Month: January 2023

– Fulham have failed to win four of their last five home FA Cup ties
– Sunderland are unbeaten in their last seven away games
– Recommended bet: Tie or Sunderland

Fulham face Championship opponents for the second time running when they host Sunderland in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday afternoon.

Marco Silva overcame his former club Hull without needing to select Aleksandar Mitrovic in round three and will hope others can provide the firepower if his top scorer is unable to face the Black Cats.

The Serbian picked up a knock in Fulham’s 1-0 home defeat to Tottenham on Monday night

Sunderland’s trip to London comes six days after they reignited their promotion bid with a 2-0 win over North East rivals Middlesbrough.

Tony Mowbray’s side are unbeaten in their last seven on the road and will not be as easy to eliminate as Hull were in the previous round.

Team news

Mitrovic required treatment on an ankle injury he sustained against Spurs and could be touch-and-go to feature on Saturday.

Silva confirmed it was the same ankle the Serbia international hurt prior to the World Cup when he spoke to the media and said it was too soon to say if Fulham’s leading marksman would miss any matches.

Mitrovic was rested for the Cottagers’ third-round assignment at Hull and that could have been the plan this weekend anyway with Carlos Vinicius set to start up front.

Manor Solomon could earn his first start for the club after a lively appearance off the bench against Spurs with Harry Wilson also hoping to get the nod on the wing and Willian due for a break.

For Sunderland, new midfield signing Pierre Ekwah is eligible to make his debut when the Black Cats travel to Craven Cottage.

He could link up with ex-West Ham Under-21s team-mate Aji Alese, who went off with cramp when he made an earlier-than-expected return from injury against Middlesbrough.

Ekwah would replace Corry Evans in the middle of Mowbray’s 4-2-3-1 system after the Northern Ireland international was forced off in the early stages against Boro.

Lynden Gooch missed out last weekend with a suspected injury and his return date is currently unknown.

Centre-back Luke O’Nien serves the second of his three-game ban for the straight red card he received against Swansea with Danny Batth likely to continue alongside Daniel Ballard in the heart of the backline.

The stats

Fulham have won eight and draw four of their 17 Premier League matches that Mitrovic has started this season, yielding an average of 1.65 points per game, but they have won one and lost three of the four he missed (0.75 points per game).

Sunderland’s Patrick Roberts was handed his league debut by Felix Magath when he came on as a substitute for Fulham in a 5-0 defeat to Manchester City, who signed him 14 months later, in March 2014.

Ross Stewart has been directly involved in 13 goals in 13 Championship appearances this season (10 goals, three assists), averaging a goal involvement every 80 minutes – the best ratio of anyone in the division to have played over 400 minutes.

Prediction

Sunderland will be full of confidence after their victory in the Wear-Tees derby last weekend and could give Fulham a real fright down by the River Thames.

The Black Cats play an entertaining brand of football that involves getting their in-form playmakers into space to create opportunities for Stewart.

After hitting the back of the net in 10 straight games and multiple times in six of those, it is likely that Mowbray’s men will trouble Fulham’s defence.

Sunderland clean sheets are rare, so both teams could be on the scoresheet in this cup clash but the likely absence of Mitrovic also opens the door to a possible shock.

The Whites have not made it past the fourth round in any of the last six seasons and may be forced into at least a replay by their in-form visitors.

Back Tie or Sunderland in LiveScore Bet’s Double Chance market at 13/8.

This season’s Eredivisie title race is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic ever.

The top five teams are separated by just eight points, with red-hot favourites Ajax languishing at the bottom of that quintet ahead of their game against FC Volendam tonight.

We take a closer look at the contenders with all to play for in the Dutch top flight.

Feyenoord in front

Currently leading the way are Feyenoord, with the Rotterdam giants well placed to chase down only their second league title this century.

The 1970 European champions last ruled Dutch football in 2016-17 but are firing on all cylinders under their 44-year-old head coach Arne Slot, who also has a certain Robin van Persie in his coaching setup.

They are officially the toughest team to beat in the division, with their solitary loss of the campaign to date a dramatic 4-3 defeat at PSV Eindhoven last September.

Slot’s men, who beat NEC 2-0 yesterday, also impressively topped a Europa League group containing Lazio and FC Midtjylland, meaning they will feature in next month’s last-16 draw.

One of their star performers, ironically, has been ex-Ajax striker Danilo — the 23-year-old Brazilian striker netting eight league goals since arriving from Amsterdam last summer having failed to make the grade in the capital.

Alkmaar taking aim

AZ Alkmaar are regulars in the Eredivisie’s upper reaches but it is unusual to see the Cheeseheads this prominent in the title race.

The shock departure of their former boss Slot to Feyenoord in December 2020 presented his London-born assistant Pascal Jansen with the chance to take charge and the 49-year-old has certainly grasped his opportunity.

Despite losing the likes of Teun Koopmeiners to Atalanta and Myron Boadu to Monaco in recent times, Jansen is proving a master of regeneration and his youthful team are refusing to buckle this term.

Alkmaar are the Eredivisie’s best travellers with eight away wins from 10 matches, while 24-year-olds Dani de Wit and Vangelis Pavlidis have 25 goals between them in all competitions.

While bookmakers are expecting Jansen’s men to fade away, supporters are daring to dream of only a third ever league success this May and their 4-1 win at Go Ahead Eagles kept them just two points off the pace.

Persistent PSV

Traditionally, PSV are the likeliest team to disrupt a period of domestic Ajax dominance and Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side have a great chance of doing so again this season.

On their day, the Eindhoven giants possess the firepower to roll over anyone, as displayed by an ominous tally of 45 goals scored in their 18 league outings.

Yet if two 6-1 victories and a 7-1 rout have shown Van Nistelrooy’s outfit at their ruthless best, Tuesday night’s defeat at struggling FC Emmen displays a vulnerability that may prove costly in such a tight title race.

Van Nistelrooy is having to get used to life without his former talisman Cody Gakpo, who headed to Liverpool for a fee north of £35million earlier this month, while his other key man Noni Madueke has just joined Chelsea.

Regardless of whether that money is immediately reinvested into the playing squad, this current crop still have more than enough to reign supreme.

Twente a tough nut

If the old adage that defence wins championships is proved correct, then FC Twente are on course for only a second ever Eredivisie title.

Coached by the vastly experienced Ron Jans, they have given up only 11 goals in their first 18 matches which unsurprisingly makes them the most stubborn backline in the division.

Jans, 64, is approaching 100 matches in charge of the Enschede-based outfit and compiled a balanced and well-drilled unit spearheaded by veteran forward Ricky van Wolfswinkel.

Last term, a fourth-place finish saw them qualify for Europe for the first time in eight years and it has been more of the same in 2022-23, with their current league unbeaten run stretching to nine games.

A bright prospect at the heart of their success has been 21-year-old centre back Mees Hilgers, who looks destined for bigger things however this campaign pans out.

Alarm bells for Ajax

When reigning champions Ajax won nine of their opening 11 Eredivisie games this term, it appeared to be business as usual — but things are rapidly unravelling in Amsterdam.

Alfred Schreuder was the man tasked with replacing Manchester United-bound Erik ten Hag last summer and though the 50-year-old made a fine start, he now finds himself under immense pressure.

Five straight draws in the league have seen De Godenzonen slip from first to fifth, while four losses from six Champions League group stage clashes saw them only just seal a consolation berth in the Europa League.

With the likes of Jurrien Timber, Dusan Tadic, Brian Brobbey and Mohammed Kudus in his ranks, Schreuder is unquestionably underperforming and turning things around fast is a mandatory requirement.

While an eight-point gap with a game in hand is far from unsurmountable, the 36-time kings of the Netherlands are embroiled in an almighty battle to retain their crown.

Jose Mourinho is “still number one” in the eyes of former Inter star Wesley Sneijder.

The Portuguese boss celebrates his 60th birthday on Thursday and is back in Italian football with Roma, who he led to glory in the inaugural season of the UEFA Conference League in 2021-22.

That triumph was Mourinho’s fifth continental title, having won the Champions League with Porto and Inter, the UEFA Cup with Porto and the Europa League with Manchester United.

Mourinho’s treble-winning season with Inter in 2009-10 is one of the highlights of his illustrious career, with Sneijder part of the team that dominated in the Nerazzurri’s most famous campaign.

The Portuguese great went on to enjoy LaLiga success with Real Madrid, while leading Chelsea to the Premier League title in his second spell in charge, which preceded winning the EFL Cup and Europa League with United.

However, he was sacked by both clubs and by Tottenham prior to joining Roma, with some believing Mourinho’s reputation has taken a hit.

Sneijder, however, still rates Mourinho ahead of his managerial rivals.

“I have great memories of him, especially when we won the Champions League. He was very determined and so confident we would win that match,” he told Stats Perform.

“He knows exactly how to behave with his players on the pitch but especially off it. As I said before, with him there was no need for a chairman, he protected all the players.

“For me, he is still number one.”

Having guided Roma to a sixth-place finish in Serie A last season, Mourinho’s side are now in the midst of a fierce battle for a top-four finish and Champions League football.

Roma are fifth, level on points with Inter and Lazio ahead of them, while just three points separate second-placed Milan from sixth-placed Atalanta.

With many rival teams enduring problems this season, Sneijder feels Mourinho and Roma have a great opportunity to take advantage.

“Of course, he is doing well there. As you said, Milan, Inter and Juventus with all their problems are a bit in trouble now, so this is the right moment [for Roma],” he added.

“But there is Napoli now who are doing great in Serie A and in the Champions League. It will be hard to beat Napoli, but Roma can beat all the others.”

LiveScore Daily is here to deliver all the big talking points from the world of football throughout the day. Keep refreshing this page for the latest stories in bite-sized chunks.

Making his Marc

Clinton Morrison is delighted to see red-hot Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford playing with a smile on his face again. 

Rashford, 25, has netted 18 goals in all competitions this season and is on course for his best return to date, with his previous highest tally standing at 22 in 2019-20. 

He was on target again last night as United built up a three-goal advantage to take into the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final showdown with Nottingham Forest next week. 

And Morrison, who enjoyed spells at a host of clubs including Crystal Palace, believes the England man is in the best form of his career. 

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily, he said: “This is the sharpest I have seen Rashford play. I feel like he is so confident, everything he is trying at the moment is coming off. 

“Whatever he is doing outside football is helping him. We never know what players are going through when they leave that football ground. 

“But it looks like he has got a big smile on his face, he’s happy again, he’s enjoying his football, he looks lively. 

“Every time he crosses that white line he believes he’s going to score. If you’re a full-back it must be a nightmare trying to play against him because he can go either way, he can spin in behind and he is just full of confidence. 

“That chance he scored [against Forest] was not even a chance, it was half a chance. It was all his doing and Rashford a year ago would never have made that run.

“He’s a different player, but credit must go to Rashford himself. Managers can help you, but if the players don’t want to do it then you have a problem. 

“He wanted to get back to his best and he is in the best form I’ve ever seen him play.”

Mountain to climb

Steve Cooper admits Nottingham Forest have an incredibly tough task on their hands at Old Trafford next week. 

Forest were comfortably beaten 3-0 last night in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final with Manchester United. 

And while Cooper, 43, was keen to focus on the positives at full-time, he could not hide the fact that his side’s chances of reaching Wembley had all but slipped away. 

He said: “I think it is going to be incredibly tough next week. 

“We have to be very professional and set some objectives to give ourselves an opportunity and also to make sure we go into the game and come out of it in a better place than we went into it. 

“The road to success is about dealing with disappointments. Disappointments are not something you encourage or want but they can be good for you and we have to approach it in that way. 

“We don’t want to be soft or fluffy about it but don’t want to be narrow-minded either and think we can’t learn from it. 

“We are building something here. We are not at the end. I am still pleased the supporters got the chance to walk into the ground and think their team is in a semi-final.”

Cup of cheer

Gary Mabbutt believes Antonio Conte is primed to end Tottenham’s trophy drought. 

Mabbutt, 61, captained Spurs to FA Cup success in 1991 — the last time they won English’s football oldest cup competition. 

Despite becoming one of the Premier League’s strongest clubs and regularly qualifying for Europe, the North Londoners last claimed silverware when they lifted the League Cup in 2007-08. 

But with his old team still in both the FA Cup and Champions League this season, Mabbutt believes Conte is the man to bring success to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

He said: “Looking at the teams left in the FA Cup, I feel we have a great opportunity. 

“We are also in the last 16 of the Champions League with a game against AC Milan, who are beatable, so yes, the cups could be very exciting for us. 

“I think Antonio has set his mind on winning something this season and we’ll be throwing everything to do it. We haven’t had a trophy for a while now and it is time we had one. 

“Antonio has done it with the last few clubs he has been at and he is working as hard as he can through the training we’re doing, the players we’re bringing in and getting players back from injury as quick as we can to make sure this season we have a great chance to win a cup.”

Spurs face Preston in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday. 

Hakim Ziyech is on the radar of both Newcastle and Everton as Premier League giants Chelsea look to trim their squad in the final days of the January transfer window.

The West Londoners were reportedly keen on bringing Anthony Gordon in as a potential replacement for the Morocco ace, but have since dropped their interest after the Toffees requested upwards of £40million for the 21-year-old attacker.

Reports from both The Telegraph and Sky Sports have linked Ziyech with a switch to the north of England, with Chelsea’s asking price somewhere close to £25m.

The 50-cap international was a key player for his country in last year’s World Cup, scoring once in the Atlas Lions’ run to the semi-finals.

However, Ziycech has only made 10 league appearances this term and has not scored a Premier League goal for the Blues since last February.

His role as an inverted right-winger has not been as effective as Graham Potter will have hoped and the ex-Ajax trickster has only been involved in one league win in his last seven outings.

The arrival of Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling’s recovery from injury makes it increasingly likely that Ziyech will depart Stamford Bridge.

Should he have the choice of Newcastle or Everton, he is likely to pick the former with their upwards trajectory a more appealing project for the Champions League winner.

In other news

AC Milan are one of several clubs who are monitoring the situation of Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo, according to The Sun.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey could leave the Seagulls this month with Lyon interested in the full-back.

Chelsea have stepped up their interest in Everton and Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana as a possible alternative to Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez, reports The Independent.

In 2004, Jose Mourinho set out his stall early at Chelsea.

“We have top players and, sorry if I’m arrogant, we have a top manager,” said the Portuguese in his first press conference at the Premier League club, not long after he had led Porto to Champions League glory.

“Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion and I think I’m a special one.”

Devilishly handsome, with a wicked charm and natural bravado. Men wanted to be him. Women wanted to well… you get the gist. Not only did Mourinho talk the talk, but he walked the walk, winning the EFL Cup and the Premier League in his first season.

That was Chelsea’s first domestic title in 50 years, and at the time they broke the record for the most points in a Premier League season (95) and fewest goals conceded (15).

Mourinho was, indeed ‘The Special One’ and it’s undoubtedly his most famous quote.

But there are plenty of others. To celebrate his 60th birthday, here are some classic Mourinho moments.

Announcing himself in England

With seconds left on the clock in a 2003-04 Champions League last-16 tie, Mourinho’s Porto needed a goal at Old Trafford. “If we don’t score we are out, if we score we are in, these are the details of the knock-out,” Mourinho told UEFA in 2015, when reflecting on that night in March 2004.

Benni McCarthy saw a long-range free-kick parried out by Tim Howard, and Costinha was on hand to hammer home and silence the crowd. As his players charged towards one of the corners to celebrate, Mourinho leaped off the bench and cantered down the touchline, arms aloft. By full-time, he was already heading down the tunnel.

“We were in the dressing room, and it didn’t look like it was the last 16, it was like it was the quarter-finals,” Mourinho recalled. “Then someone knocks on the door, and it was Sir Alex [Ferguson] and Gary Neville, the captain, and they told us congratulations, you deserved it, enjoy it and good luck.

“It was something that in Portuguese culture we are not used to, but it’s something I kept and during my career I did it a few times, when some opponent did something magnificent against my team. I kept something from big people, that can make others feel special.

Wenger wars

Mourinho enjoyed a fierce rivalry with Arsene Wenger during his first stint in the Premier League, and even went as far to suggest the Arsenal boss was something of a voyeur.

“There are some guys who have this big telescope to see what happens in other families. He must be one of them,” Mourinho said.

Parking the bus

You would be forgiven for thinking the term “parking the bus” had been common footballing parlance in Britain for many, many years. However, it was Mourinho who first introduced it, after his Chelsea team were held to a goalless draw by Tottenham.

None too happy with Spurs’ defensive approach, Mourinho said: “They brought the bus and left the bus in front of the goal as we say in my country.” 

In October of last year, the phrase “park the bus” was added to the Oxford English Dictionary.

Too many medals

It must be nice when you’ve won so much you can throw medals away. That’s just what Mourinho did after he had guided Chelsea to a second straight league title in 2006.

The success marked Mourinho’s fourth straight domestic title, and after being presented with his winners’ medal, he threw that and his suit blazer into the stands. He was quickly presented with another medal; that, too, ended up in the crowd.

The knee slide

During Mourinho’s second season at Real Madrid, a late Cristiano Ronaldo goal saw off Manchester City in the Champions League group stages, and Mourinho celebrated like only he can, jumping from the bench and sliding to his knees.

It was a match that also saw former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher reprimanded by police in the crowds. Rock ‘N’ Roll on and off the pitch.

Mourinho’s time at Madrid unravelled the following campaign when he fell out with key players, including Ronaldo. “Maybe he thinks that he knows everything and that the coach cannot improve him anymore,” Mourinho said of his compatriot.

I prefer not to speak…

Mourinho’s second stint at Chelsea bore a league title in the 2014-15 season, but also proffered a quote that has lived on as an online meme and a viral clip ever since.

Chelsea lost 1-0 to Aston Villa in March 2014, with his team having Willian and Ramires sent off, and seeing a goal disallowed. Mourinho, too, was sent to the stands.

“I prefer not to speak,” he told Sky Sports. “If I speak I am in trouble, big trouble, and I prefer not to be in big trouble. If I speak, I am accused of bringing the game into disrepute.” 

Mourinho went on to speak about the referees for a few more minutes.

Gerrard’s slip

Mourinho famously ‘shushed’ Liverpool fans in an encounter with the Reds during his first spell at Chelsea, and it was his team that dealt a severe blow to Liverpool’s title hopes in the 2013-14 season.

In April 2014, Liverpool had just three games left and held a three-point lead over Manchester City. Yet a slip from club great Steven Gerrard allowed Demba Ba to pounce and put Chelsea ahead.

Chelsea netted a second late on, leading Mourinho to charge down the touchline and celebrate in front of the Kop. City went on to win the title.

Respect, respect, respect

Mourinho’s time as Manchester United manager ended in typically volatile fashion, and the signs were there from the start of the 2018-19 season.

Following a 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham, Mourinho delivered a scathing response to his doubters as he stormed out of a press conference. 

“Just to finish, do you know what was the result – 3-0,” Mourinho said while holding up three fingers. “It means 3-0. But it also means three Premierships, more Premierships alone than the other 19 managers together. Three for me, two for them. Respect, respect, respect.”

The Dele warning

Mourinho’s words of advice to Dele Alli were featured prominently in the Tottenham-focused All Or Nothing documentary series, aired in 2020.

“I am 56 now and yesterday I was 20. Time flies. One day I think you will regret it if you don’t reach what you can reach,” Mourinho, then at Spurs, told Alli.

“I am not expecting you to be the man of the match every game. I am not expecting you to score goals every game. I want just to tell you that you will regret it. You should demand more from yourself.”

Less than 18 months after the documentary aired, Alli’s Tottenham spell was over, moving to Everton on what was initially a free transfer at the age of 25. Six months after that, he was in Turkey with Besiktas, where he has been heavily criticised for his performances.

History maker

As Mourinho celebrates his 60th, one thing cannot be denied – he will go down as one of the best managers to ever grace the game.

He joined Roma in 2021 and does what he does best. He won.

Last year, Roma won the Europa Conference League, making Mourinho the first coach to complete the UEFA treble by winning the Champions League, UEFA Cup/Europa League, and Europa Conference League (in place of the defunct UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup).

He was the fifth manager to reach the final of all three current major European competitions and the first to reach a major European final with four different clubs.

Mourinho’s record speaks for itself. Of his 1,076 games as a coach, he has won 677 (62.9 per cent), with his teams scoring 2,082 goals. 

He is, after all, The Special One.

Marcus Rashford looks like a “lean, fighting machine” according to former Manchester United captain Roy Keane.

The England international maintained his excellent form by giving United the lead in their EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Rashford has scored 18 goals for the Red Devils this season, with only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (31) recording more for a Premier League club.

“We were pitch-side when the players came out and he looked lean. You wouldn’t want to be up against him – all the best,” Keane said to Sky Sports.

“He looks like a lean, fighting machine.”

The 25-year-old has thrived under Erik ten Hag, showing an immense improvement on his five goals in 32 games (18 starts) from last season.

“Sometimes it’s about confidence – there is where he’s peaking now. He’s played a lot of games for United and big games for England in the last few years,” Keane added.

“Sometimes the penny drops for a player in terms of decision-making and putting the ball in the back of the net. And they’ve needed him.

“The question mark I’ve had over Marcus in the last few years is, has he got that personality to step up to the plate?

“United have had some great strikers over the years, and I think they need someone like that. Marcus has to say he wants that responsibility to be the main man. The best players turn up week in and week out. It looks like he’s now enjoying that responsibility, which is great to see.”

It was put to Keane that Rashford has thrived since the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo, having scored 10 goals in 10 games in all competitions since end of the 2022 World Cup, the most of any player for clubs in Europe’s big-five leagues in that time.

“When a player leaves the club the responsibility goes onto another player,” Keane replied.

“He’s 25, not a child, sometimes when the timing is right you can be ready for that. He doesn’t get the niggly injuries anymore with his groin, he seems to have cleared it up. He looks in a great place mentally, too, which is huge. He said he reckons he took too much on away from football – and being a top footballer is hard enough.

“So putting the other stuff on the back burner and focusing on being a top player for Manchester United has seen him get his priorities right.”

Manchester United put one foot into the EFL Cup final with an assured 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday.

Goals for Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst – his first for the club – and Bruno Fernandes secured victory for the visitors at the City Ground.

After dropping points in back-to-back Premier League games against Crystal Palace and Arsenal, it marked a return to winning ways for Erik ten Hag’s men.

For Steve Cooper’s hosts though, it marks a bitterly disappointing result, with any chance of a comeback at Old Trafford now likely scotched.

United needed just six minutes to carve Forest open, with Rashford afforded space to scamper down the left wing and squeeze between two defenders before beating Wayne Hennessey at the near post.

Forest thought they had equalised with a superb breakaway finished by Sam Surridge in the 23rd minute, only for the VAR to deem the striker offside.

The hosts looked to be growing into the game after that but received a sucker punch on the stroke of half-time when Weghorst turned in after Antony’s effort was parried.

Christian Eriksen nearly added a third nine minutes after the interval, his looping attempt hitting the crossbar.

With time running out, Forest called upon former United midfielder Jesse Lingard from the bench in the hope of salvaging something for the second leg.

But the result was put beyond doubt in the 89th minute, Fernandes drilling into the bottom-left corner to surely send United to Wembley.

What does it mean? United move towards first final under Ten Hag

There has been a lot of water under the bridge since United last played in a major final, going down on penalties in the 2021 Europa League final to Villarreal.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick failed to recapture those highs last season, but under new management now, they are seemingly – assuming Forest cannot manage an unlikely turnaround – just one step away from ending their silverware drought.

Rashford remains in rampant form

Though replaced just before the hour by Alejandro Garnacho, the England international had already made his mark with an 18th goal of the season.

Among Premier League players, only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, with 31, has scored more than him across all competitions.

Gibbs-White impresses as Forest sputter

Though he was forced into an early exit with what looked to be a potential injury problem, the former Wolves man was almost everywhere for Forest in their attempts to find a response.

His three attempts was a joint-high for the hosts alongside Gustavo Scarpa, while only Danilo made as many tackles as him among his team-mates.

Key Opta facts

– Manchester United are the first side ever to win eight consecutive meetings with Nottingham Forest in all competitions.

– This was the joint-biggest win by an away side in the first leg of a EFL Cup semi-final, alongside QPR winning 4-1 at Birmingham City in 1966-67 and Luton Town winning 3-0 at West Ham in 1988-89.

– After Newcastle United’s win at Southampton and Man Utd’s at Forest, 2022-23 is only the third EFL Cup season in which both semi-final first legs were won by the away side (also 1972-73 and 1992-93).

– Bruno Fernandes registered his 100th goal involvement for Manchester United in all competitions, scoring 56 and assisting 44.

– Marcus Rashford has scored 10 goals in 10 games for Manchester United in all competitions since the World Cup finished, the most of any player for clubs in Europe’s big five leagues in this period.

What’s next?

United are in FA Cup action with a fourth-round match at home to Reading on Saturday, while Forest have a full week to recover before the second leg of this tie next Wednesday.

Manchester United put one foot on Wembley Way after taking firm control of their Carabao Cup semi-final with a 3-0 first-leg win at Nottingham Forest.

First-half goals from Marcus Rashford and Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes’ late third at the City Ground mean that only a miraculous turnaround in next week’s second leg will stop United appearing in the League Cup final at the national stadium next month.

Rashford’s strike was a moment of individual brilliance as he raced 50 yards and converted, Weghorst celebrated his first goal for the club since his loan move from Burnley while Fernandes effectively killed the tie at the death.

The win put United on the brink of returning to Wembley for their first domestic showpiece since losing the 2018 FA Cup final and Erik ten Hag will have the possibility of ending the club’s trophy drought, which stretches back to 2017, firmly in his sights in his first season at Old Trafford.

Forest, whose history in the League Cup is almost as rich as United’s with four titles in 12 years under Brian Clough, will see this as a missed opportunity to go to Old Trafford next week with something to hold on to.

They had a strong period in the first half where Sam Surridge had a goal disallowed and Morgan Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson had decent opportunities.

But Ten Hag’s side cruised to the win on the banks of the Trent and will be circling February 26 in their calendars for a Wembley day out, while Forest will need to channel their former manager Clough in hope of a miracle.

The two sides famously met in the 1992 League Cup final at Wembley, which United won thanks to Brian McClair’s goal, and the current crop showed they are keen to get back there this year.

Ten Hag named his strongest side possible and was rewarded with an early lead as Rashford’s sublime form continued with a brilliant individual goal.

The England international, who has scored in the previous three rounds of this competition, picked up the ball in his own half, carried it to the other end of the pitch, darted in between Joe Worrall and Remo Freuler before beating Wayne Hennessey at the near post.

It was his 10th goal in 10 games since the resumption after the World Cup and his form has been the driving force behind United’s impressive run of results.

There were more goals for the taking in a dominant start for the visitors but Antony twice drifted shots wide of the post from good positions after cutting in from the right.

Forest had been overrun in the opening 15 minutes but they came to life and thought they had levelled in the 23rd minute.

A brilliant counter-attack saw Gibbs-White feed Sam Surridge, who produced a fine first-time finish into the bottom corner.

However, it was ruled out after VAR found Surridge’s knee to be offside.

Forest to their credit did not let that disappointment affect them and they continued to push forward and had chances for an equaliser.

David de Gea produced a flying save to keep out Gustavo Scarpa’s volley from the edge of the area, then got down well to stop a Gibbs-White effort before watching Johnson fire over after gliding past a couple of United tackles.

Having soaked up that pressure, United got a killer second goal on the stroke of half-time.

They expertly manoeuvred the ball from back to front and, after Hennessey palmed out Antony’s shot, Weghorst reacted first to fire home the rebound and break his United duck.

The hosts struggled to recreate the verve they showed in the first half and United kept them at arm’s length.

Indeed, it was the visitors, who won 8-1 on their last visit to the City Ground in 1999, who strengthened their grip on the tie.

Christian Eriksen had earlier hit the crossbar before Fernandes drilled home a low finish in the 89th minute, with ecstatic United supporters appearing to fall through a broken hoarding during the celebrations.

Struggling Scunthorpe ended a run of 13 months without an away win as Cameron Wilson hit the winner at Halifax.

The Iron are under new ownership and wasted no time in ushering in a fresh era with a 1-0 victory which lifts them off the foot of the Vanarama National League.

Wilson hit the decider, latching onto a poor defensive header before eventually firing the visitors ahead just before the 15-minute mark.

Halifax had no answer as they missed their chance to move into the top half of the table by sealing three points.