Newcastle ends Man United’s defense of League Cup after 3-0 win

MANCHESTER, England: Manchester United’s defense of the League Cup ended with a 3-0 loss against Newcastle at Old Trafford on Wednesday that heaped more pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.
An eighth defeat of the season in all competitions was the latest blow for English soccer’s most storied club, which looks in danger of suffering another season of disappointment.
United lost 3-0 at home to Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday and Saudi-backed Newcastle repeated that scoreline to raise further questions over Ten Hag’s ability to return the club to its former glories.
First-half goals from substitute Miguel Almiron and Lewis Hall put the visitors in control by the break and Joe Willock completed the scoring after an hour.
United had won the cup in February by beating Newcastle at Wembley Stadium as Ten Hag ended the club’s six-year wait for silverware. But that is a distant memory now as his team’s season descended deeper into crisis.
The Dutch coach, who won three league titles with Ajax, was mocked by Newcastle’s fans throughout the game as they chanted that he would be fired in the morning.