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Man U put seven past Barnsley to progress in League Cup

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen all scored twice as the Old Trafford side roared into the last 16 of the League Cup with a 7-0 rout of third-tier Barnsley.

United were joined in the fourth round by fellow Premier League sides Brentford, who beat third-tier Leyton Orient 3-1, and Crystal Palace after they edged Queens Park Rangers 2-1 on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).

Top-flight Fulham were knocked out in extraordinary fashion by second-tier Preston North End after the match ended 1-1, with the home side prevailing 16-15 in a 34-penalty shootout - the longest ever in the competition.

United manager Erik Ten Hag has endured a rocky time since taking over in 2022, but he enjoyed the biggest win of his reign.

England forward Rashford ended a six-month goal drought at the weekend when he scored against Southampton in the Premier League, and needed only 16 minutes to strike against Barnsley.

Antony added the second from the penalty spot in the 35th minute and Garnacho poked home United's third in first-half stoppage time to put the hosts in complete control.

Garnacho side-footed his second from Rashford's pass just after the restart, then returned the compliment as Rashford made it 5-0.

Eriksen scored his first United goal for more than a year in the 81st minute, slotting in Bruno Fernandes's cross.

Eriksen then fired in from the edge of the area to complete United's biggest League Cup win and their largest margin of victory since Ten Hag took charge in 2022.

United's previous biggest wins under the Dutchman were 4-1 defeats of Real Betis and Chelsea.

"Football is football. Sometimes you have ups and sometimes downs, but we have to use these games to get momentum and consistency," Rashford said.

Ten Hag was delighted with his side's performance.

"I thought the first goal from Marcus was really good, but so were the rest,'' he said. "We played with a lot of speed and were ruthless in front of goal."

The Premier League's bottom two clubs met at Goodison Park and there was more woe for Everton, who bowed out on penalties to Southampton after a 1-1 draw.

Abdoulaye Doucoure put Everton ahead, but Southampton levelled through Taylor Harwood-Bellis, before the visitors won 6-5 in the shootout. Eleven penalties hit the net before Ashley Young saw his effort saved by Alex McCarthy.

Brentford were given an early scare when Brandon Cooper put Orient in front, but Fabio Carvalho equalised in acrobatic fashion. Mikel Damsgaard headed Brentford in front, and Christian Norgaard ensured progress for Thomas Frank's team.

Eddie Nketiah scored his first goal for Crystal Palace since moving from Arsenal, and Eberechi Eze struck the winner against his old club Queens Park Rangers to send the visitors through.

Sheffield Wednesday won 1-0 at Blackpool, while Championship (second-tier) side Stoke City needed penalties to get past fourth-tier Fleetwood Town 2-1 after being held to a 1-1 draw.

The remaining third-round ties will be played on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) and next week, concluding with holders Liverpool at home fellow Premier League side West Ham United on September 25.