LONDON: Bidding to win the English League Cup for a fifth straight season, Manchester City’s players fell behind during a game in the competition for the first time in nearly four years on Tuesday.

They immediately put that right.

City responded to conceding a surprise opening goal at home to third-tier Wycombe Wanderers in the 22nd minute by scoring three times before halftime and eventually easing to a 6-1 win. Among the scorers for City were Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden as they build up their match fitness after early-season injuries.

Pep Guardiola’s team last tasted defeat in the League Cup in October 2016, and hasn’t trailed since the first leg of the semi-finals in January 2018.

Like City, Liverpool used the competition to hand starts to fringe players and senior debuts to a number of its promising youngsters including a 16-year-old in Kaide Gordon and they enjoyed a 3-0 victory at fellow Premier League team Norwich. Japan forward Takumi Minamino started and finished the scoring.

Liverpool and City are tied on a record eight League Cup titles. Six of City’s have come in the eight previous seasons.

There were Premier League casualties with Everton and Watford knocked out by lower league opponents Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City respectively.

Southampton and Leeds United fared better to overcome teams who were in the top flight last season Sheffield United and Fulham, respectively.

Brentford thrashed Oldham 7-0 and Burnley cruised past another third-tier opponent, Rochdale, 4-1.

Brandon Hanlan gave Wycombe a shock lead at City’s Etihad Stadium in but the hosts took a 3-1 lead by halftime with goals from De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and Foden before running away with the game in the second half.

City’s rout was completed when 19-year-old Cole Palmer scored their sixth, his first goal for the club on a night when manager Guardiola gave debuts to five young products of the club’s academy.

“I am just going to say thank you very much to all the Academy... They have many good players, not just one or two. All of them are incredibly well-educated people. Thanks to their families. We have talented players. We can count on them absolutely,” said Guardiola.

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

Minamino made his first appearance for Liverpool after being an unused substitute in four matches this season, and had an instant impact.

Barely three minutes had been played when he latched onto a header down from Divock Origi at a corner and swiveled to shoot through the goalkeepers legs.

Liverpool’s backup goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher, saved a penalty before Origi headed in the second goal, and Minamino poked in a third from close range.

“Footballers want to play, that’s clear. He was with his national team, got injured and was then not fit,” Klopp said of Minamino. “It was not like he didn’t play for 60 weeks. Taki is in a really good moment, training well and deserved the two goals.”

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.

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 Sheffield after a 2-2 draw and Leeds also cut it fine, surviving a shootout at Fulham to triumph 6-5 following a goalless draw.

Brentford’s Finnish forward Marcus Forss scored four as they crushed League Two (fourth tier) bottom side Oldham.

Burnley’s Jay Rodriguez also claimed four goals in his team’s victory over League Two Rochdale at Turf Moor.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2021