Thursday’s briefing: Liverpool crash out of cup and holders Newcastle beat Spurs

Liverpool’s miserable run continued as they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Crystal Palace.

Arne Slot rang the changes and Palace ran out 3-0 winners, while there were also wins for holders Newcastle, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea.

In Scotland, Celtic thumped Falkirk as Martin O’Neill returned to the dugout at Parkhead.

Reds lose again

Arne Slot stood by his decision to make sweeping changes to protect players despite Palace condemning Liverpool to a sixth defeat in seven matches.

Having won the Community Shield on penalties and last month’s Premier League meeting at Selhurst Park, Wednesday evening saw the Eagles get the better of the Reds for the third time this season.

Ismaila Sarr’s first-half brace put Oliver Glasner’s Palace in control, with Yeremy Pino’s first goal for the club wrapping up a 3-0 fourth-round win after Liverpool substitute Amara Nallo was sent off.

Slot’s decision to make 10 changes and leave star players out of the squad backfired at Anfield, but the Reds boss said he did not regret his selection.

“It’s always a blow to lose a game of football, especially if it leads to going out of a competition,” he said. “But it’s the same selection I did tonight as I did last season in rounds like this.

“There are many reasons maybe why we’ve lost six out of seven. None of them are good enough to accept losing so many.”

Newcastle continue cup defence

Nick Woltemade’s sixth goal of the season sealed holders Newcastle’s passage to a fourth-successive Carabao Cup quarter-final as Tottenham became their latest victims.

Woltemade’s second-half header wrapped up a 2-0 win set in motion by Fabian Schar’s 24th-minute opener to leave the home contingent among a crowd of 51,216 at St James’ Park dreaming of a return to Wembley.

The victory was all the more impressive because of the eight changes head coach Eddie Howe made and, while the Magpies needed goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale’s intervention on more than one occasions as Spurs pushed, the visitors could have few arguments with the outcome.

Elsewhere, 15-year-old Max Dowman became Arsenal’s youngest ever starter in a 2-0 win over Brighton, Manchester City came from behind to beat Swansea 3-1 and Chelsea held on for a 4-3 win over Wolves.

Cardiff draw Chelsea

Cardiff have been handed a home Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Chelsea.

The Sky Bet League One club are the lowest-ranked team left in the competition having won 2-1 at Welsh rivals Wrexham on Tuesday night.

Elsewhere in the draw, holders Newcastle will be at home to Fulham, while Palace’s reward for beating Liverpool is a trip to Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Manchester City will be at home against Brentford.

Winning return for Martin O’Neill

Martin O’Neill celebrated his Celtic homecoming with a thumping 4-0 win over Falkirk at Parkhead.

The 73-year-old former Hoops manager was installed along with ex-Celtic player Shaun Maloney as the interim management team following the stunning resignation of Brendan Rodgers on Monday night.

Celtic fans continued their protest against Dermot Desmond – the club’s major shareholder – and the board outside the stadium before the game due, in part, to a perceived poor summer transfer window.

The influential Desmond sat in the directors’ box and watched fellow Irishman Johnny Kenny shoot Celtic into the lead after half-an-hour and then head in a second – 10 minutes later – before goals from midfielder Benjamin Nygren and wide-man Sebastian Tounekti in the second half increased the fun factor.

Celtic moved six points behind William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts, who drew 2-2 at St Mirren and remain five ahead of Rangers, who won 1-0 at Hibernian.

What’s on today?

Teams turn their attentions back to the Premier League following the Carabao Cup ties.

Liverpool’s next test comes on Saturday evening against Aston Villa, while leaders Arsenal travel to Burnley.