Manchester City advanced to the fourth round of the League Cup with a commanding 6-1 home victory against League One side Wycombe Wanderers on September 21, 2021. Riyad Mahrez led the attack with two goals, while Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden added strikes as the hosts overcame an early deficit.
Top-Flight Teams Face Upsets in Third Round ¶
Despite Premier League teams making rotational changes, several higher-tier clubs faced unexpected challenges. Everton was eliminated after a 2-2 draw with Queens Park Rangers ended in an 8-7 penalty shootout, while Watford fell 3-1 to Championship side Stoke City at Vicarage Road.
High-Scoring Matches Define Cup Replays ¶
Other notable results included Brentford's 7-0 rout of League Two's Oldham Athletic, with Marcus Forss scoring four goals, and Burnley's 4-1 win over Rochdale as Jay Rodriguez netted a hat-trick. Liverpool also progressed with a 3-0 victory at Norwich City, featuring two goals from Takumi Minamino.
Cup Rules Trigger Penalties for Drawn Matches ¶
The League Cup eliminated extra time in favor of immediate penalties for matches ending level after 90 minutes. Southampton and Leeds United both required shootouts to advance, defeating Championship opponents 4-2 and 6-5 respectively.
