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Christopher Nkunku scored a hat-trick as Chelsea defeated fourth division Barrow 5-0 to reach the last 16 of the League Cup on Tuesday, while a much-changed Manchester City narrowly beat Watford 2-1.
Nkunku has already scored six goals in seven appearances this season, but the Frenchman has still not secured a regular place in Enzo Maresca’s team.
Maresca made 11 changes to the team that beat West Ham 3-0 on Saturday, but could still field around £400 million ($533 million) worth of talent.
Joao Felix was another high-profile signing for the Blues who shone, his pass allowing Nkunku to score the opening goal.
Nkunku then headed the ball a second before Felix’s free kick hit the post and bounced off Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman and into the net.
Pedro Neto headed home Mykhailo Mudryk’s cross to score his first goal for Chelsea, while Nkunku scored his first hat-trick for the club when he took the ball from Farman and fired into an empty net.
City are likely to be without key midfielder Rodri for many months after he tore knee ligaments in a heated 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.
Just over 48 hours after that top-of-the-table clash, City were back in action and Pep Guardiola made nine changes, including the debut of 16-year-old Kaden Braithwaite.
Jeremy Doku, one of the two defending their place, scored the first goal after five minutes following a pass from Jack Grealish.
Rodri’s absence could mean a more prominent role for Matheus Nunes, and the Portugal international scored his first goal since joining City for £53m a year ago.
Tom Ince, son of former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince, scored a last-minute goal for Watford, but it was too little and too late for the Championship side.
Aston Villa’s reserves were also put under pressure by lower-class opponents, but a header from Emi Buendia and a penalty from Jhon Duran were enough for a 2-1 win at Wycombe.
Fourth division side Walsall came closest to causing an upset when they forced Leicester to a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw.
However, the Premier League team won the penalty shootout 3-0.
Newcastle’s trip to AFC Wimbledon has been postponed after a sinkhole formed on the League Two team’s pitch following severe flooding in London this week.
The game was moved to St. James Park in Newcastle on October 1st.
Newcastle have contributed £15,000 to a fund to repair the pitch at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
Manchester United and Tottenham were among the teams that advanced to the fourth round last week.
In the remaining two games on Wednesday, Liverpool face West Ham and Arsenal host Bolton.
kca/pb
