There were few surprises to be found in the League Cup, one day after several eyebrow-raising results in the tournament’s third round.
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Morecambe 0-7 Newcastle United
The League Two side was absolutely hammered by a Newcastle team who must’ve been read the riot act after a sleepy home loss to Brighton in weekend Premier League action.
It was already 4-0 when Morecambe’s Toumani Diagouraga was sent off. Joelinton scored twice and three players had a goal and an assist (Jamaal Lascelles, Jacob Murphy, and Miguel Almiron).
USMNT defender DeAndre Yedlin started at left back and set up an Isaac Hayden goal, with Matt Ritchie picking up an assist on Newcastle’s sixth of the game. An own goal rounded out the scoring.
A visit to League Two’s Newport County is next, and Steve Bruce’s men would be expected to win and find a spot in December’s quarterfinals. Halcyon days, or something.
Leicester City 0-2 Arsenal
A Christian Fuchs own goal finally helped Arsenal onto the scoreboard, though the Gunners were good money for the win.
The Foxes had an excellent goal mouth clearance from Wes Morgan with about 20 minutes to play, but could not find the equalizer.
Eddie Nketiah grimaced that he didn’t get to tap in the pass that Fuchs directed into his own goal, but got his marker in the 90th.
If Liverpool handles its business against Lincoln City this weekend, the Reds and Gunners will square off twice in four days (or less)
Chelsea 6-0 Barnsley
Kai Havertz scored his first Chelsea goal and hat trick, all assisted by Tammy Abraham, as the Blues made short work of their Championship visitors.
Havertz’s first Chelsea goal was one of two first-half markers and his second iced the contest.
Abraham scored in the 19th minute. Eight minutes later, he let Mount’s pass set Havertz up for a classy snap finish.
Ross Barkley scored in the 49th and Abraham got his second assist of Havertz six minutes later. His third came in the 65th minute and was followed by Havertz leaving the pitch to hand Ben Chilwell a Blues debut.
Chilwell didn’t disappoint, setting up Olivier Giroud for the match’s final goal.
Preston North End 0-2 Brighton
Graham Potter’s rotation allowed some talented players to showcase themselves away to a Championship side.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Alexis Mac Allister were the goal scorers as the Seagulls outshot PNE 11-4 to set up a match next week with Manchester United, who they meet this weekend in the PL.
Millwall 0-2 Burnley
As cagey as you’d expect from these two, with the Premier League visitors’ class a bit too much for the Championship’s Lions.
Josh Brownhill and Matej Vydra scored for Sean Dyche’s men with Matthew Lowton and Chris Wood collecting assists.
Burnley will face Man City or Bournemouth in the fourth round.
Fulham 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday
It was as tight as you’d expect from two sides who shared Championship scraps last season.
Aboubakar Kamara and Bobby Reid scored in the first 32 minutes to supply the Cottagers a fourth-round date at West London rivals Brentford in a rematch of the promotion playoff final.
Americans Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson both went the distance in the win.
Stoke City 1-0 Gillingham
The Championship side had all of the ball and the only goal, as Tyrese Campbell’s 37th-minute marker was enough to clinch a visit to either Bristol City or Aston Villa.
Fleetwood Town 2-5 Everton
Carlo Ancelotti’s dominant Toffees suffered a brief scare after building a 2-0 lead through a Richalrison double.
Mark Duffy scored in the 48th before Alex Iwobi restored the two-goal lead.
That’s when Jordan Pickford, well, he messed up.
Fortunately for the Toffees, who out-attempted Joey Barton’s Fisherman by a healthy margin, Bernard scored with 17 minutes left to ease any frayed nerves. Moise Kean finished the scoring off a Niels Nkounkou feed.
Everton faces West Ham at Goodison Park in the fourth round.
Next League Cup third round fixtures
All times ET
Thursday
Bristol City v Aston Villa — 2 pm
Lincoln City v Liverpool — 2:45 pm
Manchester City v Bournemouth — 2:45 pm
Previous third round results
Luton Town 0-3 Manchester United
West Ham United 5-1 Hull City
Newport County 3-1 Watford
West Bromwich Albion 2-2 (4-5 pens) Brentford
Leyton Orient v Tottenham Hotspur — postponed
League Cup fourth round draw
Lincoln City/Liverpool v Arsenal
Burnley v Manchester City/Bournemouth
Brentford v Fulham
Everton v West Ham United
Bristol City/Aston Villa v Stoke City
Leyton Orient/Tottenham v Chelsea
Newport County v Newcastle United
Brighton and Hove Albion v Manchester United
