Manchester United will host Liverpool in an FA Cup quarter-final blockbuster after the bitter rivals took contrasting routes to their fifth spherical victories on Wednesday.
United eased the stress on beleaguered boss Erik ten Hag as they scraped by with a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest because of Casemiro’s late aim.
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Chelsea bounced again from their painful 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Wembley, snatching a 3-2 win in opposition to Championship promotion chasers Leeds to ebook a final eight date with Leicester.
After Liverpool’s ball boys paraded the League Cup round Anfield previous to kick-off, Jurgen Klopp’s youngsters gave one other glimpse right into a brilliant future as two of their younger weapons impressed the win.
With Liverpool ravaged by accidents to Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker amongst others, Lewis Koumas, the son of former Wales and West Brom midfielder Jason Koumas, marked his debut with the opening aim within the forty fourth minute.
The 18-year-old ahead drilled a fierce low drive that deflected in off Southampton’s Jack Stephens.
Jayden Danns, one other 18-year-old offspring of a former participant — his father Neil starred for Crystal Palace — netted Liverpool’s second within the 73rd minute with a composed end that belied his tender age.
James McConnell, 19, and Bobby Clark, 19, additionally impressed for Liverpool, who launched 16-year-old Trey Nyoni to turn out to be their youngest ever FA Cup participant within the second half.
Danns capped the victory within the 88th minute when he lashed dwelling in entrance of The Kop.
“We don’t take these things for granted,” Klopp mentioned of dealing with United.
“The situation is horribly difficult. We have too many games and not enough players. They (the youngsters) have got to learn and improve, but it was a top performance.”
At the City Ground, United reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for a file forty eighth time.
Ten Hag insisted this week that he doesn’t want a public vote of confidence from Jim Ratcliffe after the British billionaire took cost of United’s soccer operations.
– Pressure mounting –
But United are languishing in sixth place within the Premier League, eight factors adrift of the highest 4, after Saturday’s shock 2-1 dwelling defeat in opposition to Fulham.
A loss to Forest would have been a significant blow for Ten Hag after Ratcliffe was linked with a transfer for former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.
The FA Cup represents United’s final silverware likelihood this time period and, after lacking a bunch of probabilities, they lastly hit the goal within the 89th minute when Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick was headed in by Casemiro.
Ten Hag will hope a 1-0 FA Cup win at Forest proves a launchpad for sustained success at United in the identical method it did for former boss Alex Ferguson in 1990.
“It’s the best time to score at the end. On Saturday we felt the defeat in stoppage-time. What they showed today is great,” Ten Hag mentioned.
At Stamford Bridge, Mauricio Pochettino could have felt related aid to Ten Hag.
With the stress mounting in his troubled first season in cost, the Argentine was indebted to Conor Gallagher for a late winner.
It was the primary FA Cup tie between Chelsea and Leeds for the reason that Blues gained the 1970 FA Cup last replay, a booking-filled conflict thought to be one of the vicious matches in English soccer historical past.
Mateo Joseph put Leeds forward earlier than Nicolas Jackson and Mykhailo Mudryk netted to provide Chelsea the lead.
Joseph scored once more however Gallagher gained it within the ninetieth minute.
“In the context of the week, I’m happy. The performance wasn’t great but of course it’s about building our confidence again,” Pochettino mentioned.
Elsewhere, Wolves beat Brighton 1-0 at Molineux, with Mario Lemina’s aim after simply 77 seconds securing a house tie in opposition to second tier Coventry.
Holders Manchester City, who beat Luton 6-2 on Tuesday, will host Newcastle within the different quarter-final.
Source: www.news18.com
