The third round matches in the League Cup continued tonight (Wednesday) and the focus was on the surprising eliminations of Arsenal and Tottenham, both of whom surrendered to rivals from the Premier League and ended their journey at an early stage, and especially the victory of Manchester City 0:2 over Chelsea. Cup holders Liverpool survived a penalty shootout against Derby County.
Arsenal – Brighton 3:1
The Premier League leader hopes to go into the World Cup break in first place and therefore coach Mikel Arteta made ten changes to the team ahead of Saturday’s game against Wolves, the only one who kept his place in the 11 was the stopper William Saliva, but it ended in a home loss to Brighton and elimination from the League Cup. Eddie Anketier actually put the Gunners ahead in the 20th minute, but seven minutes passed and Danny Welbeck equalized 1:1 with a precise penalty. Roberto de Zerbi, whose team arrived at the Emirates after two consecutive first victories under him, completed a turnaround in the 58th minute from a goal by the Japanese substitute Karo Mitoma and Tarik Lampati set the final score in the 71st minute from a Billy Gilmour assist. Arteta also brought in Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, but it wasn’t enough.
Manchester City – Chelsea 0:2
Erling Holland returned from injury, but Pep Guardiola did not risk him against the Blues, nor did Kevin de Brauna, Phil Foden and others who sat on the bench and it was enough against a very secondary composition of Graham Potter to beat Chelsea and qualify for the round of 16. Riyad Mahrez and Julián Albers did appear in the team of the English champions, and they scored two goals in five minutes, the Algerian scored first in the 53rd minute and then the Argentine doubled the advantage that brings the Citizens closer to a seventh win since 2014, after last year’s streak was interrupted Four consecutive wins. Potter came up with a fairly secondary lineup, but with a double deficit, he brought Rahim Sterling, Mason Mount and Kai Habertz off the bench, but it wasn’t enough. Kelvin Phillips, who hardly played this season due to injuries, also came on from Guardiola’s bench in the 50th minute.
Liverpool – Derby County 2:3 on penalties (0:0 in 90 minutes)
Jurgen Klopp came up with 11 players that included youngsters from the academy, some making their debuts in the senior uniforms, and other rotation players in an attempt to secure a place in the next stage against the team from the championship. After 66 minutes without goals, the German coach brought heavy guns from the bench in the form of Roberto Firmino, Derwin Nunes and Harvey Elliott, but they too could not find the Derby net and the game went to be decided in a duel from the penalty spot. Quibin Kelleher saved three of the visitors’ kicks and saw Elliott score the winning penalty en route to the next round.
Nottingham Forest – Tottenham 0:2
Antonio Conte surprised when he entered the lineup with Harry Kane, Ivan Perisic and other players who are used to starting almost every game, but it ended in another surprising loss for the Roosters – who have only two wins in their last seven games and, of course, were kicked out of the factory at an early stage against the newcomer to the Premier League, whose side recorded a home victory Another impressive after already surprising Liverpool at home this season within the league. After a half-time of zero, Renan Lodi and Jesse Lingard in the 50th and 57th minutes challenged Antonio Conte, who immediately after the second goal actually brought his stars Perisic and Kane to the bench, but in their place put in Diane Kolosecki and Risharlison who are recovering from injuries. In the 75th minute, Oral Mangala was sent off with a second yellow card after a foul on Richarlison, but even Nottingham Forest’s numerical disadvantage did not prevent them from keeping a clean sheet and a victory on the way to the next stage.
More games:
Wolves – Leeds 0:1
Newcastle – Crystal Palace 2:3 in penalties (0:0 in 90 minutes)
Southampton – Sheffield Wednesday 6:7 in penalties (1:1 in 90 minutes)
West Ham – Blackburn Rovers 12:11 in penalties (2:2 in 90 minutes)