Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez scored twice as the holders moved into the League Cup fourth round with a 6-1 home win over League One (third tier) Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday.
Liverpool also progressed without trouble by winning 3-0 at Norwich City in their all-Premier League tie with Japanese forward Takumi Minamino on target twice and Divock Origi also scoring.
But with most top flight teams making several changes from the first-choice line-ups, there were Premier League casualties with Everton and Watford knocked out by lower league opponents.
Brandon Hanlan gave Wycombe a shock lead at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium in the 22nd minute but the hosts took a 3-1 lead by half-time with goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Mahrez and Phil Foden before running away with the game in the second half.
City’s rout was completed when 19-year-old Cole Palmer scored their sixth, his first goal for the club on a night when manager Pep Guardiola gave debuts to five young products of the club’s academy.
“I am just going to say thank you very much to all the Academy... They have many good players, not just one or two. All of them are incredibly well-educated people. Thanks to their families. We have talented players. We can count on them absolutely,” Guardiola said.
Top flight Brentford’s Finnish forward Marcus Forss scored four as they crushed League Two (fourth tier) bottom side Oldham Athletic 7-0 in their third round tie.
Burnley’s Jay Rodriguez also claimed four goals in his Premier League team’s 4-1 victory over League Two Rochdale at Turf Moor.
Everton lost 8-7 in a penalty shootout at Queens Park Rangers (QPR) after their game ended 2-2 following 90 minutes. Charlie Austin had scored twice for QPR to put them 2-1 up before Andros Townsend’s 47th minute equaliser for Everton.
In the shootout, QPR keeper Seny Dieng pushed a Tom Davies spot-kick onto the post and Rangers’ defender Jimmy Dunne converted the decisive penalty.
Premier League club Watford were knocked out by Championship (second-tier) team Stoke City, losing 3-1 at Vicarage Road.
Top flight Southampton needed penalties to beat Championship side Sheffield United 4-2 after that game ended 2-2 and Leeds United also cut it fine, surviving a shootout at Fulham to triumph 6-5 following a goalless draw.
There is no extra time in the League Cup with ties going straight to penalties if they are drawn after 90 minutes.
Klopp’s praise
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp hailed Minamino’s strength of character after the Japanese international overcame his injury problems to score a brace.
The versatile 26-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Southampton before suffering a thigh injury earlier this month, marked his first appearance of the current campaign with well-taken goals on either side of a Divock Origi strike. “He’s in a really good moment. I know he didn’t play too much, but in the wrong moment he was injured, coming back and stuff like this,” Klopp told reporters.
“It’s sometimes not so easy, but he’s a top character and he enjoyed the game. That was important for him and important for us, so that will help him and will help us.”
Kevin ‘on way back’
City playmaker De Bruyne is rediscovering his best form following injuries but he will need more time to start regularly, Guardiola said.
De Bruyne, 30, widely regarded as one of the world’s best midfielders, suffered facial injuries in City’s Champions League final defeat by Chelsea in May and played in Belgium’s Euro 2020 quarter final loss to Italy with ankle ligament damage.
Making only his second start of the season, De Bruyne lasted the full 90 minutes, but Guardiola said his talismanic midfielder needed a “proper pre-season.”
“The European Cup wasn’t perfect and after he had an injury for the national team he needs to be fit, to be physical in the right rhythm,” Guardiola said. “And that’s why it was so good what he did knowing he’s not in the perfect way ... but step by step he’s better.”
Guardiola said he was impressed with De Bruyne’s defensive contributions.
“In previous games he played good but his backwards (runs) were not good ... He didn’t run backwards like he runs forward and today he did it for the first time,” Guardiola added.
“Step by step Kevin will be back because I know he’s an incredibly professional player.”