Football

UNAI EMERY’S high-flying Aston Villa were brought crashing back to earth by the resurgent Eagles.Villa had been nigh on unbeatable this season, with mighty Bayern Munich the most impressive scalp.Summer signing Daichi Kamada got the winner for Crystal PalaceCredit: PAEberechi Eze broke the deadlock for Palace early in the matchCredit: GettyHowever, he was later forced off with a knockCredit: PABut Crystal Palace found a way to humble them…thanks to a hefty slice of shocking defending from Diego Carlos along the way.Villa were trying to play it out from the back but never came close to finding John McGinn on the edge of his own box.Instead he merely picked out Daichi Kamada, and the Japanese substitute jinked to his right, before firing back and low to his left, right into the bottom corner.It was Villa’s first – and only – defeat since Arsenal beat them here in their first home game, and they can blame no-one but themselves.Read More in FootballEmery’s men certainly had enough chances to have sealed it long before Kamada’s drive, midway through the second half.Villa may have been all-change – only McGinn kicked off both Saturday’s game and this one – but it didn’t stop them creating plenty.Leon Bailey warmed Matt Turner’s palms by whipping one to his near post, then nearly caught out the Palace keeper with a miss-hit, and that was all inside five minutes.Yet once a full-strength Palace – and fair play to boss Oliver Glasner for that – steadied the ship, they hit back to snatch the lead.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSCrystal Palace clinched the winJhon Duran scored Villa’s only goalCredit: PAAnd when they did, an unwitting contribution from fit-again Tyrone Mings had a sizeable role in the build-up.Mings was playing his first senior game since injuring his ACL in the opening game of LAST season 445 days ago, and clearly still some way off match fitness.Although that didn’t have a hand in Eze’s goal, it was more ill-fortune when Adam Wharton’s ball struck the Villa centre back on the head and fell for Dani Munoz.He delivered the perfect ball for Eze, who had peeled off into space and bulleted a header into the bottom corner.Maybe it was the slap in the face Villa needed to spark them into life, or perhaps just a case of that new look line-up syncing with each other.Although Palace admittedly weren’t helped by losing both Eze AND Wharton to injuries before we’d even reached half an hour, the latter leading to Kamada’s introduction.Whatever the reason, Unai Emery’s men finally found their feet and pretty soon found the way to the Palace net as well.Kamara started it by robbing Kamada and lofting a lovely pass to Leon Bailey on the right.When he pulled it back, Jhon Duran swung a boot, and keeper Turner was left beating the ground in frustration, knowing he should have made a better fist of stopping it.Duran then went close with a typical rampaging run and thundering angled strike which had Turner going full length to push away.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut he wasn’t quite as controlled with a wild swipe as Kosta Nedeljkovic’s strike pinballed to him in the box, thrashing it a yard wide.Certainly nothing like the precision Kamada showed in picking out the corner of Joe Gauci’s net, which ultimately proved enough to ease Palace into the last eight. More

CHELSEA made 11 changes once again and this time it cost them with Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi off the pace.Only Mykhailo Mudryk can come out of the match with any credit as Chelsea were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by a resurgent Newcastle.Alexander Isak scored after a defensive mishap from ChelseaCredit: PAAxel Disasi scored a comical own goal to put Newcastle in controlCredit: PAIsak scored his second goal in four days against ChelseaCredit: AFPThe Blues came out on top when the two sides met at Stamford Bridge on Sunday – but that was with their first string out.Enzo Maresca wrung the changes once again at St James’ Park and the match unravelled quickly as Toon scored twice in three minutes.Two defensive lapses cost Chelsea with Disasi firing in a comical own goal minutes after Renato Veiga was forced to surrender possession in the build-up to Newcastle’s opener after receiving a hospital pass from Badiashile.Chelsea threatened to mount a comeback with Joao Felix stinging the palms of Nick Pope.READ MORE ON CHELSEABut after the break they were frustrated by Newcastle’s low block and huffed and puffed without finding a way back into the match.Newcastle almost put the final nail in the coffin when Sean Longstaff headed in, but the linesman raised his flag for offside.Here is how Craig Mahood rated the Chelsea display.Filip Jorgensen – 6Nervy start when flapping at an early cross and a couple of wayward kicks going out. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSStruggled in parts with the ball at his feet including a pass straight to Tonali in the first half. Not much to do in the second half.Axel Disasi – 6Looked uncomfortable for large spells at right-back in duels with Joelinton in the first half and couldn’t sort his feet out when scoring an own goal. Didn’t have much defending to do after the break but offered little in attack.Tosin Adarabioyo – 6Best of the back line but not a difficult task. Looks like a player is there if he can get more minutes as marshalled Isak well for much of the contest.Benoit Badiashile – 5Shocker of a pass to Veiga for Newcastle’s opener before being booked for a foul on Krafth. Terrible touch right on half time let Gordon clear and fortunate Willock missed from close range.Marc Cucurella – 6Huffed and puffed down the left-hand side and defended reasonably well against Gordon for most of the night. Tried to link with Mudryk but a frustrating night meant he didn’t get as involved.Enzo Fernandez – 6Chelsea skipper saw plenty of the ball but didn’t create much of note on it.Looked to be missing the creative spark that would normally play alongside him in there.Renato Veiga – 6Largely anonymous in the middle as kept possession moving but was caught on it for the opening Newcastle goal, though not really his fault.Stung the palms of Pope late on but didn’t create much in that position.Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 5Should’ve scored in opening 90 seconds with glorious chance. On the fringes of the game throughout and struggled to get involved. Hooked before the hour.Mykhailo Mudryk – 7Quiet first half hour before bursting clear of Krafth later in half. Appeared to gainconfidence in the second half and was a threat when he did get the ball on the left. His final ball missing a few times but would’ve had an assist or two on another evening. Chelsea will be hoping this isn’t a flash in the pan.Joao Felix – 5Another one that showed very, very brief flashes. Should’ve scored when clean through with 15 minutes to go which might’ve changed the game. Frustrations of a difficult night shown when booked for dissent in closing stages.READ MORE SUN STORIESSubsNoni Madueke – 6Replaced ineffective Dewsbury-Hall for the final half hour. Claimed for a penalty when pushed over by Gordon. Was a threat when in possession but struggled against Newcastle’s low block.Cole Palmer’s reaction to being compared to Zola will make you feel old as fans say ‘he actually said that out loud?’ More

IF Erik ten Hag was watching in Amsterdam he must have been wondering if this was indeed the same Manchester United team.Why does this always happen?Manchester United made a positive start to life after Erik ten HagCredit: ReutersThe Red Devils scored four goals in a chaotic first halfCredit: GettyRuud van Nistelrooy took interim charge as talks continue with Ruben AmorimCredit: GettyCasemiro whipped a sensational opener into the top cornerCredit: AFPCasemiro impressed with two goals for Van Nistelrooy’s menBruno Fernandes thrived in the win over LeicesterThe old boss goes, his assistant takes over and the team transforms overnight.It makes you wonder what Ruud van Nistelrooy was doing on the training ground in the first place.Much of this victory that put the Red Devils into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup was down to the strength of the opposition.Leicester City fielded a team with nine changes and was similar in strength to that which drew 0-0 with Walsall in the last round before winning on penalties.READ MORE ON MAN UTDUnited by contrast were strong, Van Nistelrooy wasn’t going to pass this chance up to be a winner from the Old Trafford dug out.Mind you to be fair to him whoever pulls on a Man Utd shirt nowadays nothing can be guaranteed.So credit Van Nistelrooy for getting a tune out of this lot just two days after Ten Hag was dismissed.The regular boos heard here became cheers and smiles replaced frowns and shaking heads.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAlejandro Garnacho tucked home Man Utd’s second of the eveningCredit: RexBilal El Khannouss pulled one back for LeicesterCredit: GettyFernandes’ deflected free-kick made it 3-1 moments laterCredit: ReutersCasemiro netted his second of the night and Man Utd’s fourthCredit: GettyIt was reminiscent of.. well when they played Barnsley in the last round and won 7-0 but not much else in recent memory.Even Casemiro shone brightly.Ruben Amorim responds to questions about Man Utd job after Sporting match 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.With two goals and an assist he had the home crowd buzzing at the break even if familiar failings at the other end kept Leicester just about in it at 4-2.It is fair to say the Brazilian has not pulled up any trees since coming here but with his first strike he nearly uprooted the goal.Of the 150 goals Van Nistelrooy scored in 219 games for this club only one of them came from outside the box.So he was open mouthed in disbelief when he saw what Casemiro did in the 15th minute as he received a ball from Alejandro Garnacho and then from 30 yards hammered a shot into the top right hand corner in off the underside of the bar.The former Real Madrid star ran to the corner flag and tapped the United club emblem with his hand.Why he had gloves on his hands was another matter.The home side’s second followed in the 28th minute as this time Casemiro set the move which led to it going with a chipped a ball down the right wing.Diogo Dalot fired it to the far post and Garnacho slammed it into the roof of the net.Back came Leicester in the 33rd minute as stand in goalkeeper Altay Nayinidr’s weak punch was fired back past him by El Khannouss.The goals were flying in and just three minutes later Bruno Fernandes free kick was deflected in off James Justin’s head.Onto the 39th minute and Casemiro on target again as this time he followed up his own header which hit both posts to net the rebound.What was going on here, this isn’t normal United, dominating a game.Ah wait, in first half injury time a ball into the box skimmed off Casemiro’s header bounced off Dalot and was turned in by Conor Coady.Conor Coady pulled another one back for Leicester before half-timeCredit: GettyFernandes bagged his second of the eveningCredit: ReutersGame still on, given this was United.Back came the teams for the second half and the roar of ‘Ruuuuuuud’ went out around the ground as the interim boss reappeared.Leicester had been given a lift with that goal and rallied from the restart.Any brief hope they had of a fight back was then extinguished with Caleb Okoli’s sloppy back pass just short of the hour.Captain Fernandes was on to it, rounded the keeper and fired it home from close range.He reacted with a defiant punch of the air.Even he, with his stats, has not escaped criticism but have no doubt about how much he genuinely cares about the club.Van Nistelrooy will be in charge again for Sunday’s visit of Chelsea which had looked daunting.They will go into it, however, with some confidence restored.READ MORE SUN STORIESIncoming boss Ruben Amorim will watch this in Lisbon and know that at least he has something to work with.On the night before Halloween, the ‘Theatre of Screams’ headlines were not needed.Ruben Amorim is expected to be appointed the next permanent Man Utd managerCredit: Getty More

GABRIEL JESUS scored his first goal in 274 days to put Arsenal on course for the quarter finals.But the Brazilian was upstaged by teen sensation Ethan Nwaneri who is becoming the stand out star of the Carabao Cup for the Gunners.Ethan Nwaneri was the star as Arsenal beat PrestonCredit: AFPThe 17-year-old scored a screamer in the first halfCredit: PAGabriel Jesus ended a 25-game goal droughtCredit: GettyAfter grabbing two against Bolton in round three, the 17-year-old underlined his potential AGAIN here by curling home a first half beauty.He came agonisingly close to adding a couple more too before leaving the pitch to a standing ovation from the visiting fans just before the end.While this competition may not be the priority for Mikel Arteta, fans will be hoping they can go all the way so they can see more of Nwaneri.The only downside to a highly-satisfactory night for the Emirates chief was that his team did not score more.Read More in FootballPreston had won just three of their last 12 matches but they have been hard to beat since Paul Heckingbottom took over early in the season.They have also done well in this competition – knocking out Championship high-fliers Sunderland and then claiming a Prem scalp by sending Fulham out in an epic penalty shoot-out.  But they were no match for Arteta’s side which showed eight changes from the team which drew with Liverpool on Sunday.The Gunners were in control right from the off with Nwaneri – making only his second start – wasting a decent chance early on.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSKai Havertz scored with a bullet header after coming off the bench in the second halfCredit: GettyTommy Setford kept a clean sheet on his Arsenal debutCredit: GettyAt the other end a cross by Sam Greenwood was nodded over by Liam Lindsay but that was as good as it got for the home side.Midway through the first half a free-kick from the left was swung over by Gabriel Martinelli and Jakub Kiwior put it back into the danger zone.How Arteta dominated Liverpool with stealth Havertz trick before genius Slot switch saved the dayJesus was lurking at the near post and volleyed it past Freddie Woodman in the blink of an eye.Last time the Brazilian was on the mark was the win at Nottingham Forest in late January – so it was long overdue.It was just what the former Manchester City man needed to boost his confidence and nine minutes later he teed up Nwaneri for the second.To be fair though, it was all about the youngster as he took it in his stride and curled home a beauty from the edge of the box.Woodman never moved – he’s been around long enough to know you don’t save those.Teen superstar Nwaneri impressed for ArsenalArteta said after Nwaneri’s two goals against Bolton in the last round that ‘the boy is ready’ – and not many will be arguing with him now.  He is the youngest player ever to score on both of his first two Arsenal starts – and you can only think they are first of many.If North End hoped the visitors might ease off after the break, they were disappointed.Arteta threw on Mikel Merino and Kai Havertz at the interval as he clearly felt there were more goals to be had.And it was the German who put the tie beyond any doubt just before the hour – thumping in a header from Kiwior’s cross.From then it was a question of how many with Woodman making a triple save to keep them at bay and two goals were also ruled out. READ MORE SUN STORIESMeanwhile Nwaneri floated another ambitious effort which hit the top of the bar.  The youngster had made life hell for North End so maybe it was appropriate that 10 minutes from time he was replaced by another youngster Ayden Heaven. More