Man Utd, Liverpool advance to English League Cup QFs

Timo Werner's first goal in 18 matches and Pape Sarr's curler has helped Tottenham knock Manchester City out of the English League Cup.

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Werner set Spurs on course for their 2-1 victory on Wednesday night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when he rifled home in the fifth minute, which was followed by Sarr's stunner midway through the first half.

City responded with a Matheus Nunes goal on the stroke of halftime but after Pep Guardiola decided against bringing on Erling Haaland, Tottenham held on for a crucial win which helped push them a step closer to ending a 16-year trophy drought.

It was not a solely positive night for manager Ange Postecoglou after he lost defender Micky van de Ven to injury.

Earlier, Ruud van Nistelrooy's Manchester United roared to an entertaining 5-2 victory against Leicester City as the post-Erik ten Hag era began with a bang.

The Red Devils called time on the Dutchman's 29-month reign on Monday, leading to the club's popular former striker stepping up from his role as assistant manager while a permanent head coach is recruited.

United are in talks to hire highly-rated Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim and the club appear to be safe in hands should negotiations drag on judging by Wednesday's win against the Foxes.

Van Nistelrooy - who returned to the club in the summer - celebrated as excitedly as those in the Old Trafford stands when Casemiro opened the scoring with a stunner 15 minutes into his first match in temporary charge.

Alejandro Garnacho struck another before Bilal El Khannouss pulled one back for much-changed Leicester, only for United to hit back through a deflected Bruno Fernandes free-kick and Casemiro's second of the night.

Conor Coady cut the lead in first-half added time, but Fernandes coolly scored his second on an evening when fan favourite Van Nistelrooy's name frequently filled the air.

Liverpool advanced to the last eight with a 3-2 win over Brighton & Hove Albion that was sparked by a double from Cody Gakpo.

The Netherlands international scored in the 46th and 63rd minutes at Amex Stadium, while Luis Diaz added a third in the 85th for the defending champions after Brighton had pulled a goal back through Simon Adingra.

Liverpool held on after Tariq Lamptey scored the Seagulls' second in the 90th.

The Reds have won the League Cup a record 10 times, most recently last season with a victory over Chelsea in the final.

The Blues, meantime, have been bundled out by Newcastle United at St James' Park.

Three days on from their Premier League defeat at Stamford Bridge, the Magpies responded with an impressive first-half display.

Alexander Isak pounced on a mistake at the back to score the opener before Joe Willock's deflected header was turned in by Axel Disasi.

Arsenal won 3-0 at Championship side Preston North End thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus, Ethan, Nwaneri and Kai Havertz.

Crystal Palace's season continued to go in the right direction after they beat Aston Villa 2-1.

Three days after kick-starting their league campaign by beating Tottenham, Palace followed it up by booking their place in the next round thanks to Eberechi Eze and Daichi Kamada goals either side of Jhon Duran's leveller.

Australian Associated Press

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