LONDON: England’s top clubs showcased their strength in depth in the League Cup on Wednesday, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Everton all advancing to the last 16 despite fielding virtual second-string lineups.

Back-up forwards had a particularly fruitful time on an evening when the yawning gap between the Premier League and the lower leagues was highlighted.

Michy Batshuayi netted a hat-trick for Chelsea in a 5-1 win over Nottingham Forest, while Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial were paired up front for Manchester United and both scored in a 4-1 win over Burton Albion.

In other Premier League v League Championship matchups, Everton beat Sunderland 3-0 thanks to a double from young striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Arsenal overcame Doncaster Rovers 1-0 courtesy of a first-half goal from Theo Walcott.

Leroy Sane scored in each half for Manchester City in a 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion, with the result soured for the visitors by the sight of Ilkay Gundogan going off injured in the midfielder’s first start in nine months after a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Eden Hazard made his first start of the season for Chelsea after recovering from an ankle injury and played the full 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge.

Batshuayi stole the spotlight though, scoring in the 19th, 53rd and 86th minutes while Kenedy and Charly Musonda were also on target.

Two lethal finishes in the opening 17 minutes by Rashford set United on their way to an easy win in the first game of their title defence.

Jesse Lingard killed the tie off in the 36th minute with a deflected effort and Martial got in on the act after the break before Lloyd Dyer grabbed a stoppage-time consolation for Burton.

City, level with United at the top of the Premier League, were involved in the night’s one all-Premier League tie, edging out West Brom at the Hawthorns.

Sane gave City a third-minute lead and struck again in the 77th minute shortly after Claudio Yacob had levelled for the home side.

At the Emirates Stadium, Alexis Sanchez set up Arsenal’s 25th-minute winner, clipping a fine pass to Walcott, who controlled well before slotting home.

Everton ended a run of four straight losses, when the team didn’t score a goal, to provide some relief for manager Ronald Koeman.

The 20-year-old Calvert-Lewin scored in the 38th and 51st minutes, while Senegal international Oumar Niasse grabbed the third at Goodison Park.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2017