Soccer: United beat Arsenal, Liverpool win on penalties

LONDON - An early David Bellion goal gave Manchester United a 1-0 win over Arsenal while Liverpool joined them in the League Cup semifinals after a 4-3 penalty shootout win at Tottenham Hotspur today.

United will now play premier league leaders Chelsea, while second division Watford will take on Liverpool for a place in the final in Cardiff on February 27.

United's victory in a game between two second-string sides came five weeks after their first team ended Arsenal's record 49-match unbeaten league run at Old Trafford, triggering a collapse in form from which the champions have yet to recover.

French forward Florent Sinama-Pongolle was Liverpool's man of the match, converting an extra-time equaliser to make it 1-1 after a Jermain Defoe strike, and then scoring the decisive final spot kick of the shootout to send Liverpool through.

Quarterfinal results today:
Manchester United 1 Arsenal 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Liverpool 1, (after extra time, 90 minutes: 0-0, Liverpool won 4-3 on penalties)

Draw for the semifinals:
Chelsea v Manchester United, Liverpool v Watford
First legs to be played on January 11 or 12.

- REUTERS