Chelsea against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge was the plum draw for the fourth round of the Capital One Cup after Sir Alex Ferguson's side squeezed past Newcastle United with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford.
Rooney return
Manchester United, who are looking to win the competition for a fifth time, made a host of changes from the side that won at Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday, but still fielded a strong side against Newcastle United including Wayne Rooney, who was back from a month out with a thigh injury, and Darren Fletcher, who was starting for the first time in 10 months after recovering from a bowel condition.
Anderson broke the deadlock for the home side in the 44th minute, driving his shot past Rob Elliot. Tom Cleverley doubled the lead in the 58th minute, curling home his first goal for the club.
Papiss Demba Cisse came off the bench to reduce the deficit with a header four minutes later, but Ferguson's side survived a late barrage by Newcastle to go through.
Two goals from Nuri Sahin allowed Liverpool to come from behind to beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1. The holders went behind after only three minutes to Gabriel Tamas's goal but a brace from Sahin, who is on a season-long loan from Real Madrid, sealed a spot in the next round, where Brendan Rodgers' side will face Swansea City at home.
At 16 years and six days, Jerome Sinclair became Liverpool's youngest-ever player when coming off the bench for the last nine minutes of the tie at The Hawthorns.
Arsenal romp
Olivier Giroud scored his first goal for Arsenal as they cruised past Coventry City 6-1 at the Emirates Stadium. The League One club kept the Gunners at bay for 39 minutes until Giroud opened his account. Goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Andrey Arshavin, Ignasi Miquel and a double from Theo Walcott sealed Coventry's fate after the break, while Callum Ball's goal gave the visitors some consolation at 4-0.
Arsenal travel to Reading in the next round after Brian McDermott's side twice battled back from behind to win 3-2 at Queens Park Rangers.
David Hoilett's early strike for the hosts was cancelled out by Kaspars Gorkss, only for Djibril Cisse's 71st-minute penalty to put the R's back in front.
But the Royals responded in style with Nicky Shorey equalising with a curling free-kick five minutes later and Pavel Pogrebnyak - who also missed a late penalty - netting the winner nine minutes from time.
Spurs on song
Tottenham Hotspur avoided any mishaps in Cumbria with a 3-0 win over Carlisle United, the goals coming from Jan Vertonghen in the 37th minute, an Andros Townsend strike on 53 minutes, and a late third from Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Andre Villas-Boas's men visit Norwich City in the next round after Chris Hughton's youthful side edged past League One's Doncaster Rovers 1-0 at Carrow Road thanks to a 26th-minute goal from full debutant Alexander Tettey.
Capital One Cup third round results
Arsenal 6-1 Coventry City
Carlisle 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United 2-1 Newcastle United
Norwich City 1-0 Doncaster Rovers
Queens Park Rangers 2-3 Reading
West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Liverpool
Fourth-round draw
Chelsea v Manchester United
Leeds United v Southampton
Liverpool v Swansea City
Norwich City v Tottenham Hotspur
Reading v Arsenal
Sunderland v Middlesbrough
Swindon Town v Aston Villa
Wigan Athletic v Bradford City
Ties to be played week commencing October 29
