Newcastle United piled the pressure on Erik ten Hag by inflicting a humiliating 3-0 defeat on Manchester United to send the Carabao Cup holders out of the competition.
The Magpies’ reward for beating Manchester City in the third round was a trip to Old Trafford, in a repeat of last season’s Carabao Cup final.
Just three of Newcastle’s starting XI from the defeat at Wembley started at Old Trafford, with Eddie Howe prioritising the Premier League and the Champions League.
But much has changed since Ten Hag’s side got their hands on a first piece of silverware in six years, and Newcastle demonstrated that with devastating effect.
The first goal came through substitute Miguel Almiron, who ran onto Tino Livramento’s through ball after a sensational run of his own to slot past Andre Onana.
It was exactly the type of start the home side had feared but matters were made worse seven minutes later when Lewis Hall, the summer signing from Chelsea, struck a well-executed volley past a helpless Onana.
The Magpies had made eight changes to their starting line-up for the visit to the north-west but they were well worth their two-goal advantage at the break, with the home side playing as badly as they have the whole campaign.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Sofyan Amrabat were introduced at the break for Dalot and Casemiro, and the pair initially sparked some life into Erik ten Hag’s side.
But, just as the Red Devils showed a sign that they could get back into the tie, Newcastle grabbed their third through Joe Willock cut through the defence and slotted past Onana.
A triple substitution saw Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund enter but the home side failed to muster a chance of note.
It is United’s eighth defeat in 15 matches this term, and the sixth time the side have conceded three or more goals in a match.
United maintain Ten Hag’s position is not under threat, and he still has credit in the bank after a third place finish in the league last season and the victory in the Carabao Cup.
But this is the side’s worst start to a league season since 1972, and their play bears all the hallmarks of the final days of a manager at the club. – Metro UK.
