Liverpool beat Norwich in Carabao Cup as defending champions Man City score six goals

Everton and Watford were the major Premier League casualties in the third round, losing to QPR and Stoke respectively.

City will move past Liverpool onto a record nine League Cup triumphs if they take the trophy this term.

The holders made the perfect start to that mission as Pep Guardiola was rewarded for fielding a strong attack featuring Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Ferran Torres and Riyad Mahrez.

Guardiola also gave debuts to Conrad Egan-Riley, Finley Burns, Luke Mbete, Josh Wilson-Ebrand and Romeo Lavia at the Etihad Stadium.

City were stunned in the 22nd minute as Brandon Hanlan scored his first ever goal for third tier Wycombe.

After City made a hash of clearing a corner, Ryan Tafazolli's miscued shot ran across the six-yard box to Hanlan, who tapped into an empty net.

But Guardiola's men equalised seven minutes later when De Bruyne sprinted onto Foden's pass and slotted into the far corner for his first goal since May.

Mahrez fired City in front with a crisp finish two minutes before the break after good work from Wilson-Ebrand.

Foden smashed in City's third seconds later, collecting a short corner and drilling home from 25 yards.

Torres got the fourth after 71 minutes with a close-range finish and Mahrez's tap-in and a first City goal for Cole Palmer capped the demolition.

 

September 21, 2021

Liverpool had already won 3-0 at Carrow Road in the Premier League earlier this season and their reserves managed to repeat that scoreline.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp made nine changes to the side which beat Crystal Palace on Saturday, with Kaide Gordon, 16, and fellow teenager Conor Bradley handed debuts.

Minamino fired them into a fourth minute lead as he drilled home from Divock Origi's header.

Norwich squandered the chance to level before half-time when Christos Tzolis' penalty was saved by Caoimhin Kelleher after Bradley fouled Dimitris Giannoulis.

Origi doubled Liverpool's advantage in the 50th minute with a header from Kostas Tsimikas' cross.

It was the Belgian striker's first goal in 12 months, since he scored against Lincoln at the same stage of the League Cup.

Minamino grabbed his second goal with 10 minutes left, netting in clinical fashion from close-range.

 

September 21, 2021

Liverpool's Merseyside rivals Everton crashed out at second tier QPR, losing 8-7 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

Rafael Benitez made five changes after Everton's defeat at Aston Villa and Charlie Austin twice put QPR ahead, with Lucas Digne and Andros Townsend equalising for the visitors.

In the shoot-out, Tom Davies' penalty was saved by Seny Dieng and Jimmy Dunne converted the winning kick.

 

September 21, 2021

Watford paid the price for making 11 changes as the Hornets suffered a surprise 3-1 defeat by second tier Stoke at Vicarage Road.

Southampton held their nerve to win 4-2 on penalties at second tier Sheffield United after a 2-2 draw.

Leeds also survived a shoot-out, beating Championship team Fulham 6-5 after a 0-0 draw.

Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez bagged four goals - one more than his team had scored in five league games this season - in a 4-1 victory over Rochdale.

Brentford crushed League Two's bottom club Oldham 7-0 thanks to four goals from Marcus Forss.