Four things we learned from the EFL Cup: Chelsea’s stuttering defence, Son’s welcome return, Guendouzi’s recklessness and Palace’s rut
Given none have received regular minutes this season, it was hardly surprising that Chelsea’s second-string defence might look off the pace against Derby.
Gary Cahill, given the captain’s armband, was at fault for the Rams’ first goal, playing a poor pass into Cesc Fabregas before slipping over to allow Jack Marriott in to finish.
Alongside him Andreas Christensen was unconvincing, especially in possession, while stand-in full-backs Davide Zappacosta and Emerson Palmieri were happier going forward than backwards, with Mason Mount and Martyn Waghorn ghosting into the gaps to score the second.
And Chelsea needed another second-choice, Willy Caballero, to get them over the line as the Argentine goalkeeper kept out Richard Keogh’s toe-poke before David Nugent hit the inside of the post late on.
It was job done for Maurizio Sarri in a 3-2 win, but the Blues were fortunate to benefit from two own-goals as they came close to a penalty shoot-out in a game that saw none of the back line take their chance to impress.
Son breaks his duck
Son Heung-min has been consistently there to help ease the goal burden on Harry Kane in recent seasons for Spurs, but the South Korean has started this season sluggishly.
With the Asian Games requiring his participation, Son has taken time to find his feet this campaign, but after a 20-game goal drought he found the net twice tonight in the 3-1 win over West Ham.
Son rifled in the opener at the London Stadium before showing good composure to go around Adrian to make it 2-0 in the second half.
While a rare goal for Fernando Llorente and the performance of youngster Juan Foyth were pluses, Son’s performance was the stand-out. Tottenham will hope that now he’s off the mark and has no distractions Son can match the last two Premier League seasons and reach double figures.
Guendouzi has much to learn
Matteo Guendouzi came to Arsenal from Lorient in the summer with a reputation. The 19-year-old midfielder is supremely talented, but perhaps overly aware of it.
The former Paris Saint-Germain youngster showed both of those facets against Blackpool, running the show at the Emirates as the Gunners went 2-0 up before picking up two yellow cards to leave his side holding on for 35 minutes.
His second yellow came for tugging back Jordan Thompson when there was no threat on goal and he could have cost his team.
His poor decision-making has cost himself a place in a big fixture too, with his one-match suspension coming when Liverpool visit the Emirates on Saturday evening.
Poor Palace stuck in a rut
Roy Hodgson made sweeping changes for Palace’s visit to Championship promotion contenders Middlesbrough and ultimately paid the price as his side’s winless run was extended to five games.
It may have been a screamer from Lewis Wing that made the difference in a 1-0 defeat, but there was little to show from Palace, with strikers Jordan Ayew and Alexander Sorloth having now contributed one goal in a combined 19 appearances between them this campaign.
A turned down penalty shout for handball late on won’t have cheered Hodgson any more.