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      Brighton 2 Liverpool 3: Cody Gakpo nets pair of rockets as much-changed Reds cling on for Carabao Cup quarter-final spot

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      CODY GAKPO continued his Carabao Cup love affair with a brilliant brace at Brighton.The Dutchman’s double set Liverpool up to cruise into the quarters.Cody Gakpo scored twice as Liverpool beat Brighton 3-2Credit: GettyThe result saw the Reds book their place in the next round of the Carabao CupCredit: GettyBut a late flurry of goals, with Simon Adingra and Tariq Lamptey scoring either side of Luis Diaz, left Arne Slot looking flustered.Whether 2-0 up or down Brighton can always produce a comeback or collapse, but Slot’s lot should have been far more comfortable having been put clear.Gakpo bagged four goals on the way to last season’s final and already has four in two appearances this term.Slot needed another forward to step up after injuries and some rotation – eight changes a piece made here.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe has so little faith in blooper-reel regular Darwin Nunez that he opted to start two central midfielders, Dominik Szboszlai and Curtis Jones, as false nines.It left the Reds with an effective front four at most times, though they struggled for clear cut chances.However the hosts should have taken the lead thanks to a clever clip over the Liverpool back line by Jan Paul van HeckeLamptey found himself alone against impressive keeper Vitezslav Jaros but fired straight at the Czech.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe chance gave Brighton a shot of spirit but Slot’s side largely retained control and started to force chances.Their lack of focal point, with Jota injured, meant openings were harder to come by.Liverpool have put Jurgen Klopp’s sprawling £4million home for sale – after Anfield successor Arne Slot turned it down.It took a smart one-two between Szboszlai and Andy Robertson to find some space, though the midfielder shot straight at Steele before Luis Diaz headed the rebound wide.Gakpo then fed Robertson for a chance of his own, though Steele stopped it with ease at the near post.Having gone for the tappy and technical approach to breaking Brighton down in the first half, Gakpo went for the jugular within 40 seconds of the restart – cracking a thunderbolt from the corner of the box past Steele.His strike here did put Liverpool ahead but it also put a rocket up the hosts.Gakpo got his first early in the second halfCredit: ReutersHe doubled Liverpool’s lead soon afterCredit: GettyWithin moments of the resumption, third-choice keeper Jaros made a stunning fingertip save to turn Adingra’s header on to the post before parrying an effort from Evan Ferguson and pushing Jakub Moder’s long range striker over the bar.Hurzeler’s men were in complete control, but another Lamptey handed Liverpool the initiative once again.The former Chelsea man was robbed of the ball in his own half by Gakpo, who raced away as part of three red shirts against one blue and white.Gakpo opted to square for Szboszlai who got his feet stuck and allowed Steele to get a hand to his poor effort.Simon Adingra gave the Reds a late frightCredit: PALuis Diaz managed to restore the Reds’ two-goal leadCredit: AFPTwo minutes after the first warning, Gakpo snatched the ball from the full-back once more and this time took no risks in squaring to a team-mate. A thumping near-post finish flashed past Steele.Kaoru Mitoma was sent on and tormented down the left but it was Adingra, Brighton’s standout man, who gave them hope of a comeback.Just as Lamptey had slipped up, Jarell Quansah was pickpocketed in his own half. The ball moved to Ferguson whose powerful strike was spilt, allowing the winger to prod home.It had Liverpool frightened once more, but Diaz hit back with an impressive reverse finish into the near post.READ MORE SUN STORIESThat should have been that but Lamptey, what a night he could have had without the silly mistakes, fired in a deflected second for the hosts.Five excruciating added minutes later, Slot could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Though he must face the Brighton barrage again on Saturday.Tariq Lamptey pulled back a late effort for the hostsCredit: AFPLiverpool continued their fine start under Arne SlotCredit: Getty More

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      Marcus Rashford hailed for ‘powering through like a champ’ after Man Utd ace hit with eye-watering tackle in Carabao Cup

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      MARCUS RASHFORD has been hailed by Manchester United fans for ‘powering through like a champ’ after an eye-watering incident at Old Trafford.The 26-year-old started the Carabao Cup clash against Leicester to mark the first game of the post Erik ten Hag era.Marcus Rashford was left holding his groin after a stray bootRuud van Nistelrooy had plenty to celebrate in his first game in chargeCredit: PAThe Dutchman was sacked on Monday with club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy taking interim charge.But Rashford endured his own pain on the pitch after being caught by an opponent’s boot in the groin.The England man crumpled to the turf, and eventually after rising to his feet, held the sore area with his hand.But he was soon back running for his new gaffer – which led to United fans hailing his resilience.Read more FootballOne United fan wrote on X: “Holding on and powering through like a champ!”Another added: “We’ve all been there”, while some posted amusing yet wincing GIFs of people being kicked in the groin area.And one decided to point out the obvious, writing: “Must be hurt.”That moment in the 48th minute proved to be the last bit of action on a pulsating first half of football with Van Nistelrooy at the helm.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSUnited went into the break 4-2 up thanks to an unlikely brace from the much-maligned Casemiro, and strikes from Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes.But Leicester netted through El Khannouss and Coady to keep things interesting.Ruben Amorim responds to questions about Man Utd job after Sporting match Rashford only lasted until the 62nd minute when he was replaced by Amad Diallo.And he was given a standing ovation by the fans as he made his exit.But by that time United had banged another past the helpless Leicester keeper, through Fernandes again, to make it 5-2.United are still negotiating with Sporting CP to make Ruben Amorim their new manager.Amorim, 39, was made the number one target for Man Utd earlier this week and now it seems as though he wants the deal just as much.According to Sky Sports, Amorim has told his current employers that he wants to leave and take up the job with the Red Devils.READ MORE SUN STORIESSporting are also said to believe that Amorim has agreed terms with Man Utd.United have already agreed to pay the £8.5m release clause to get their man.Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man UtdWHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers. The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for. More

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      Sky Sports slammed as ‘complete joke’ as technical error leaves fans unable to watch bumper night of cup football

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      FOOTBALL fans were left furious after Sky Sports Plus appeared to crash during Manchester United’s Carabao Cup clash with Leicester City.The streaming service stopped working for some viewers in the early stages of the match.Some fans were unable to watch Man Utd vs LeicesterCasemiro scored an excellent goal – but many United fans were unable to see it liveCredit: PAA number of fans quickly took to social media to vent their frustration, with one person writing: “Would be nice if I could watch it live instead of on here (X). Absolute joke.”Another commented: “Would be great if your app/red button actually worked so we could watch it!”A third fumed: “SORT THE RED BUTTON MATCHES OUT!”A fourth said: “Shame I’ve been staring at an error message for 20 years.”Read More in FootballWhile another wrote: “Shame I can’t watch as your service is horrific. Waste of my money.”Sky Sports has been approached for comment.Man Utd took the lead through a Casemiro screamer in the 15th minute.Alejandro Garnacho made it two at the half-hour mark before Bilal El Khannouss pulled one back for Leicester.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSCasemiro scored again and Bruno Fernandes followed with a goal before Conor Coady scored Leicester’s second.The score at Old Trafford was 4-2 at half-time, before Fernandes added his second and United’s fifth to complete the rout.’Ruben Amorim feels like Erik ten Hag all over again – Man Utd missed out on the perfect coach who’s done it already’ says Paul Scholes Ruud van Nistelrooy managed the Red Devils for the first time tonight following the departure of Erik ten Hag.Ten Hag was sacked by United on Monday following a 2-1 defeat to West Ham.Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim is now expected to take over the job permanently.Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man UtdWHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers. The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for. More

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      I played with ‘clever’ Bukayo Saka in Arsenal academy – I can’t wait to face my old mate in Carabao Cup

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      SAM GREENWOOD may have left Arsenal  years ago — but they have never left him.Preston’s attacking midfielder, on loan from Leeds, came through the Gunners’ academy alongside the likes of Bukayo Saka and AC Milan star Yunus Musah.Sam Greenwood (front row, sixth from left) was in Arsenal’s academy at teh same time as Bukayo Saka (front row, third from left)Greenwood (second row, second from right) with his Arsenal academy palsGreenwood scoring for Preston in the epic shootout win over FulCredit: RexAnd after leaving the North Londoners in 2020, he faced them in the Carabao Cup at the Emirates almost three years ago to the day with Leeds.Then he made his Premier League debut against his old team soon after.He gets another chance tonight as Mikel Arteta’s men visit Deepdale, in another Carabao Cup last-16 clash.Greenwood, 22, said: “I was shocked to get Arsenal again. I didn’t expect that. I’m excited having been there as a kid — it’s going to be nice to play against them, even though it will be  a huge challenge.”The North End ace came through the youth ranks at his home-town club Sunderland — but Arsenal snapped him up, aged 16, for £500,000 in 2018.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDespite the transfer fee, Greenwood did not get weighed down by the expectations and enjoyed mixing with some of the game’s future stars.He said: “While at Sunderland, I was always playing up a few years. I was in their Under-18s when I was 14-15 so got scouted by Arsenal as I was  scoring goals and getting assists.“After watching me at a certain game, they told my agent they wanted me. I progressed from there.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“Sunderland had just dropped down to League One and needed the money — and when a club like Arsenal come in, you cannot say no.Most read in Football“And it was a good decision because I loved my time there.“I always believed in myself so the price tag never worried me.  And my dad used to come down every week from Sunderland to watch my games.”The forgotten Arsenal wonderkidsSaka was the standout player in his team and Greenwood says the Arsenal winger was always expected to progress to the top of the game.Greenwood said: “We had so many players who’ve made it as pros. Ipswich’s Harry Clarke, Mark McGuinness at Luton, Wrexham keeper Arthur Okonkwo and Crawley’s Tyreece John-Jules.“But the standout player was Saka with his power and pace.  It was always expected for him to reach this level.“He deserves great respect for how he dealt with his penalty miss in the Euros final for England in 2021.“I knew he’d bounce back from that and become the player he is today.“Bukayo is a good guy. He’s got a bubbly personality and is very clever, passing all of his GCSEs. He got an A-star in most of them.“At home, I’ve a framed Arsenal shirt of his from when I faced him at Leeds. Yunus Musah was similar to Bukayo — so bubbly and an all-round good guy.”Greenwood also trained with the first team under Unai Emery towards the end of his two-year Gunners stint.And the midfielder remembers how ridiculous the talent was around him.He said: “I did a few sessions before Covid came and it was an unbelievable experience. These guys were top quality. Players like Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.“The first time I met these guys I was nervous — but I began to get used to seeing them every day.“The lads who came through the Arsenal academy, like Reiss Nelson, were brilliant and always looked out for me, making me feel welcome and comfortable.”The standout player was Saka with his power and pace…  it was always expected for him to reach this level.SAM GREENWOODReflecting on his time at Arsenal, he added: “Playing with better players made me better and being there made me a better person, too.“It was the first time I’d moved away from home, it built up my character and they taught me to be humble. I grew up quicker because of Arsenal.”Greenwood got snapped up by Leeds in 2020 for a fee of around £3million and he ended up playing against his former club twice in the space of a couple of months in 2021.He came on for Rodrigo in a 2-0 Carabao Cup loss at the Emirates — and then got his first crack on the Prem stage in a 4-1 defeat at Elland Road as a sub for Mateusz Klich.Greenwood said: “To play at the Emirates was a wonderful experience but to make my Premier League debut against them is something I’ll never forget.THE INVINCIBLES… vs ARSENALARSENAL fans love to bring up their Invincibles team of 2003-04 but Preston pulled off the feat more than 100 years earlier.The legendary North End side of 1888-89 (above) not only went unbeaten in the league but also lifted the FA Cup that season, too!“I always thank Marcelo Bielsa for giving me that opportunity and Jesse Marsch and the ones that followed.“Just to get my first goal in the Prem during a 4-3 win against Bournemouth was a nice feeling.“I’m always grateful for that — and hopefully I’ll still get  back there.”Greenwood is at Preston for the season but harbours ambitions to return to Elland Road and break into the team — not having had much of a chance since German boss Daniel Farke took charge in July 2023 and spending last term at Middlesbrough.He said: “There were a lot of people there in my position but I still believe if I was there, I could play.“It’s just having that opportunity the manager will give me. I just wanted to play games and get experience.”And having played in an epic third-round clash that saw Preston win a record-breaking League Cup shootout 16-15 against Fulham, Greenwood would love penalties tonight.Grinning, he said: “I’d take that. We know how good they are.READ MORE SUN STORIES“That shootout was crazy. The lads were relaxed and that is what helped.“We picked our spot and didn’t change our mind. It went on forever but what an experience.”Liverpool impressed at Arsenal, but it was a match Jurgen Klopp probably would’ve wonBy Jordan DaviesON the face of it, Liverpool continue to go from strength to strength with Arne Slot’s tenure still in its infancy.Away at Arsenal as title contenders — with a formidable record at the Emirates having won four of their last six there — the Reds fought back, not once, but twice to earn an impressive point to remain four clear of the Gunners.Nine games in, Liverpool have seven wins, 22 points collected and sit in second in what is one of the club’s best ever starts to a Prem campaign.Nothing to sniff at there, and that is without mentioning three straight wins in the Champions League and a 5-1 Carabao Cup third-round thumping of fellow top-flight side West Ham.So to even attempt to pick flaws in Slot’s start with a run that solid would come across needlessly pedantic, deliberately nit-picky.But, and there is a but, given the standards Liverpool have set in these early months, it needs to be said: this draw in North London was a massive missed opportunity.And to go one step further, maybe this is a game Jurgen Klopp would have found a way to win?It has been a long time since Arsenal have gone into a game feeling so vulnerable defensively with world-class centre-back William Saliba missing through suspension.Full-back Riccardo Calafiori was also out injured, usual right-back Ben White began the game at centre-half and midfielder Thomas Partey started on the far right side of the defence.And then, in a chaotic second half, both Jurrien Timber and Gabriel limped off, forcing Gunners boss Mikel Arteta to swap around his back line THREE times by the 76th minute.And yet, despite all of that, a Liverpool side boasting attacking talents like Mo Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo were hardly making the home fans sweat with a peppering of the Arsenal goal.It was not until a Klopp-style counter-attack from back to front in the 81st minute did the visitors properly test the home defence.But even that finish was a tame one — Salah tapping in past David Raya into an almost empty net.And with nine minutes left plus seven minutes injury time, the expected onslaught for another, to nick all three points — the tally-ho approach — never came.Not Klopp’s heavy metal style, more pleasant folk music with a ukulele in a country pub.You get the impression that Slot was delighted with this outcome.For large parts, Liverpool were defensively sound, gave very little away and snuck away back to Merseyside with a point tucked under their arm and a bloody nose avoided.Yet it was in these sorts big blockbuster matches that Klopp and Liverpool thrived over their nine-year romance, full of excitement, thrills and last-gasp wins that earned them a Prem trophy in 2019-20 and plenty more down-to-the-wire chases with Manchester City.And with Arteta’s Arsenal on their knees — quite literally in some cases — and hanging on for dear life, these are the moments in title races that require a bit of crazy, not caution.A Klopp team of the past would have gone completely and totally Kloppy, throwing men forward at will, blasting their opponents away and forcing the ball into the net through passion and thunder alone, regardless of how open it left them at the back.Slot is not this sort of coach.He is measured, considerate, calm. Good qualities, but not always needed in do-or-die matches that ultimately determine where you finish in May.It is hard to say if this will come back to haunt Slot, who still insists on avoiding any use of the phrase ‘title contenders’ despite clearly being title contenders.With Aston Villa and Manchester City visiting Anfield over their next five Prem outings, we will see whether the Dutchman can loosen the leash and let his team grab games by the scruff of the neck instead of playing it safe.Because as we have seen in this league, going for broke often rewards you — just ask the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola.Fortune favours the brave.Slot needs to discover his own version of that if he is to truly emulate Klopp and transform this Liverpool side into one capable of seizing moments when they matter most. More

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      Carabao Cup quarter-final draw: Date, start time, TV channel, FREE live stream and ball numbers

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      IT’S almost that time again when football fans cross their fingers and hope for a kind tie as the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw takes place TONIGHT!Last year’s losing finalists Chelsea will need to beat Newcastle for a second successive time in just a matter of days to put their name in the hat.Chelsea thrashed Barrow in the previous roundCredit: APManchester United fired seven past Barnsley during the fourth roundCredit: GettyRuud van Nistelrooy takes charge of Manchester United after Erik ten Hag’s sacking, facing Leicester City at Old Trafford for a spot in the quarters.Injury-hit Arsenal make the trip to Preston with the last-8 firmly in their sights, while the pick of the bunch sees Tottenham welcome Carabao Cup serial winners Manchester City to North London.Southampton and Brentford are already into the hat after winning on Tuesday night.SunSport can tell you everything you need to know about the upcoming draw.Read more on Carabao CupWhen is the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw?The Carabao Cup quarter-final draw will take place TONIGHT – Wednesday, October 30.It is scheduled to begin after the conclusion of Tottenham vs Manchester City, which kicks off at 8.15pm GMT.Meaning that the draw is likely to proceed from 10.15pm GMT, as long as there are no penalties.What TV channel is the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw on and can it be live streamed?The Carabao Cup quarter-final draw will be shown LIVE on Sky Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football in the UK.Subscribers can live stream the draw via NowTV and the Sky Sports app.Alternatively, you can follow SunSport’s live blog to keep up to date with all the action.How can I watch the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw for FREE?For football lovers who do not have a Sky Sports subscription, the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw will be shown for FREE via the official Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.When will the Carabao Cup quarter-final ties take place?The Carabao Cup quarter-final ties will be played in the week commencing Monday, December 16.Most read in FootballFixtures will likely be on Tuesday, December 17 and Wednesday, December 18.What are the ball numbers?1 Brentford2 Southampton3 Aston Villa or Crystal Palace4 Brighton & Hove Albion or Liverpool5 Manchester United or Leicester City6 Newcastle United or Chelsea7 Preston North End or Arsenal8 Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester CityCarabao Cup fourth round schedule/resultsTuesday, October 29Southampton 3-2 Stoke CityBrentford 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Brentford win 5-4 on pens)Wednesday, October 30Brighton vs Liverpool – 7.30pm – Sky Sports+Newcastle vs Chelsea – 7.45pm – Sky Sports+Man Utd vs Leicester – 7.45pm – Sky Sports+Preston vs Arsenal – 7.45pm – Sky Sports+Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace – 7.45pm – Sky Sports+Tottenham vs Man City – 8.15pm – Sky Sports Main Event More

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      Ten Hag forced to give press conference for match he’ll never manage with Man Utd boss blissfully unaware he’d be sacked

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      ERIK TEN HAG gave a press conference to preview Manchester United’s Carabao Cup tie with Leicester on Wednesday – even though he was sacked today.The Dutchman spoke to the media directly after his press conference following Sunday’s controversial 2-1 loss away to West Ham.Erik ten Hag held a pre-match press conference for Wednesday’s match against Leicester BEFORE he was sackedTen Hag was let go by Man Utd on Monday morningYet bizarrely, Ten Hag found himself axed more than TWO DAYS before the Leicester game.Unfortunately, club staging press conferences directly after games – to preview a match a few days later – is something which has crept into the game.It is actually a bad idea.And it is only to save club media staff and the manager from staging a press conference the day before the game, which has always been the case.Read More on Man UtdBut if a manager attempts to preview a game three days later, there is always a danger that the situation could change such as a key player getting injured or something important happening at the club in general.Yet this situation was particularly unusual – and the manager who delivered a pre-match press conference ended up getting the boot.At the conference, which was due to be released at 1.30pm tomorrow, Ten Hag revealed his frustration with Luke Shaw’s injury nightmare.Ten Hag also stressed that he would consider it a success if he won the Carabao Cup for United, meaning he would have won a trophy for a third season in a row.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHe stressed that the most important thing was to win silverware, above anything else – and pointed out the fact that United still had the chance of winning four trophies – even though he has been sacked with United 14th in the table.The Dutchman certainly did not come across like someone who knew they were about to lose their job.Erik ten Hag angry with VAR for ‘interfering’ as West Ham penalty wounds Man Utd Why NOBODY is the right man to replace Erik ten Hag at Man UtdSunSport’s DAVE KIDD says Erik ten Hag’s time at Man Utd is up… and explains what’s wrong with all the potential candidates to replace him.THIS is a mid-table squad at an underachieving club, with a lot of unwanted players on big money.And Ratcliffe is an instinctive cost-cutter who may not pay top dollar to the next manager.If this club wasn’t called ‘Manchester United’, it wouldn’t be an especially desirable job.The good news for United is that their new sporting director, Dan Ashworth, is a very decent judge of a manager.He has been instrumental in three previous managerial appointments — Gareth Southgate for England, Graham Potter for Brighton and Eddie Howe for Newcastle.None were wildly popular at the time, all were conspicuous successes.Interestingly, Ashworth’s No 1 choice for the Newcastle job was Unai Emery, who turned him down to stay at Villarreal but has since proved that judgment right by excelling at Aston Villa.And the Spaniard would be an excellent fit for United — yet there is next to no chance that he would abandon Villa’s Champions League campaign to take the Old Trafford job, not least because he isn’t a stark raving madman.Howe would be another good candidate to succeed Ten Hag but, although he has become frustrated on Tyneside, the Saudis would surely not allow Ratcliffe to poach Howe, as they reluctantly did with Ashworth.Potter is available but his Chelsea experience and lack of charisma would make him a tough sell.Which brings us to Southgate, who remains close with Ashworth and is an excellent man-manager who was seriously considered by United last spring.Yet, despite having led England to two of their three major finals, Southgate’s reputation for over-caution was only enhanced during the Euros.Mauricio Pochettino, passed over twice by United, is out of the equation having taken the United States job.Thomas Tuchel would also have been a popular and gettable option – but England got in there first.Likewise, Roberto De Zerbi, now at Marseille after his brief Brighton stint sparkled then fizzled out.Kieran McKenna — a gifted former United coach who has won back-to-back promotions with Ipswich Town — is an intriguing candidate but the imminent vacancy may come a year or so too soon.Marco Silva, the extremely under-rated Fulham boss, has been on United’s radar and should not be discounted.Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, last season’s ‘next big thing’, was passed over by West Ham as well as Liverpool this summer and is not an easy man to pin down.Zinedine Zidane, who has taken over from Alan Curbishley as a 20-1 shot for every Premier League job, is a ‘figurehead’ manager and not an Ashworth type.Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former United goal machine who joined Ten Hag’s coaching team in the summer is the bookies’ favourite. Simply because he’s in the building and he’s Dutch.So, yes, getting rid of Ten Hag is the easy part.Ten Hag’s final Man Utd press conference in full…QUESTION: Erik, do you expect any players to be available for Wednesday after coming back from injury?Ten Hag: “No, I don’t think so.”Q: Luke Shaw has been out for more than two months now. Originally it was suggested he was going to come back in September, then October and now November. Has he had setbacks?A: “The process is not going as we expected. That is the truth. But a setback, if you want to call it like this, yes, but we also want to do it carefully because we don’t.. when he is now dropping again and we have made the wrong process so we want to be very careful.”We know his past and we have to do things right because we want him to be available because he will have a big impact on our performances and so also our levels. So we cannot have it that he plays for some games and drops out again so we do it very carefully.”Q: You won the Carabao Cup a couple of years ago and you take great pride in winning trophies in both seasons. If you win a trophy in your third season, does it make this season a success again?A: “Definitely.  It is about trophies. I don’t want to go on about this debate again but I think it is the truth. There are not so many trophies you can win and if you win a trophy it tops them all.”That is the most important thing because that is what the fans expect and what we expect, to win the trophy and you have.. We have had five opportunities and one we missed but that was the Community Shield but there are still four to go.”Man Utd suffered a 2-1 defeat to West HamCredit: GettyQ: After the European game, you said Manuel Ugarte was still developing but there are still parts of the game model you are looking to build into his game. What are you looking for from your midfielder?A: “My midfielders…  I have different types and we have, of course, the holding midfielders, the box-to-box, the 10s.”Most of the time we have four midfielders there and we rotate them and specifically for Manuel Ugarte, most of the time he will be in a holding position and yes, what we expect from him is holding but also linking, building the attack and making the links into attack and then, very importantly, he is in the defensive position.”Q: Is this linking the build you want to build with him?A: “I think every player can do better but I was very happy with his performance in Fenerbahce. It was definitely a step forward.”Q: How do you think the players will respond to this setback today. They have obviously performed well  but not taken their chances and the injustice of the penalty call but if you look at the table, 14th in the Premier League. Do they look at that and think ‘this is not good enough, we need to be better.’READ MORE SUN STORIESA: “First of all, we have to do better. I will tell them the ranking is not reflecting our performance or levels but at the end of the season, we have to get this right but of course, it is not easy when you have so many setbacks at the start of the season and to overcome this but we have to fight back.”It will always help when you have a good start. You get motivation, you get belief. The confidence will grow and we are now in the process of the other side when we are disappointed but we have to deal with setbacks and now we have to find the fuel from setbacks and disappointments.”Who could replace Ten Hag at Man Utd?ERIK TEN HAG has finally been put out of his Manchester United misery – but who will be the manager to lead them into the future?Ruud van NistelrooyThe Red Devils legend, 48, is no stranger to the pressures of Old Trafford.Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in 219 games for Man Utd and helped them to the 2002-03 Premier League title.The striker also starred for another monster club, Real Madrid, as a player before going into coaching.The 70-cap ex-Holland international managed PSV’s youth team before landing the senior job for the 2022-23 season.Van Nistelrooy landed a coaching job under Ten Hag earlier this year and is said to have done a superb job working with the clubs strikers behind the scenes.And now he will have the chance to show what he can do in a live ‘interview’ of sorts.How long the club will give him is another matter.Gareth SouthgateThe former England boss, 54, has long been linked with the Man Utd job.The former Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender has gone on to enjoy great success as a manager – albeit without getting his hands on a major trophy.Southgate managed Middlesbrough between 2006 and 2009 before taking on the England Under-21s job between 2013 and 2016.The 57-cap former Three Lions international then took the senior national job, replacing Roy Hodgson.Southgate brought the nation together as he led England to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, as well as the final of Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.However, he left his role in the summer following the defeat to Spain and was replaced by Lee Carsley on an interim basis.Thomas Tuchel – another boss long linked with the Old Trafford job – will take over the reins in 2025.Southgate has been out of club management for 15 years and a portion of England fans were frustrated by what they deemed a defensive style.However, his ability to largely galvanise the fan-base and deal with the pressure of one of the biggest jobs in sport with real class would be a huge asset for United.Edin TerzicEarlier this month, SunSport revealed Edin Terzic is the shock name on United’s list to replace Ten Hag.German Terzic took Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final last season before surprisingly quitting.He has many admirers at Old Trafford and it would he a smart but unexpected move to go for him if they sack under-fire Ten Hag.Terzic, 41, did his coaching badges in England, where he was friends with fellow United target Graham Potter, and then worked as Slaven Bilic’s No 2 at West Ham.He rose to the top in Germany during two spells at Dortmund before he walked away in June.Graham PotterThe English boss, 49, has been out of work since being axed by Chelsea in April 2023.Potter excited fans with his attacking approach at Brighton before he was poached by the Blues.However, he failed to lift Chelsea out of their funk and was given his marching orders.Potter’s fans include Manchester City mastermind Pep Guardiola.And there’s no doubt the ex-OstersundS FK and Swansea boss would get United playing on the front foot, something Old Trafford fans have long craved.Kieran McKennaCruelly denied a playing career due to injury, the former Tottenham youth prospect has excelled as a coach.McKenna, 38, worked as Under-18s coach at both Spurs and Man Utd before landing the top job at Ipswich Town.The young boss incredibly guided the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions, guiding them from League One back to the Premier League, ending the club’s 22-year absence.McKenna was quickly added to a host of clubs’ wish-lists, including Man Utd, according to reports.But Ipswich reacted swiftly to offer him a new, long-term contract.However, his side are yet to win any of their opening nine Premier League games, with four wins and five defeats.McKenna has Ipswich playing exciting, expansive football – something Man Utd fans crave.The big question now is whether McKenna opts to jump ship or stay loyal.Ruben Amorim, Xavi and Thomas Frank are also three names very much believed to be in the running. 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      When is the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw? Date, TV channel, FREE live stream and ball numbers

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      IT’S almost that time again when football fans cross their fingers and hope for a kind tie as the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw takes place THIS WEEK!Chelsea will need to beat Newcastle for a second successive time in just a matter of days to put their name in the hat.Chelsea humiliated Barrow in the previous roundCredit: APManchester United fired seven past Barnsley during the fourth roundCredit: GettyUnder-fire Manchester United host Leicester at Old Trafford for a spot in the quarters.Injury-hit Arsenal make the trip to Preston with the last-8 firmly in their sights.But the pick of the bunch sees Tottenham welcome Carabao Cup serial winners Manchester City to North London.SunSport can tell you everything you need to know about the upcoming draw.Read more on Carabao CupWhen is the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw?The Carabao Cup quarter-final draw will take place THIS Wednesday, October 30.It is scheduled to begin after the conclusion of Tottenham vs Manchester City – which kicks off at 8:15pm GMT.Meaning that the draw is likely to proceed from 10:15pm GMT.What TV channel is the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw on and can it be live streamed?The Carabao Cup quarter-final draw will be shown LIVE on Sky Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football in the UK.Subscribers can live stream the draw via NOW TV and the Sky Sports app.Alternatively, you can follow SunSport’s live blog to keep up to date with all the action.How can I watch the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw for FREE?For football lovers who do not have a Sky Sports subscription, the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw will be shown for FREE via the official Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.When will the Carabao Cup quarter-final ties take place?The Carabao Cup quarter-final ties will be played in the week commencing Monday, December 16.Most read in FootballFixtures will likely be on Tuesday, December 17 and Wednesday, December 18.What are the ball numbers?The Carabao Cup ball numbers will be confirmed on the date of the draw.Carabao Cup fourth round schedule/resultsTuesday, October 29Southampton vs Stoke City – 7:45pm Brentford vs Sheffield Wednesday – 8pmWednesday, October 30Brighton vs Liverpool – 7:30pm Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace – 7:45pmManchester United vs Leicester City – 7:45pmNewcastle United vs Chelsea – 7:45pmPreston North End vs Arsenal – 7:45pmTottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City – 8:15pm More

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      Newcastle 1 Wimbledon 0: Chelsea learn Carabao Cup opponents as Toon see off visitors after pitch saw fixture postponed

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      FABIAN SCHAR was spot on to dump Wimbledon out of the League Cup after their sinkhole misery and secure Newcastle a shot at revenge against Chelsea.The floodgates failed to open as it took a Schar penalty right before halftime to finally breach the League Two outfits’ defence.Fabian Schar netted for Toon as they beat Wimbledon in the Carabao CupCredit: ReutersThe Austrian held his nerve from the spot to open the scoringCredit: GettyAnd while the Dons look to use the cash from fundraising and this cup clash to get Plough Lane sorted, Toon can start plotting for payback on the Blues.The round-of-16 showdown will be a rematch of last season’s quarter-final where the Magpies suffered late heartbreak at Stamford Bridge.That evening Eddie Howe’s men looked to have booked a semi-final spot before Mykhaylo Mudryk capitalised on a Kieran Trippier mistake to force a shootout – and it was Chelsea who advanced and went all the way to the final.This time it will be them making the long journey north, just like their South London neighbours from five miles down the road did yesterday.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe Dons, of course, were due to host this tie only for flooding to cause a huge sinkhole on the Plough Lane pitch.That led to the football community coming together to raise over £100,000 to help the repair bill, which included a £15,000 donation from Newcastle as well as the use of their ground to stage it.And the goodwill was on full display from the near 1,500 away supporters before kick-off as they held aloft two banners reading “Thank you Toon” and another that read “Thank you everyone”.The niceties lasted less than ten minutes as Lloyd Kelly was subjected to chant of “you dirty northern b***ard” after a foul.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThat and Miguel Almiron’s offside goal were the only things of note in a tepid first half until Martin Dubravka was caught by Wimbledon striker Omar Bugiel while making a brave save.That left Howe with a choice of John Ruddy, who turns 38 this month, and £20m summer signing Odysseas Vlachodimos.Incredible before and after video shows AFC Wimbledon’s progress fixing huge sinkhole after Carabao Cup clash postponedIt was eventually the Greek international who got the nod at the break, but that was after Schar slotted home from 12 yards after Joe Pigott chopped Almiron in the box.Riley Harbottle’s jaw denied Joe Willock after the restart as Howe called for Anthony Gordon off the bench.Eddie Howe brought on the big guns as Toon toiled at St James ParkCredit: PADons boss Johnnie Jackson’s game-plan to sit and frustrate worked wonders but they still had not had a shot on target with five to go.It was time to roll the dice with a triple sub, which took four minutes to make due to a lengthy passage of play, causing one late scare from Harbottle’s long-throw, but it proved too little too late.Asked after the game about the penalty, Jackson said: “I’m fuming with it as the first one is a dive and then there’s break in play and another coming together but ref doesn’t give up.”Then, like we’re not already up against being a League Two side, the linesman gives it and gets involved.”For that to be the difference in the game, I’m disappointed. And my lads are gutted in there.”Howe, who admitted it was an “instantly forgettable” performance, said: “Job done – that’s the most important thing.“I’m frustrated with our attacking play – especially the first half.“Credit to them for how they defended. You have to battle your way through.“It’s an opportunity for us and we want to stay in the competition as long as we can.”READ MORE SUN STORIESHowe, who replaced Schar late on with Dan Burn, added: “Martin Dubravka’s taken a nasty bang to his knee, we hope he’s alright but we’ll see how he settles down tomorrow.“Fabian had a couple of issues, his ankle and other things, but hopefully he’ll be alright and it’s not serious.” More