🏆 MAN UTD EMBARRASSED AT HOME; ARSENAL OUT; CHELSEA AND LIVERPOOL THROUGH

There were places in the EFL Cup quarter-finals up for grabs tonight with Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all in action.

Here’s what went down.

Newcastle dump Man Utd out of the cup

Scorers: Almirón 29′, Hall 36′, Willock 60′.

The pressure on Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag grew as his side were torn to shreds by a much-changed Newcastle United side.

Eddie Howe decided to rest the likes of Nick Pope, Sven Botman and Bruno Guimarães for the trip to Old Trafford, with rare starts handed to Emil Krafth, Paul Dummett and Matt Targett.

The Magpies were dealt a huge blow inside the first two minutes when defender Matt Targett had to be replaced after picking up a hamstring injury.

But it was his replacement Miguel Almirón who fired Newcastle ahead after a swift counter-attack with Tino Livramento sliding the midfielder through on goal before he swept the ball over André Onana.

Things went from bad to worse for United seven minutes when Lewis Hall volleyed home from the edge of the box on his first start for the club after a poor clearance from Harry Maguire.

Rasmus Højlund and Marcus Rashford appeared from the bench but the damage was done on the hour when Joe Willock danced past three United defenders before drilling home a well-taken finish from the edge of the box.

Newcastle get their revenge for last year’s EFL Cup final defeat at the hands of the Red Devils, who have now suffered eight defeats in 15 games so far this season.

Núñez stunner saves Liverpool

Scorers: Kluivert 64′; Gakpo 30′, Núñez 70′.

Darwin Núñez came off the bench to fire 2022 winners Liverpool into the quarter-finals.

Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai had spurned good chances before Cody Gakpo opened the scoring on the half-hour mark with the Dutchman improvising to smash home from six yards out after getting on to the end of Elliott’s drilled shot.

But the Cherries hung in and Justin Kluivert found himself free at the back post to head home from Alex Scott’s corner.

Núñez sprung from the sideline to bag the winner in some style 20 minutes from time, racing on to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ball forward before cutting inside and smashing into the top corner.

Chelsea into the last eight

Scorers: Badiashile 30′, Sterling 59′.

Chelsea got back to winning ways after dispatching with Championship side Blackburn Rovers at Stamford Bridge.

The hosts drew first blood after a sustained period of pressure with Blackburn failing to clear a corner and Benoit Badiashile took advantage, sliding in from 10 yards out.

Raheem Sterling gave Mauricio Pochettino’s side breathing space in the second half with his fourth goal of the season – bringing the ball down on the left-hand side of the box before curling into the bottom right corner.

Fulham overcome banana skin

Scorers: Baggott 79′; Wilson 9′, Muniz 50′, Cairney 77′.

Fulham comfortably made light work of a tricky trip to Portman Road to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2004.

Ipswich are flying high in the Championship but the Cottagers drew first bloody with Bobby Decordova-Reid playing in Harry Wilson down the right-hand side of the area before he rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home.

Any fears of an upset were put to bed early into the second period when Andreas Pereira whipped a ball low to the back post where Rodrigo Muniz arrived to poke home.

Tom Cairney made it three with a classy finish after more good work from Decordova-Reid on the counter-attack before Elkan Baggott bagged a consolation for the hosts.

Joy for Dyche on Burnley reunion

Scorers: Tarkowski 12′, Onana 54′, Young 90+2′.

Everton booked their progress after seeing off Burnley as Sean Dyche faced the Clarets for the first time since leaving the club.

It was a former Burnley player who gave the Toffees the lead as James Tarkowski got across his man to head in Dwight McNeil’s cross from inside the area.

Amadou Onana doubled that advantage in the 54th minute as the Belgian was on hand to poke in from six yards out after Tarkowski headed McNeil’s corner across the box.

Ashley Young sealed the win in stoppage time with his first goal for the club, taking advantage of some good work from Beto to poke home at the near post.

West Ham knock out Arsenal on Rice’s return

Scorers: White (OG) 17′, Kudus 51′, Bowen 60′; Ødegaard 90+6′.

Declan Rice’s return to the London Stadium ended in despair after Arsenal were comfortably knocked out of the EFL Cup by West Ham.

The Hammers got a helping hand in breaking the deadlock with Ben White heading Jarrod Bowen’s corner into his own net. Replays appeared to show that Ramsdale was having his shirt pulled in the build-up to the goal but with no VAR in play, the goal stood.

Bowen had a great chance to double the lead within the first minute of the second half but Ramsdale pulled off a great save to deny his chipped effort.

Within minutes, that lead was doubled as Mohamed Kudus got on to the end of Nayef Aguerd’s long ball before cutting inside and curling into the bottom corner.

Bowen finally got in on the act to put the game beyond doubt on the hour mark when a clearance fell to the forward at the edge of the box before he took one touch to set himself and the other to smash at goal with the ball squirming through the hands of Ramsdale after it took a deflection on it’s way in.

Martin Ødegaard came off the bench to pull one back for the Gunners but it proved to be only a consolation.