Pressure grows on beleaguered Reds manager in the wake of League Cup exit

The way for Manchester United to weather its current storm is to stick together, beleaguered manager Erik ten Hag said after his side was knocked out of the League Cup by Newcastle United in a last-16 clash on Wednesday.

"That is the only way, stick together," said the Dutch manager, who is under intense pressure after one of the club's worst starts to a season in decades. "But you have to be disciplined and you have to do it together, everyone has to take responsibility, be accountable and cooperate."

Eddie Howe's Magpies avenged last season's loss to Manchester United in the League Cup final with a 3-0 victory. They played with more urgency, making Ten Hag's seemingly disinterested side look discombobulated, as the reeling Old Trafford crowd booed the home team off the pitch at the final whistle.

"You get confidence when you get the right results, and it's only possible when you are following the rules, following the principles, being in the game, winning your battles, coming through the fight, but especially when you do it together, you have to do it as a team," Ten Hag stressed.

Manchester United has lost five of its first 10 home games in all competitions for the first time since the 1930-31 season. It is eighth in the Premier League after losing five of its first 10 Premier League games for the first time ever.

Asked whether Manchester United's players have the necessary character to get through this rough stretch, Ten Hag said: "I am confident that players will stand up and stick together. This is not good enough. I am responsible for this. We have to stand up together."

Wednesday's lackluster performance came on the heels of a similarly ugly showing on Sunday, when Manchester City throttled it's cross-town rival 3-0 in the derby at Old Trafford.

"It's not up to the manager to motivate the players, you've got to motivate yourself," former Manchester United captain Roy Keane said on Sky Sports. "You've got to be up for every game, and the fact (Ten Hag) has got to discuss after the game about his players not being up for a game of football, he must be hugely embarrassed.

"Even the fact that we're talking about Manchester United trying to finish fourth tells you how the standards have dropped over the last few years, both on and off the pitch," he added.

Ten Hag said United needed to immediately up their game.

"We have to recover from it," he said. "We have to do it quickly. Saturday (versus Fulham) is the next game. We have to raise our standards. This is not good enough.

"We will have a night's sleep and then we will pick the team and the tactics. Most importantly, the mentality is where we have to prepare."

Arsenal, Arteta out

West Ham United knocked Arsenal out of the League Cup with a 3-1 victory, as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left to rue leaving Declan Rice on the sidelines on his return to the London Stadium, with the England international alongside Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba on a star-studded Gunners' bench.

Aaron Ramsdale was handed a rare start since being dropped in favor of David Raya, but it was a night to forget for the Arsenal goalkeeper.

After 16 minutes, Ben White beat Ramsdale to Bowen's dangerous in-swinging corner, but only ended up heading the ball into his own net.

Mohammed Kudus made it 2-0 on 50 minutes with a brilliant touch and a low finish from Nayef Aguerd's long ball forward.

Rice was then introduced to a mixed response from the West Ham faithful.

But any hope of an Arsenal fightback was quashed by Bowen's strike from the edge of the box, one which Ramsdale should possibly have done better to keep out.

Odegaard grabbed a consolation deep into stoppage time, but it was too little, too late, as Arsenal's 30-year wait to win the League Cup continues.

Liverpool walks on

Liverpool had to see off a spirited effort from Bournemouth in appalling weather conditions at the Vitality Stadium, as Storm Ciaran swept in.

Justin Kluivert canceled-out Cody Gakpo's opener with his first Bournemouth goal, but Darwin Nunez came off the bench to win the tie with a spectacular dipping strike from outside the box.

Benoit Badiashile and Raheem Sterling were on target as Chelsea secured a rare home win under Mauricio Pochettino to reach the last eight.

Everton's upturn in form continued with a comfortable 3-0 win over Burnley.

James Tarkowski, Amadou Onana and Ashley Young scored on a night where the Toffees remembered former chairman Bill Kenwright, who died aged 78 last week.

Fulham avoided an upset against Championship high-flyers Ipswich.

Harry Wilson, Rodrigo Muniz and Tom Cairney were on target in a 3-1 win for Marco Silva's men at Portman Road.

AGENCIES