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Chelsea and Liverpool Survive EFL Cup Third Round Scares

Football Stadium Floodlight Against Dark Cloudy Sky

The third round of the 2025/26 EFL Cup saw the nine teams involved in European action enter the fray. The games were spread over two weeks, with matches played on four separate days, to ensure there were no clashes with European fixtures.

Manchester City, Newcastle United, Tottenham and Arsenal all faced lower-league opposition on Wednesday. That quartet eased through to the next round without any issues. However, on Tuesday, we saw two other giants struggle, though in the end, both Chelsea and Liverpool did just enough to ensure their names were in the hat for the fourth round draw.

Blues Come from Behind

Chelsea were away from home, but given they were playing a side from League 1, they were fully expected to cruise through to the next round. Third-tier Lincoln had started their season well and came into the glamour clash with the Blues in third place in League 1. Five wins, three draws and just one defeat meant they were full of confidence coming into the clash. Moreover, that sole loss came back in early August in a game in which they were reduced to 10 men after just 23 minutes, so they had plenty of momentum too.

The away side began the game with lots of the ball, but during the first half it was the hosts who had by far the better of the action in the final third. Michael Skubala’s men had three decent chances in the first period, and they managed to take one of them.

After 42 minutes, Rob Street gave them a deserved lead, and at the break they were good value for their 1-0 advantage. Despite Enzo Maresca’s Premier League stars boasting 78% possession, they failed to muster a shot on target and managed just three attempts on goal compared to the nine the Imps produced.

The home fans must have been dreaming of a big upset and a place in the last 16, but Chelsea were much better in the second period. They hit back through youngster Tyrique George after 48 minutes, before the winger provided the assist for Facundo Buonanotte just two minutes later.

Maresca’s side were less dominant in terms of possession in the second half but used the ball so much better, creating four or five excellent chances. Their improvement is illustrated in the xG stats, their number jumping from 0.37 in the first period to 1.77 in the second.

Lincoln did not go down without a fight, though, and had some decent chances themselves as the game wore on. The Imps, like their opponents, made several changes, so this was an especially valiant effort from the minnows, who do not have the squad depth of a PL side like Chelsea. In the end, the extra class prevailed, and the Blues progressed to the last 16.

Liverpool Also Scrape Through Despite Etikite Madness

Playing on home soil, Liverpool would have been far more confident of booking their own passage to the last 16, despite playing a Championship outfit. Southampton had been in the Premier League 12 months ago but have made a woeful start on their return to the second tier. Six points from six games means they are in danger of seeing this season become a slog to avoid relegation, rather than bringing the instant return to the PL their fans crave.

As such, the home side were the massive favourites and while Arne Slot predictably made many changes, the Saints defenders must have feared the worst when they saw Alexander Isak’s name on the team sheet. Slot has been easing the £125m in, and this was his first start. It also brought his first Liverpool goal.

In truth, Isak’s 43rd-minute strike was against the run of play as, incredibly, Southampton had the better of the first 45. They could easily have led at the break but instead they went in 1-0 down. The away side were the architects of their own downfall, conceding possession inside their own box. Italian Federico Chiesa cut the ball back to Isak after poor play from Saints stopper Alex McCarthy and the Swede did what everyone expected him to do and scored.

The Reds, who fielded a completely different starting line-up to the one that had beaten Everton at the weekend, were better in the second period. However, after 76 minutes, Southampton substitute Shea Charles brought his side level after poor defending by the Anfield club. Game on.

No doubt everyone inside the ground was well aware of Liverpool’s record of scoring late winners this term. And so it came as little surprise when Hugo Ekitike notched after 85 minutes. At that stage, it was the visitors who seemed more likely to get the winner, but after a nice move and good play from Chiesa, Ekitike was left with a tap-in.

Rather bizarrely, the French striker, who replaced Isak at the break, celebrated by removing his top, perhaps forgetting that he had been booked after 53 minutes (for dissent). He was shown a second yellow and a red, but his side clung on and will join Chelsea in the last 16.