Manchester United responded to the firing of Erik ten Hag by scoring four goals in the first 38 minutes on the way to a 5-2 thrashing of Leicester City in the League Cup, while Tottenham eliminated Manchester City in the last-16 on Wednesday.
Also advancing to the competition’s first all-Premier League quarter-finals lineup in 14 years were defending champions Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle and Crystal Palace.
Two days after Ten Hag’s exit, United displayed the cutting edge so often lacking under the Dutchman with Brazil midfielder Casemiro scoring two of the team’s first-half goals — one a curling strike into the top corner from 30 meters.
Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes also netted in that early flurry of goals, while Fernandes added a fifth in the 59th.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, United’s former star striker, took charge of United having been Ten Hag’s assistant, and enjoyed what might be his only game at the helm. United appear close to bringing in Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim as the replacement for Ten Hag.
“It is clear that this is going to be short term,” Van Nistelrooy said, “so for me today (Wednesday) was the most important day after what happened. In such short notice... credit to the players, they were fantastic.”
It was a night to forget for Premier League leaders Manchester City, who not only lost the match to Tottenham 2-1 but also lost Savinho and Manuel Akanji to injuries to further deplete Pep Guardiola’s ravaged squad.
Goals by Timo Werner and Pape Sarr in the opening 25 minutes put Tottenham two goals clear before Matheus Nunes reduced the deficit in first-half stoppage time
for City.
Akanji was injured in the warmup and didn’t start the game, while Savinho hurt his ankle and was in tears as he was carried off the field on a stretcher in the 63rd minute. City are already without Rodri, Kevin de Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish because
of injuries.
“We are in a difficult position,” Guardiola said.
Tottenham, who also sustained injuries to Micky van de Ven and Werner, was drawn to play Man United in the quarterfinals.
Liverpool continued their title defence with a 3-2 win over Brighton that was sparked by a double from Cody Gakpo. The Dutchman scored in the 46th and 63rd minutes at Amex Stadium, while Luis Diaz added a third in the 85th after Brighton had pulled a goal back through Simon Adingra.
