Manchester City, Blues win in English League Cup

Playing just two days after a feisty Premier League match against Arsenal, Manchester City fielded a heavily rotated team and still had too much for second-tier Watford in the English League Cup.

City won 2-1 thanks to first-half goals by Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes at Etihad Stadium as the third round continued with fellow top-flight teams Chelsea, Aston Villa and Leicester also advancing.

Chelsea thrashed fourth-division Barrow 5-0, with Christopher Nkunku scoring a hat-trick and celebrating by inflating a blue balloon and holding it between his lips. Villa won 2-1 at third-tier Wycombe and Leicester triumphed 3-0 in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw at fourth-tier Walsall.

The last-32 of the competition is being spread over two midweeks to accommodate the expanded Champions League and Europa League.

Manchester United and Tottenham were among those to advance last week, while Liverpool and Arsenal play their games on Wednesday.

“We are not going to waste energy on this competition, for sure,” coach Pep Guardiola said.