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    Carabao Cup first round draw in full as Wrexham learn opponents after return to EFL

    WREXHAM kick off their 2023-24 Carabao Cup campaign with a home fixture against Wigan.The National League champions will host the 2013 FA Cup winners at the Racecourse Ground in the week commencing August 7.
    The first round draw for the Carabao Cup has been madeCredit: PA
    Wrexham kick off their Carabao Cup campaign against WiganCredit: Getty
    Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s side will make an explosive return to the EFL after earning promotion at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
    The two Hollywood superstars have already invested heavily in the club, and they are expected to continue to do so this summer in a bid to climb up to League One.
    Ex-Man Utd goalkeeper Ben Foster has already signed a new contract until the end of the 2023-24 season.
    Club hero Paul Mullin is also in talks to sign a new deal.
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    Leeds, Southampton and Leicester, who were all relegated from the Premier League to the Championship last season, will also enter the competition at the first round.
    In the Southern Section, Southampton were drawn against Gillingham.
    The Saints will travel to the Priestfield Stadium to face the League Two side.
    And in the Northern Section, Leeds were drawn at home to Shrewsbury while Leicester were drawn away to Burton.
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    Other games to watch include; QPR vs Norwich, Stoke vs West Brom and Huddersfield vs Middlesbrough.
    Premier League teams begin to enter the Carabao Cup at the second round.
    Carabao Cup Draw – Northern Section

    Notts County vs Lincoln City
    Bolton vs Barrow
    Hull City vs Doncaster Rovers
    Mansfield Town vs Grimsby Town
    Stoke vs West Brom
    Sheffield Wednesday vs Stockport
    Leeds vs Shrewsbury
    Preston vs Salford
    Rotherham vs Morecambe
    Harrogate vs Carlisle
    Burton vs Leicester
    Accrington Stanley vs Bradford City
    Derby County vs Blackpool
    Port Vale vs Fleetwood
    Barnsley vs Tranmere
    Blackburn vs Walsall
    Huddersfield vs Middlesbrough
    Wrexham vs Wigan
    Sunderland vs Crewe

    Carabao Cup Draw – Southern Section

    Plymouth Argyle vs Leyton Orient
    Forest Green Rovers vs Portsmouth
    Swansea vs Northampton
    Exeter City vs Crawley
    Ipswich Town vs Bristol Rovers
    Newport vs Charlton
    Stevenage vs Watford
    Cheltenham vs Birmingham
    Sutton vs Cambridge Utd
    MK Dons vs Wycombe
    Milwall vs Reading
    AFC Wimbledon vs Coventry
    Bristol vs Oxford United
    Gillingham vs Southampton
    QPR vs Norwich
    Peterborough vs Swindon
    Cardiff vs Colchester More

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    Man Utd fans fume Avram Glazer has ‘no shame’ after billing club £500,000 to fly to Wembley despite over £500m debt

    MANCHESTER UNITED fans are raging after it was revealed owner Avram Glazer has billed £500,000 worth of flights to the club for two trips to England.Glazer, 62, who lives in Florida, travelled over to London to attend the Red Devils’ Carabao Cup final victory over Newcastle back in February.
    Avram Glazer is already an unpopular figure among Manchester United fansCredit: Alamy
    He then returned to England earlier this month for the Women’s FA Cup final – which they lost 1-0 to Chelsea.
    According to The Athletic, these two visits – which Glazer complete through the use of private jets – each cost the club £250,000.
    It is understood that security and accommodation were additional fees on top of the flights.
    The report also states that Glazer’s visit to the World Cup in Qatar last year – which he went to with his family – was also put down as a business expense.
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    It was said to have cost the club even more than his trips to England.
    This is despite Man Utd’s debts standing at around £250million, with dividends continuing to be taken out by the Glazer family.
    And supporters are furious after finding out the club have been paying for Glazer’s extortionate flights.
    Reacting on social media, one said: “I truly cant believe this is allowed.”
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    Another added: “Nah but how do you spend 250k on a trip.”
    A third replied: “Scandalous. Using club debt again.”
    And a fourth responded: “No shame whatsoever.”
    Glazer watched the Women’s FA Cup final with his daughter Libby.
    After the game, he refused to answer questions from journalists regarding the sale of the club – with the process ongoing.
    Briton Sir Jim Ratcliffe is understood to have submitted the preferred bid ahead of Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani. More

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    Man Utd have downed tools since Carabao Cup final win and should have been hammered at Newcastle, slams Rio Ferdinand

    MANCHESTER UNITED stars have “downed tools” since winning the Carabao Cup and need to start “strangling” each other, according to club legend Rio Ferdinand. The Red Devils returned from the international break with a limp defeat against top four rivals Newcastle on Sunday.
    United were all at sea at St James’ Park on SundayCredit: Getty
    Ferdinand has called for some leadership in the United dressing room to prevent the season unravelling
    It has left United out of the Champions League places with just 11 games remaining despite a strong start to 2023.
    Erik ten Hag’s men lost just one of 15 games before their trip to Wembley to beat Newcastle in the League Cup Final at the end of February.
    Since then, the club’s shaky form has seen them slaughtered at Anfield, draw against struggling Southampton and labour to cup wins over West Ham and Fulham.
    Former United defender Ferdinand, who won 14 trophies during his long stay at Old Trafford, has had enough.
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    He said on his Five Youtube channel: “It seems like they’ve won the Carabao Cup and downed tools.
    “They think they’ve done enough, that’s what it feels like. They’ve got to get out of this rut. 
    “The performance on Sunday. Seize the moment! It’s the moment, it’s top four. Take the opportunity. Understand what is there. What are the requirements for you?
    “Luke Shaw mentioned they had a meeting after the game. They need to be strangling each other, there needs to be some pushing and shoving, up in people’s faces. So people understand this is the serious business end of the season.
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    “If David de Gea doesn’t play we’re bang in trouble, it’s probably five or six. I thought mentally they’d got beyond this. I thought we’d eradicated the feeling of the Brentford game. I hope it won’t rear its head again.”
    Unlike their rivals for top four, United remain in other competitions and face having their resources stretched as the season reaches its conclusion.
    A two-legged Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla awaits ten Hag’s side as they prepare to face Spanish opposition for the fourth time in Europe this season.
    While they can also look forward to another Wembley trip this month as they face Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final. More

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    Newcastle stars to give Man Utd a guard of honour for winning the Carabao Cup when they meet in huge Prem clash

    NEWCASTLE are planning to give Manchester United a guard of honour tomorrow recognising their Carabao Cup triumph.February’s loss in the Wembley final means Toon fans are still without a domestic trophy since 1955.
    Newcastle fans took over Trafalgar Square as they descended upon London for February’s domestic cup finalCredit: Alamy
    That has not stopped Newcastle giving the green light to a grand gesture to the Red Devils when they visit St James’ Park.
    The idea was proposed by Toon supporters group Trophies Don’t Matter, which boasts Newcastle having the best fans in the world is more important than silverware.
    TDM spokesman Lipra Olof said: “It is only right we salute our friends from Manchester. They were deserved winners.
    “We had a lovely day at Wembley and took over Trafalgar Square before the match, which is the most important thing.”
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    Players will line up by the tunnel as their rivals walk out and boss Eddie Howe is to present Erik ten Hag with a plaque and flowers.
    The match is a key clash in the race for the Champions League spots with Newcastle in fifth, three points behind third-placed United. 
    The pair are scrapping for the spots alongside managerless Tottenham and overachievers Brighton and Brentford, who meet tomorrow.
    Just eight points separate the six sides as the season reaches its penultimate month.
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    United are looking for silverware in other competitions.
    The Red Devils face a Europa League quarter-final tie with Sevilla later this month as well as another trip to Wembley to take on Brighton in the FA Cup. More

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    ‘It burns’ – Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold reveals hilarious reaction to watching Man Utd lift the Carabao Cup

    LIVERPOOL star Trent Alexander-Arnold has revealed his brilliant reaction to seeing Manchester United lift the Carabao Cup. United claimed the Carabao Cup following a 2-0 win against Newcastle, taking the crown from last year’s champs Liverpool in the process.
    Manchester United lifted the Carabao Cup last weekCredit: Getty
    And Trent Alexander-Arnold has revealed how he reacted to the matchCredit: Getty
    However, it also sees Man Utd move ahead in the trophy race, with United now back on top of English club’s success list with 67 trophies to the Reds 66.
    And Liverpool academy graduate Alexander-Arnold has revealed his hilarious reaction to the Red Devils lifting the trophy.
    Speaking to The Telegraph ahead of the hotly-anticipated clash, he said: “I watched the game, but as soon as they were getting ready for the trophy lift I turned off.
    “I thought, ‘There is no way I am watching that’.
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    “Knowing they lifted that trophy? It burns. Oh yeah. It definitely burns.”
    The two North West giants are in almost polar opposite positions to where they were 12 months ago.
    Liverpool were hunting for an unprecedented quadruple after winning the Carabao Cup, while United were struggling.
    Now it is Jurgen Klopp’s side who are struggling, and United who are on the hunt for a quadruple.
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    The England international added: “It shows you how football changes very quickly.
    “Look at Arsenal. At the end of last season everyone was talking about failure for not making the top four. All of a sudden they are leading in the title race.
    “In football terms, these changes really do happen overnight. It’s the same with Manchester United when you look at the difference now to last year.
    “Even the start of this season when they lost to Brentford. How many people were saying ‘here we go again?’ Now they’re flying. It happens.
    “That is why I am not going to allow myself to get over consumed with what has happened to us right now because I know in a few months, or possibly even weeks, it will change.
    “I am determined to keep level-headed and balanced about what has gone on.”
    Erik ten Hag’s side are in a strong vein of form and will be determined to earn the club’s first win at Anfield since 2016.
    But they may have to do so without Raphael Varane, who faces a late battle to be fit for the fixture.
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    Meanwhile, Liverpool have been boosted by the recent return of Virgil van Dijk, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino – though the latter’s agent confirmed he will leave at the end of the season.
    Ten Hag and Klopp issued joint statements ahead of the game urging supporters not to resort to chants about Munich and Hillsborough, which have marred the fixture in recent years. More

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    Wout Weghorst showed in just five seconds why Erik ten Hag decided to sign him Man Utd in shock transfer

    WOUT WEGHORST needed just five seconds against Newcastle to show exactly why Manchester United signed him. The Dutch striker was signed following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo on loan from Burnley in January.
    Wout Weghorst showed exactly why Erik ten Hag starts him against NewcastleCredit: AP
    He brilliantly carried the ball for four seconds before setting up Marcus RashfordCredit: Sky Sports
    Weghorst, 30, has started all 12 games he has been available for, including Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final win over Newcastle.
    The towering 6ft 6in forward has only managed to find the net once for the Red Devils but the MEN claim that is not concerning boss Erik ten Hag as “he brought him in for a different reason”.
    They state his “persistent running and hold-up play” is admired by his manager, which led to him being dropped into a No.10 role where he shone in the 2-2 Europa League play-off first leg draw in Barcelona.
    Ten Hag tried to deploy the same tactic in the second leg, only this time it failed to work as he was replaced by Antony at half time, and the Brazilian went on to claim a 2-1 win over the LaLiga side.
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    However, he is still able to perform his drop-off and play-forward duties from the No.9 role.
    And he did that perfectly at Wembley against Newcastle – and he needed just four seconds to show exactly why Ten Hag favoured him in attack rather than Anthony Martial.

    Weghorst received the ball and carried it for four seconds before threading a pass in to Marcus Rashford to race through and double the advantage after Casemiro’s opener.
    And that is exactly the type of impact that Ten Hag signed him for.
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    That took Weghorst’s tally to two assists for United – which is obviously double the amount of goals he has scored.
    This report states that “whether he grabs the final set-up or not, it’s his link-up play for the on-bombing wide men that has proved appetising” to the coach.
    And he has already proven with his displays in Barcelona and at Wembley that he is certainly a man for the big occasion. More

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    David Moyes makes dancing promise after being inspired by Erik ten Hag’s Man Utd moves after Carabao Cup final win

    DAVID MOYES has joked he would happily “dad-dance” with Samba-loving Lucas Paqueta if West Ham win the FA Cup.Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag had the mickey taken out of him by Roy Keane when he started boogying on the Wembley turf with his players after the Carabao Cup triumph.
    David Moyes says he will dance if West Ham win the FA CupCredit: Rex
    Erik ten Hag showed off his moves when Man Utd won the Carabao CupCredit: Rex
    Three-time FA Cup winners West Ham travel to Old Trafford tonight for the fifth-round clash, hoping to catch the Red Devils in a hangover mood.
    Paqueta, who is from Rio de Janeiro, was part of the Brazil side that marked the goals scored in their 4-1 World Cup win over South Korea with a dance move – including the touchline pigeon routine by coach Tite.
    Asked if he would consider busting a groove, Moyes, 59, laughed: “I certainly would, yeah!
    “I certainly would, don’t worry, if I win a trophy, I’ll be flipping dad dancing and everything.
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    “Have you see the Scottish Gay Gordons and the real dancing? You don’t know what I’m talking about here..!”
    For younger readers, the Gay Gordons is a popular Scottish country dance that is performed in a big circle of couples.
    And SunSport will endeavour to hold Glaswegian Moyes to that vow if West Ham lift the trophy for the first time since 1980 on Saturday June 3.
    On the form of club-record signing Paqueta, Moyes added: “He’s really beginning to settle in.
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    “The people who see West Ham regularly would say there are bits of him which show really good parts to his game.
    “It’s us getting used to him and him getting used to us.
    “He’s a very good technically-gifted footballer. We’re looking forward to that improvement continuing.”
    Czech defender Vladimir Coufal will miss the visit to Old Trafford with a heel injury.
    Striker Danny Ings – who scored twice in the 4-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest last Saturday – is cup-tied having played in the third round of the competition for Aston Villa.
    This will be the ninth meeting between West Ham and Manchester United since 2010 in either the FA Cup or League Cup.
    I’d love to get West Ham to the Cup FinalDavid Moyes
    The East Londoners’ last success in this fixture in the FA Cup was the famous 1-0 win in January 2001 when Paolo di Canio survived the offside trap to score past United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.
    West Ham asked about moving their Prem fixture with Brighton from Saturday to Sunday – to give them more recovery time from tonight – but that request fell on deaf ears.
    Moyes, who guided Everton to the 2009 final where they lost to Chelsea, said: “One hundred per cent, I’d love to get West Ham to the Cup Final.
    “I’d love to win the Cup Final when we get there.
    “We had a great run at Everton. We got to the final one year, we got beaten in the semi-final one year as well. I’d love to take West Ham into a similar position.
    “Going to Old Trafford is a really difficult game. You’ve got to play the good teams in the journey.
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    “We’ve already been away to Brentford and Derby, so our draws in this competition so far have been really difficult, they’ve all been away from home.
    “Let’s hope we can keep our run going. We’ve won the other two, so let’s see if we can try and win this one.” More

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    ‘Grandma went ballistic’ – Newcastle fan’s regret after getting tattoo saying Magpies won cup BEFORE losing to Man Utd

    A BUNGLING Newcastle fan has been left red-faced after getting a “Cup Winners” tattoo BEFORE losing at Wembley.Kris Cook, 31, had the four-inch design etched on to his left leg three days prior to Sunday’s 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United.
    Newcastle fan Kris Cook shocked his grandma with his new tattooCredit: SWNS
    He got ‘cup winners’ inked on his leg before the defeat to Manchester UnitedCredit: SWNS
    Despite now having a permanent reminder of the “disappointing” loss, defiant Kris insists he has no regrets about his decision – and his mates found it hilarious.
    The tatt reads in full: “Tell me ma me ma, NUFC Cup winners 26/02/23” and was done “for a laugh” during one sitting.
    Dad-of-one Kris, from Northumberland, said: “I got it done last Thursday, three days before the cup final.
    “I was going in for a day session at the tattoo place anyway to get a sleeve done and then decided last minute to get the Newcastle tattoo on my leg too.
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    “It was all for a laugh and I had mentioned to my mates that I might get it done, but they were shocked when I went through with it.
    “The tattoo is about four inches wide and four inches long and is just above my knee on my left leg.
    “It took about ten minutes to do and was thrown in with the £400 cost of booking the tattooist out for the day to have my arm sleeve done.
    “The tattoo is a Newcastle chant from the 90s and one we sing at St James’ Park.
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    “I don’t regret getting it done at all. I might do when I’m older but for now, I just think it’s funny.”
    The tattoo did not go down quite so well with his family, with his grandma particularly angry about it.
    Kris, who works in sales, added: “My eight-year-old daughter Honey thinks it’s funny and my mum is not fussed but my gran hates it.
    “She has always been anti-tattoos and I am covered in them. I think the Newcastle United one was just a step too far for her.
    “The girl who does my tattoos is from Sunderland so she probably enjoyed it that little bit more.”
    ‘STILL VERY PROUD’
    Kris and his mates made the 280-mile journey down to London for Newcastle’s first major final in 24 years.
    He watched the match at Boxpark near to Wembley Stadium as goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford ended Toon’s hopes of a first major trophy since 1969.
    But Kris insisted he was still proud of Eddie Howe’s boys.
    He added: “I can’t remember much of the match if I’m honest as me and my friends had been drinking all day and celebrating so the initial defeat didn’t hit me.
    “I am disappointed that we didn’t win but I am so proud of the team for getting to Wembley and we will be back.
    “Give Newcastle a few years and we will start winning lots of things.
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    “I have always been a Newcastle fan and I think Geordie football is drilled into you from such a young age.
    “I am still very proud of my team despite the outcome.”
    Kris admitted he cannot remember much of the gameCredit: SWNS
    This was Newcastle’s first final for 24 yearsCredit: PA More