Kenny Dalglish endured a painful return as Liverpool manager yesterday, losing 0-1 at archrival Manchester United in the FA Cup after conceding a penalty in the first minute.

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov went down under Daniel Agger's challenge and Ryan Giggs scored the resulting spot kick.

Dalglish's problems mounted 32 minutes into the third-round match when Steven Gerrard was sent off for a lunge on Michael Carrick.

Dalglish was hired until the end of the season on Saturday after Roy Hodgson was sacked.

Also yesterday, Jermain Defoe scored twice as Tottenham advanced with a 3-0 victory over third-tier club Charlton.

On Saturday, Newcastle United was humiliated 3-1 by League Two (fourth division) Stevenage as four top-flight teams were knocked out by lowly opposition. Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion and Blackpool also went out as the world's oldest cup competition maintained its reputation for upsets.

Arsenal almost made the tally five but Cesc Fabregas came off the bench to score a last-minute penalty to earn the 10-time winners a 1-1 home draw with Championship (second division) side Leeds United.

Thirteen years ago Stevenage, then a minor league club, took a Newcastle title-chasing team to a replay in an acrimonious fourth-round tie before the top-flight side eventually went on to reach the final.

Deserved winners

Stevenage was deserved winners this time round as new Newcastle manager Alan Pardew paid a heavy price for resting several regulars. Two goals in five minutes early in the second half by Mike Williamson (own goal) and Michael Bostwick gave the home team a 2-0 lead.

Newcastle then had Cheik Tiote sent off for a reckless challenge. Joey Barton pulled a goal back in the last minute before Peter Winn slammed the door shut with Stevenage's third.

"They gave us a lot of problems with the pressure and physical side of their game," Pardew said. "I felt we were running on empty, we had four or five players who looked like they were shot (exhausted). I think there are a few in there that need to understand what this game is all about. In the Premier League it's all well and good but a few of the young lads got caught out tonight."

Sunderland, flying high in sixth position in the league and with a formidable home record, also fielded a weakened team and was beaten 1-2 at the Stadium of Light by Notts County which is struggling in League One.

Reading won 1-0 at home to hand West Brom its sixth successive defeat while League One Southampton overcame visiting Blackpool 2-0.

Bolton Wanderers, seventh in the Premier League, needed late goals from Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander to scrape past minor league York City 2-0 while Everton, Fulham, Wigan Athletic, Aston Villa, West Ham United and Birmingham City also progressed.