Rashford at the double as United ease through
Marcus Rashford’s brace inspired holders Manchester United to a comprehensive 4-1 Carabao Cup victory over Burton at Old Trafford.
Seven months on from lifting the trophy at Wembley, Jose Mourinho’s men kicked off their defence by swatting aside the Championship club in round three.
The United boss spoke in the build-up about taking Burton seriously, but the nine alterations made by Nigel Clough allowed the hosts to ease through as Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial’s goals complemented Rashford’s double in a 4-1 win. Lloyd Dyer scored for Burton.
Mourinho said of Rashford: “Of course I am happy with his performance, with his happiness on the pitch.
“He wanted to do things a few thing he did amazingly well, others not so well but he was always trying and, for me, that commitment, that happiness on the pitch is very important.”
Michy Batshuayi scored a hat-trick as Chelsea provided a glimpse of the future with a 5-1 rout of Nottingham Forest. Kenedy and the impressive Charly Musonda also netted and Tendayi Darikwa scored a late consolation for Forest.
Ethan Ampadu became the first Chelsea player born this millennium, a week after his 17th birthday, on a night when Eden Hazard shone on his first start of the season after his broken ankle.
Arsenal made heavy weather of seeing off Doncaster to reach the fourth round after a 1-0 win with Theo Walcott scoring the only goal on a night where the returning Jack Wilshere stood out for the Gunners.
Arsene Wenger made 11 changes from the side that drew at Chelsea on Sunday but included Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud in a team that still boasted eight full internationals.
Wilshere was one of them and he starred on his first Arsenal start in 493 days.
Defender Per Mertesacker praised “brave” Wilshere, saying: “It was very good to have him back out there.
“You can see that he’s getting more comfortable with his position now. He’s brave now and he trusts his body. That’s the most important thing, that he’s capable of playing 90 minutes.
“He kept the ball well in tight situations and to come out of that is vintage Jack.
“That’s what we want to see from him in the future here at Arsenal.”
Leroy Sane booked Manchester City’s place in the Carabao Cup fourth round after they survived a scare at West Brom.
The winger’s brace kept Pep Guardiola’s side on track in the competition as they clinched a deserved 2-1 win.
Claudio Yacob’s secondhalf equaliser briefly threatened to take the tie into extra time and make a mockery of City’s first-half dominance.
Guardiola said of Sane: “He played so well, not just in terms of goals - his second was fantastic - but how he kept the ball. He made a really good performance, not just the goals but in other issues he was outstanding.
“Congratulations to the team, I saw many good things for our future.”