Liverpool’s fringe players came to the fore in the third round EFL Cup clash against Norwich City, facilitating a routine 3-0 victory. Takumi Minamino scored two and Divock Origi headed in another as coach Jurgen Klopp rotated nearly the entire squad for the cup fixture.
Klopp handed debuts to two teenagers—Kaide Gordon and Conor Bradley—against the Canaries, both of them impressing.
Minamino scored from close range in the opening minutes of the game, Origi got his first goal of the campaign in the 50th minute, and the Japanese sealed the deal 10 minutes from time, gliding into the box and poking the ball beyond the Norwich keeper.
Earlier, Liverpool’s 22-year-old goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher denied Norwich striker Christos Tzolis from the penalty spot, right before the end of the first half.
Liverpool continue their unbeaten start to the season, chalking up seven wins and a draw so far.
Cityzens win big
Manchester City also progressed to the fourth round of the EFL Cup—aka Carabao Cup—with a 6-1 thrashing of third-division side Wycombe Wanderers. Riyad Mahrez scored twice for the defending champions.
Though the minnows took a shock lead in the 22nd minute, the Manchester side rattled in three before the break, completing the rout with another three in the second half.
It was Kevin de Bruyne who scored first for City, as youngsters Phil Foden, Ferran Torres and Cole Palmer bagged a goal each.
The highlight of the night though was that coach Pep Guardiola handed debuts to five graduates of the City academy. Defender Josh Wilson-Esbrand even assisted Mahrez’s second goal.
Toffees crash out
Everton were handed their second defeat in four days, this time resulting in their ouster from the EFL Cup. Championship side QPR beat the EPL team on penalties after the game ended 2-2 in regular time.
Charlie Austin scored two headers for QPR on either side of a Lucas Digne goal for Everton, with Andros Townsend getting another in the second half.
Everton were missing several key attacking stars like Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, both of whom are nursing injuries. Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez was also missing, with claims that he is in talks for a move to a Qatari club.
The Carabao Cup third round action continues tonight with Manchester United taking on West Ham, Chelsea playing Aston Villa, Tottenham visiting Wolves and Arsenal hosting AFC Wimbledon.
