1 comeback victory to take into the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.

Nunez was unlucky not to score himself with one goal-bound effort thwarted by a brilliant reflex save from Bernd Leno.

Reds boss Klopp said: "I don't know how to explain the Darwin situation.

"I'm so happy about Darwin's reaction and how he takes it but you cannot be more unlucky in these finishing situations, that's not possible.

"He does absolutely everything right, yet ball not in. And then he still sets up the other goal. I think that is really special to do that again."

Emotional Griezmann

Antoine Griezmann admits he was emotional at half-time of the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Real Madrid after becoming Atletico Madrid's all-time record scorer.

The France international, 32, levelled the scores at 2-2 shortly before the interval courtesy of a brilliant right-footed shot with Los Blancos eventually winning the thrilling encounter 5-3 after extra-time.

Griezmann's goal in Riyadh was his 174th in Atleti's colours and he has now overtaken the legendary Luis Aragones in the club's scoring charts.

He said after the match: "It's something incredible for me, a great source of pride.

"At half-time there were a lot of emotions, but we had to get back into the game."

Griezmann also discussed Atleti's defensive issues, adding: "We know we have to improve and until we improve, it will happen in games like this. 

"It's something that represents Atletico Madrid, having a very strong defence and we have to improve it."

VAR fume

AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli was not pleased with VAR's intervention which condemned his side to a Coppa Italia quarter-final exit at the hands of Atalanta.

With the scores level at 1-1 at San Siro, the technology stepped in to award a penalty to the visitors for an apparent foul on Aleksei Miranchuk by Alex Jimenez.

Replays appeared to show Jimenez got his toe to the ball before upending Miranchuk but a spot kick was awarded and Teun Koopmeiners converted from 12 yards to secure passage to the final four.

Pioli said: "It is honestly difficult, there is so much debate on VAR.

"But that was not a penalty because our player got the ball first, because the Atalanta player was going down even before the contact. It's a negative evening."

The AC Milan boss did also criticise the response to the incident, adding: "We could've reacted better. 

"I do understand the frustration of the players going 2-1 down like that after doing well, but there was still plenty of time to get back into it and we didn't take those chances that we created.

"It's really a pity, as it was a balanced encounter and that incident completely changed the game."

Application submitted

Manchester City have submitted plans for a new £10million training facility for the women's team at the Etihad complex.

The application is for a 17,000-square-foot building close to the Joie Stadium and if it is approved by the council, the project is scheduled to be finished in 2025.

City women's managing director Charlotte O'Neill said: "As the team evolves, so do their needs and that's why we continue to invest in the right facilities at the right stage in the team's journey.

"By building a new, state-of-the-art facility, we will provide our players with a bespoke industry leading environment for them to train and recover together.

"We believe this will further improve player welfare, and help attract even more talent to Manchester City and the next generation of aspiring women footballers."

Parker out

Aston Villa defender Lucy Parker is set to miss the majority of the season after sustaining a serious ankle injury.

The 25-year-old has made seven appearances in all competitions this term after joining from West Ham in the summer.

Villa boss Carla Ward said: "It's a massive blow for us, she has been excellent."

Ward has confirmed Parker will require surgery and it leaves her short of defensive options with fellow defender Dan Turner also absent after picking up an injury in December.

She added: "Turner's was probably a little bit worse than we first thought. We're probably looking at mid-February until she's back.

"Again, a massive blow to lose two top centre-halves. It's not ideal but we'll obviously prepare the best way we can moving forward."

We can compete

Rob Edwards knows Luton have the ability to hurt Burnley when the teams meet at Turf Moor tomorrow evening.

The Hatters can move out of the Premier League relegation zone with a win and they will also be itching to avenge a 2-1 defeat at Kenilworth Road last October.

Jacob Bruun Larsen's 85th-minute strike secured victory for Vincent Kompany's outfit after Elijah Adebayo had cancelled out Lyle Foster's opener just moments prior.

Edwards said: "I think it shows we can hurt them [the performance during defeat in October].

"If we are not at our best we will lose the game, we respect them.

"You have to get the timing right with the pressing and they can play through you if you get it wrong.

"We showed we can compete with them. We had some really tight games against them in the Championship as well."

Bamba's rallying cry

Former Ivory Coast defender Sol Bamba has urged his nation to prove their worth as hosts of this year's Africa Cup of Nations.

The Elephants won the competition in both 1992 and 2015 but ex-Cardiff centre-back Bamba believes they have fallen short too many times, with final defeats coming in 2008 and 2012.

He said: “Have we done enough? We know we haven't because we should have won at least two more AFCONs.

"Losing in 2012 was huge because we hadn’t won it since 1992. So we were absolutely desperate. 

"We had what people called a golden generation with top players. We went as favourites, didn't concede a goal and we ended up losing.

"The disappointment was absolutely huge. We talk about it between ourselves, we felt we missed a trick.

"Now we have top players playing in Europe but the difference of handling pressure in Europe and hosting a tournament in Africa is different. 

"The expectation will be huge. In Africa it's more than football. The first game will be massive. For Ivory Coast, though, winning games is not enough, you have to play a certain way."