LONDON: Manchester United fielded a defense boasting only two first team appearances but still proved too good for Premier League rivals Newcastle United with a 2-1 win in the League Cup third round at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
Holders Liverpool also rang the changes and came from behind at West Bromwich Albion to win 2-1 thanks to two goals from Nuri Sahin.
Tottenham Hotspur beat Carlisle 3-0 and their north London rivals Arsenal strutted into the last 16 with a 6-1 drubbing of third tier Coventry City United made 11 changes from the team that started against Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday with Wayne Rooney returning after injuring his leg four weeks ago and midfielder Darren Fletcher making his first start for 10 months.
With a string of defensive injuries, manager Alex Ferguson turned to youth with Alex Buttner, Marnick Vermijl, Scott Wootton and Will Keane tasked with keeping the Newcastle forward at bay.
It is 40 years since the north-east club last won at Old Trafford and their chances of causing an upset were reduced when midfielder Anderson broke the deadlock with a spectacular left-foot strike from 25 meters just before halftime.
The Brazilian has struggled to force his way into the first team reckoning this season but was a driving force as United took the game by the scruff of the neck.
The hosts made their superiority tell in the second half when midfielder Tom Cleverley, who missed a gilt-edged chance before the interval, doubled the lead with a precise right-foot strike from the edge of the area.
Newcastle hit back when substitute Pappiss Cisse headed home from close-range for his first goal of the season and he went close to leveling when he volleyed an overhead kick against the crossbar.
“Newcastle had a stronger team than us physically. We played fantastic football and I think we deserved it,” United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports.
“Anderson’s was a great strike. The second is a great bit of football. Cisse is a terrific player. Our defense handled it well.” Liverpool also fielded a completely different team and fell behind on three minutes when West Brom’s Gabriel Tamas finished from close range after a mistake from the visitors’ stand-in keeper Brad Jones.
Playmaker Sahin, on loan from Real Madrid, levelled with a speculative shot from distance and struck again late in the second half when he converted Oussama Assaidi’s cross at the back post.
Forward Jerome Sinclair became the club’s youngest ever player at 16 years and six days when he came on as a second half substitute.
“It’s congratulations to Jerome Sinclair. Our future is bright with the young players. The style and definition of our game is improving all the time,” said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers whose name was sung Liverpool fans at the final whistle.
“It’s great to see the kids playing with confidence. We fully deserved the win. For me it’s about talent irrespective of age. We’ve got a small squad. It’s a club where young players are going to get a chance.” Arsenal named a strong attacking line-up with Andrei Arshavin, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud all starting.
Giroud, who joined from Montpellier in June, enjoyed a mixed night, scoring his first goal for the club with a neat finish to before failing to find the net with a penalty.
It proved to be academic as Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Walcott (2) and Ignasi Miquel completed the rout.
For Tottenham there was no place in the starting line-up for France keeper Hugo Lloris, signed for 12 million-pound ($19.4 million) from Olympique Lyon, as third-choice Carlo Cudicini was preferred in goal.
Tottenham took the lead against their third tier opponents when Gylfi Sigurdsson’s cross was headed home by defender Jan Vertonghen.
Andros Townsend added a second with a run from the halfway line and a low shot into the net and Sigurdsson rounded off the scoring with a header.
Reading came from 2-1 down to beat Queens Park Rangers 3-2 in an all-Premier League match and Norwich City won 1-0 at home to Doncaster.
Chelsea will host Manchester United in the League Cup after the two clubs were drawn to play each other in the fourth round.
Ties will be played on the week commencing Oct. 29.
League Cup fourth round draw:
Sunderland vs. Middlesbrough
Swindon Town vs. Aston Villa
Wigan Athletic vs. Bradford
Leeds United vs. Southampton
Norwich City vs. Tottenham
Hotspur
Liverpool vs. Swansea City
Chelsea vs. Manchester United
Reading vs. Arsenal
Youthful United too good for Newcastle as Reds sink Brom
Youthful United too good for Newcastle as Reds sink Brom
DP World ILT20 stars power UAE’s spirited campaign at ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
- Sharafu’s 145-run haul, Waseem’s captain’s knock and Siddique’s 5/35 underline the DP World ILT20’s growing impact on UAE cricket
- Aryansh Sharma emerges as UAE’s breakout star, showcasing the strength of the DP World ILT20 pathway
DUBAI: The UAE’s participation at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 may have ended at the group stage on Feb. 18, but their competitive performances have underlined the steady rise of the national side on the global stage in recent years.
Across four high-intensity group matches, the UAE demonstrated composure against some of the most established teams in world cricket. Central to that progress was the influence of the DP World ILT20, whose environment has prepared UAE players to compete fearlessly against the sport’s biggest names.
Leading from the front was captain Muhammad Waseem. The MI Emirates player’s 66 off 45 balls against New Zealand — his highest score of the tournament — was a statement knock against elite opposition. The innings echoed the form that saw him secure the coveted Blue Belt as Best UAE Player for a fourth consecutive season in the DP World ILT20, where he amassed 370 runs in 13 innings as MI Emirates reached the Season 4 final.
Alishan Sharafu, who represents Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, emerged as the UAE’s leading run-scorer in the tournament. He compiled 145 runs in four matches, including a composed 55 off 47 against the New Zealand — his highest score. Sharafu was one of four UAE players to register a half-century in the tournament.
The bowling unit, too, carried a strong DP World ILT20 imprint. Junaid Siddique, who secured a high-value contract with Sharjah Warriorz at the historic Season 4 Player Auction, produced the tournament’s standout performance for the UAE. His sensational 5 for 35 against Canada at the Arun Jaitley Stadium dismantled the opposition and earned him player of the match honors.
Siddique finished as the UAE’s highest wicket-taker with seven scalps, capping a campaign that validated his status as one of the league’s premium signings.
Meanwhile, Haider Ali and left-arm pacer Muhammad Jawadullah — both regular features for Dubai Capitals — brought discipline and control to the attack, reinforcing the depth fostered within the league ecosystem. Also featuring in the UAE squad were Mayank Kumar of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Muhammad Farooq of Dubai Capitals, and Rohid Khan of MI Emirates.
Beyond the established names, the tournament also unveiled exciting prospects. Twenty-one-year-old Aryansh Sharma produced a defining moment with an unbeaten 74 in the five-wicket win over Canada, guiding the chase with poise and composure. Sohaib Khan emerged as the team’s third-highest run-getter with 132 runs, including a fluent 68 off 48 deliveries against Afghanistan national cricket team. These are players who will undoubtedly attract attention ahead of the DP World ILT20 Season 5 Player Auction.
The broader takeaway from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is the steady evolution of UAE cricket, with the Emirates side underlining how the DP World ILT20 is increasingly shaping players for the global stage rather than remaining just a domestic showcase.
