23 Sep 2009

Liverpool and Arsernal scrape thru in League Cup

5:58 pm on 23 September 2009

English football Premier League big-guns Liverpool and Arsenal scraped into the League Cup fourth round with hard-fought wins over Leeds and West Bromwich Albion.

Rafa Benitez's Liverpool, seven-time winners of the competition, were fortunate to be level against League One leaders Leeds at Elland Road when David Ngog's strike midway through the second half sealed a 1-nil victory.

Benitez made nine changes to the team that won at West Ham on Sunday, with only Jamie Carragher and Javier Mascherano retaining their places.

Arsenal's latest batch of young starlets eventually saw off 10-man West Bromwich Albion 2-nil at the Emirates Stadium thanks to a debut goal from teenage striker Sanchez Watt.

Arsene Wenger's eleven changes to the side who thrashed Wigan at the weekend included a first Gunners starts for Watt, Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, Francis Coquelin and Gilles Sunu.

Premier League newboys Burnley suffered a dismal 3-2 defeat at Championship strugglers Barnsley.

Stoke staged a sensational fightback to beat Championship side Blackpool 4-3 at the Britannia Stadium.

South African striker Benni McCarthy sent Blackburn through with a superb strike as Rovers defeated Championship club Nottingham Forest 1-nil at the City Ground.

Newcastle were dumped out by fellow Championship outfit Peterborough as Darren Ferguson's side cruised to a 2-nil at London Road.

Sunderland dispatched fellow Premier League side Birmingham 2-nil at the Stadium of Light thanks to first-half goals from Jordan Henderson and Fraizer Campbell.

Portsmouth won 3-1 at League One Carlisle.