Valencia 'comes of age'

SIR Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United are in perfect shape to pile further agony on crisis-hit Liverpool on Sunday.

Fergie was delighted as United virtually ensured their place in the knock-out stages with three games to spare in Moscow last night.

Antonio Valencia scored for the second successive game, while ­Brazilian youngster Fabio Da Silva had an outstanding European debut. United also kept their first clean sheet in four games on the artificial pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium to equal Ajax’s record of 14 unbeaten away games in the Champions League.

Ferguson says new boy Valencia has listened to his demands to improve his scoring record and is beginning to justify his £17m fee.

He added: “We’re pleased he has got an important goal for us. Valencia has been a plus point for the last few weeks.

“He is emerging very well, settling into the club, and his confidence is getting stronger.

“He has tremendous assets for a wide player but the assets he didn’t show at Wigan were his goals, where he would maybe get three or four a season.