7 Premier League Teams Shine in EFL Cup

Seven Premier League teams participated in midweek EFL Cup action, all vying for a place in the fourth round. As expected, top-flight managers took the opportunity to rotate their squads. Let’s dive into the performances and what they reveal as the competition unfolds in this EFL Cup review.

Arsenal’s Youth Shines Amidst Squad Challenges

Arsenal faced League One side Bolton Wanderers, fielding a combination of youth and experience in hopes of boosting their attacking play while managing a positional crisis on the other end.

Mikel Arteta introduced goalkeeper Jack Porter, who, at just 16 years and 72 days old, became the youngest player to start for the club, due to injuries to David Raya and Tommy Setford. Summer signing Neto was also unavailable, having been cup-tied after playing for AFC Bournemouth earlier in the season.

Arsenal dominated with a 5-1 victory, as 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri showcased his talents by scoring twice, potentially filling in for the injured Martin Odegaard ahead of Leicester City’s visit on Saturday. Raheem Sterling also opened his Arsenal account, but Jack Porter couldn’t quite secure a clean sheet in his debut.

Arteta expressed his confidence in Nwaneri’s readiness for the Premier League, saying, “He’s playing with no pressure, full of confidence, and his decision-making shows he’s ready for this level.”

Liverpool’s Five-Star Performance Adds to West Ham’s Woes

Defending EFL Cup champions Liverpool also scored five in their midweek fixture, this time against West Ham United. The Hammers’ fans hoped to see their team bounce back from a 3-0 Premier League defeat against Chelsea, especially when Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah scored an own goal.

However, it was downhill for the Hammers from there. Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo both netted braces, with Mohamed Salah coming off the bench to add his name to the scoresheet.

This performance gives Liverpool head coach Arne Slot something to think about ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Slot had previously benched Jota and Gakpo during the team’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth, citing concerns about overworking Jota, who missed 15 matches last season due to injury.

“We’re trying to manage his minutes carefully,” said Slot. “Sometimes, the margins are small, and injuries can happen.”

Adding to West Ham’s troubles, Edson Alvarez was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. Despite the defeat, West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui remained optimistic, saying, “We didn’t deserve this scoreline, especially considering our first-half performance.”

Guardiola Keeps Manchester City Fans Guessing

Manchester City secured a 2-1 win over Championship side Watford, but manager Pep Guardiola provided no clear answers regarding who might fill Rodri’s role for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United. Both Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan remained unused substitutes, while John Stones played in central defence.

The defensive midfield position was entrusted to youngster Nico O’Reilly, while fellow Academy product James McAtee joined Matheus Nunes further up the pitch. Nunes made the most of his full 90 minutes, netting his first goal for City.

Guardiola emphasised the value of the EFL Cup as a platform for youth development, with 16-year-old Kaden Braithwaite becoming the youngest player to start under his tenure.

“It’s a great competition for us,” said Guardiola. “We’re not risking our chances in the Premier League or Champions League, but we’re here to compete.”

City will face a tough test in the next round when they travel to Tottenham Hotspur.

Buendia Returns in Style for Aston Villa

Emiliano Buendia marked his first senior start in 16 months by heading Aston Villa into the lead against Wycombe Wanderers. The Argentine midfielder missed the entirety of the 2023/24 season due to a knee injury, making his return all the more special.

Buendia had already scored twice for Villa’s U-21 team earlier in the month and was delighted to continue his form for the senior side. “It was a really special night,” he said after the match.

Super-sub Jhon Duran, who rarely starts, missed an early chance but secured Villa’s 2-1 win with a late penalty, taking his tally to four goals in five games. For Villa head coach Unai Emery, this marked his 50th win in just 90 games in charge, a milestone that only Joe Mercer achieved faster.

Leicester City’s Struggles Continue

Leicester City’s visit to League Two side Walsall offered little respite from their tough Premier League start. A goalless draw saw the Foxes scrape through with a 3-0 win on penalties, thanks to deputy goalkeeper Danny Ward, who kept a clean sheet and saved three spot-kicks.

Leicester boss Steve Cooper, who made 10 changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Everton, admitted, “We wanted a more convincing performance, but it became a tough night due to our own mistakes, especially with some loose passes in the second half.”

With an upcoming Premier League clash against Arsenal, Cooper will need to find solutions quickly.

Nkunku Gives Maresca Selection Dilemma

Chelsea’s attacking depth was on full display as Christopher Nkunku netted his first hat-trick for the club in their 5-0 thrashing of League Two leaders Barrow. Nicolas Jackson’s standout Premier League performance against West Ham last weekend may have earned him the starting role, but Nkunku’s contribution gives head coach Enzo Maresca a welcome selection headache.

A heavily rotated Chelsea squad saw Joao Felix and right-back Malo Gusto earn their first assists of the season, while Mykhailo Mudryk doubled his assist tally by setting up Pedro Neto’s first goal for the Blues.

“It’s a great problem to have when two strikers are consistently scoring,” Maresca said, hinting at a possible partnership between Jackson and Nkunku in their upcoming Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Fourth Round Draw

The next round of EFL Cup games is already known as the draw took place earlier this week. Here is the draw result in full:

Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday
Southampton v Stoke
Tottenham v Manchester City
AFC Wimbledon/Newcastle v Chelsea
Manchester United v Leicester
Brighton v Liverpool
Preston North End v Arsenal
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

These ties will be played in the week starting 28 October.