Javier Hernandez poached a second-half winner as Manchester United beat arch-rivals Liverpool 1-0 to move into the English League Cup fourth round on Wednesday, subduing Luis Suarez on his return from
Javier Hernandez poached a second-half winner as Manchester United beat arch-rivals Liverpool 1-0 to move into the English League Cup fourth round 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. It was a welcome fillip for United manager David Moyes, who had been desperate to avoid a second defeat to a major rival in quick succession after Sunday’s 4-1 Premier League loss to Manchester City. There was gloom for holders Swansea City who 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. Suarez, who missed the end of last season and the start of this one for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, had dominated the headlines in the run-up, having caused controversy in previous games against United. The script was written for him to make a decisive impact, but he was upstaged by Hernandez, who showcased his finely-tuned eye for a goal with a clever finish. He left his marker Jose Enrique flat-footed in the box and found a metre of space to sidefoot home. While United made eight changes from the team that lost to City, Liverpool picked arguably their strongest side and quickly adapted to a change in formation with boss Brendan Rodgers opting to play a back three. Suarez missed a good chance due to a heavy touch in the first half and crashed a free kick against the bar in the second, but the visitors best opportunity fell to on-loan Victor Moses. He headed an Enrique cut-back straight at United keeper David De Gea from 10 metres to leave Liverpool without a win in three games after a bright start to the campaign.
