LONDON: Javier Hernandez poached a second-half winner as Manchester United beat arch-rivals Liverpool 1-0 to move into the fourth round of the English League Cup on Wednesday, subduing Luis Suarez on his return from a 10-match ban.
Mexican Hernandez lost his marker and steered home a Wayne Rooney corner a minute into the second half and United held on despite being outplayed for large periods by a Liverpool side welcoming back Uruguayan Suarez for the first time since April.
Holders Swansea City suffered a shock 3-1 defeat by second tier Birmingham City and Papiss Cisse scored his first goal since April as Newcastle United beat Leeds United 2-0.
Premier League Stoke City also booked a spot in the next round, winning 2-0 at third tier Tranmere Rovers.
In the late match Arsenal were only able to overcome West Brom in a penalty shoot-out, after the match was tied 1-1.
The Gunners came through 4-3 in the tie-breaker.
Thomas Eisfeld had put them into the lead after an hour’s play, but Saido Berahino headed in the equaliser 10 minutes later.
Misses from Craig Dawson and Morgan Amalfitano swung the shoot-out Arsenal’s way.
Moyes made eight changes to face their arch-rivals Liverpool.
“We had to try and come out and show something a bit better than we had done,” Moyes said, referring to the 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in the EPL.
“We had to bounce back and I thought it was a good result tonight. It’s given me a chance to see some players I haven’t seen much and it’s given me food for thought.”
Among those given a first chance to impress were Jonny Evans, who kept Liverpool’s attacking duo Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge under wraps.
Japanese playmaker Shinji Kagawa was handed his second start of the season and came into the match after the interval, rattling the top of the bar with a shot from distance.
Liverpool welcomed back striker Suarez after he had served a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic last season.
He took his time getting into the tie and looked off the pace as the early tackles flew in.
He did strike the woodwork with a free kick in the second half, but Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers expects him soon to regain the sharpness that brought 23 league goals last season.
“I thought Luis Suarez was excellent,” Rodgers said.
“You could tell he’d been out for a long time as he tired at the end. But he’s obviously a threat. I think adrenaline gets you over the line in the first game. But he’s a fighter. He’s so determined and will get ready for the weekend.”
United face Norwich City at home in the next round with the tie scheduled to be played in the week beginning October 28.
Van Ginkel faces six months out of action
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Dutch international midfielder Marco van Ginkel could be out of action for six months after knee surgery on Thursday, the Premier League club said.
The 20-year-old Dutchman injured his anterior cruciate ligament during the first half of a Capital One (League) Cup match at Swindon on Tuesday. Chelsea said in a statement that the surgery had been successful.
Van Ginkel, who joined the west Londoners in July from Vitesse Arnhem on a five-year contract, has made only two starts under manager Jose Mourinho.
He made his senior international debut last November and the layoff will be a blow to his hopes of selection for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Louis van Gaal’s Dutch side have already qualified for the finals. (Reuters)