Carabao Cup round-up: QPR knock Everton out as City survive early scare

The first night of the Carabao Cup third round delivered plenty of twists and turns.

With the Premier League's European qualifiers entering at this stage, there is often an upset or two on the cards as managers shuffle their packs. 

But the clubs involved in continental competition all came through unscatched on a goal-filled evening. 

Manchester City 6-1 Wycombe

As expected, Pep Guardiola rotated his squad of megastars but there were still starting places for the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez.

It did not initially go to plan for the Citizens, who fell behind to the League One outfit after 22 minutes when Ryan Tafazolli squared it to Brandon Hanlan, who had the simplest of tasks to tap home and send the travelling Chairboys supporters into raptures.

The dream lasted all of seven minutes, when De Bruyne pulled City level.

Further goals from Mahrez and a rocket from Foden put the tie beyond all doubt before the half-time whistle.

Second-half efforts from Ferran Torres and Mahrez again, plus a memorable moment for Cole Palmer, took the hosts to six.

Norwich 0-3 Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp handed a start to Kaide Gordon, who became Liverpool's fifth-youngest debutant at just 16 years, 11 months and 13 days old.

Takumi Minamino gave the Reds a perfect start after just four minutes but Norwich were gifted a way back into the match shortly before the break.

After being awarded a penalty, Christos Tzolis stepped up but saw his spot-kick saved by the legs of Caoimhin Kelleher.

Divock Origi doubled the visitors' advantage in the 50th minute before Minamino got his second with 10 minutes remaining. 

QPR 2-2 Everton (8-7 on penalties)

QPR provided the biggest shock of the night as they knocked out Rafa Benitez’s Everton after an entertaining evening at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

Charlie Austin’s first-half brace came either side of a Lucas Digne goal, before Andros Townsend levelled the match just two minutes into the second half.

All square after 90 minutes, the tie went straight to penalties and nothing could budge the two teams up until Everton’s seventh kick.

Ben Godfrey saw his effort saved by Seny Dieg but Kevin Friend had spotted the Swiss goalkeeper make a slight movement off of his line before the ball was struck, so a retake was ordered and Godfrey made no mistake.

QPR would not have to wait much longer for a winning penalty, however, as Tom Davies had his effort pushed onto the post and Jimmy Dunne converted to seal the win. 

Brentford 7-0 Oldham

Having knocked out League Two leaders Forest Green in the previous round, Brentford made light work of basement boys Oldham.

The Bees, who made 11 changes from their win at Wolves at the weekend, were Carabao Cup semi-finalists last season and they rarely looked troubled by Keith Curle’s strugglers.

Marcus Forss netted a first-half hat-trick, while a goal from Yoane Wissa and an own goal from Raphael Diarra meant the tie was comfortably over at at the break.

Forss bagged his fourth and Brentford’s sixth on the hour mark before Wissa doubled his tally to wrap up a 7-0 win.

Burnley 4-1 Rochdale

The Clarets were left largely frustrated in the first half by a Rochdale side currently sitting eighth in League Two.

Sean Dyche’s men fell behind just two minutes after half-time when Jake Beesley put the underdogs ahead.

But a 12-minute Jay Rodriguez hat-trick swung the tie back in the Premier League side's favour.

The 32-year-old one-time England international scored his and Burnley’s fourth in the 74th minute to confirm their fourth-round berth.

Watford 1-3 Stoke

Stoke were the only side of the evening to knock out Premier League opposition inside 90 minutes as they sent Watford packing.

Former Manchester United forward Nick Powell gave the Potters a first-half lead before Ashley Fletcher scored levelled for the Hornets.

Sam Clucas and Josh Tymon both found the net in the final 10 minutes to give the travelling Stoke faithful a memorable evening in Hertfordshire.

Sheffield United 2-2 Southampton (2-4 on penalties)

Last season’s Premier League basement boys Sheffield United took Ralph Hasenhuttl struggling Southampton all the way to penalties.

Enda Stevens had given the Blades a perfect start after eight minutes but the Saints responded through Ibrahima Diallo.

Mohammed Salisu then gave the visitors the lead on 53 minutes, only for the Blades to peg them back through Oli McBurnie as the game finished all square. 

The Championship side missed two of their spot-kicks to give Oriol Romeu the chance to win it for the visitors — and he duly obliged. 

Fulham 0-0 Leeds (5-6 on penalties)

Craven Cottage hosted the only goalless tie of the evening — but that was not for a lack of trying.

Fulham, currently second in the Championship had 15 shots on goal, with six of them forcing Illan Meslier into action, but neither team could find that elusive goal.

Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds missed two spot-kicks but Fulham were not able to capitalise as they missed three, with Rodrigo Muniz firing off target with what proved to be the last penalty.

Other results:

Preston 4-1 Cheltenham

Wigan 0-2 Sunderland