Manchester: With no European competitions clogging up their schedules, Chelsea and Liverpool are placing more importance on the English League Cup than usual this season.
They both advanced to the last 16 on Tuesday – but took different routes.
Chelsea came from two goals behind at Premier League champion Leicester, taking an end-to-end game to extra time at 2-2 thanks to goals from defenders Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta before Cesc Fabregas' double clinched a 4-2 win.
Liverpool had it much easier, dispatching second-tier Derby in a 3-0 victory with Ragnar Klavan, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi scoring the goals.
Chelsea and Liverpool both rested key players but still fielded strong lineups in a bid to stay alive in one of three competitions they'll enter this season. Liverpool is a record eight-time League Cup winner, while Chelsea is joint-second in the all-time list of trophy winners with five titles.
Leicester has much bigger priorities this season. Aside from attempting to retain its Premier League title, Claudio Ranieri's team are in the Champions League for the first time and likely will not be too concerned about exiting a competition of the least importance.
Japan forward Shinji Okazaki took advantage of defensive errors to score twice for Leicester at King Power Stadium, but the hosts were undermanned in extra time after Marcin Wasilewski collected his second yellow card in the 89th for elbowing Diego Costa in the face.
Fabregas' two goals send a message to Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, who has marginalised the Spain midfielder at the start of the season.
Here's a look at other results in the third round on Tuesday, as Premier League teams fared differently against lower-league opposition after rotating their starting lineups:
Everton 0-2 Norwich City
Everton, who are currently the surprise challengers for the Premier League title, have been knocked out of the League Cup after suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Norwich. (Photo: AP)
Everton failed to transfer its strong Premier League form to the League Cup by losing to second-tier Norwich, which played almost a complete reserve team.
Steven Naismith, a former Everton player, scored the first goal for the Canaries. Norwich’s lead was doubled in spectacular style, as one of the Murphy twins, Josh, spun with his back to goal, around 18 yards out, and unleashed a left-footed strike that whizzes in off the underside of the bar.
Everton have been the surprise of the Premier League so far, currently sitting in second place after an unbeaten start that includes four wins from five games. The team's last piece of major silverware came in 1995.
Nottingham Forest 0-4 Arsenal
Granit Xhaka (right) scored his second long-ranger in as many starts for Arsenal. (Photo: AP)
Lucas Perez, a recent signing from Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna, scored twice in the second half for his first goals for Arsenal.
Granit Xhaka scored from long range – as he did against Hull in the Premier League on Saturday – to put Arsenal ahead, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wrapped up the victory for a visiting team featuring a mix of youth-team and fringe squad members.
