Old Trafford bids a moving farewell to George Best.

A crowd of nearly 50,000 pays tribute to the late great before Manchester United’s Carling Cup game with West Bromwich Albion.

Liverpool are up to fourth in the Premiership with a 2-0 win at Sunderland.- Old Trafford bids a moving farewell to George Best. A crowd of nearly 50,000 pays tribute to the late great before Manchester United’s Carling Cup game with West Bromwich Albion. Coincidently, George made his United debut against Albion in 1963. Many of the Baggies players from that game 42 years ago join members of United’s 1968 European Cup winning team and George’s son Calum on the pitch as a minute’s silence is impeccably observed. WBA boss Bryan Robson - a former United No. 7 - and Sir Alex Ferguson lay wreaths in the centre-circle. In the game, United win 3-1 with, appropriately, United’s first goal scored by the current No. 7, Cristiano Ronaldo.

- Elsewhere in the Carling Cup, Blackburn Rovers come from two down at Charlton Athletic to win 3-2. A below strength Wigan Athletic beat Newcastle United 1-0 at the JJB Stadium. United boss Graeme Souness apologies for their woeful performance. Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough are also through to the last eight.

- Liverpool are up to fourth in the Premiership with a comfortable 2-0 win at Sunderland. It’s the Reds fifth consecutive league win while the seemingly doomed Black Cats remain seven points adrift at the bottom.

- Sheffield United give Portsmouth permission to speak to manager Neil Warnock. The Blades are second in the Championship with a nine point advantage on third-in-the-table Watford and face Wednesday in the Sheffield derby on Saturday.