Liverpool's 'Crystal kryptonite' strikes again! Arsenal's kids break Seagulls' wings

Both Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta opted for mixing things up, so their starting lineups sprang several surprises. Liverpool boss included Calvin Ramsey, Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni, Freddie Woodman, and Kieran Morisson in the XI, while his counterpart on Arsenal's bench made Ethan Nwaneri, Max Dowman, and Andre Harriman-Annous.

And while it worked for the Spaniard, the Dutchman's team suffered an easy defeat against their "kryptonite" - Crystal Palace. In the third clash against the Reds, the Eagles recorded their third triumph behind Ismaila Sarr's first-half brace and Yeremy Pino, who netted his maiden Palace goal - 3-0!

After the break, Slot didn't even want to sub on his superstars. Instead, he gave some playing time to more youngsters, and one of them, Amara Nallo, "repaid" him with a red card.

On the other hand, the Gunners struggled before the break, but then Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka - who came on from the bench - took matters into their own hands and easily brushed aside Fabian Hurzeler's men - 2-0.

Out of the 11 Liverpool players on the pitch, Federico Chiesa was the most active - or better said, the only one. Oliver Glasner didn't risk much, giving a rest only to Jean-Philippe Mateta, and it paid off.

Palace occasionally threatened, but their main "punch" came in the last four minutes before the break, and the one who threw it was Ismaila Sarr. The Senegalese completed a brace, scoring in the 41st and 45th minutes, and stunned everyone at Anfield.

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Despite being two goals down, Slot didn't change anything until the 67th minute, and those subs indicated that he gave up on the EFL Cup. When you replace two experienced players like Alexis Mac Allister and Andy Robertson with the two teenagers whose combined age is 37, Amara Nallo and Wellity Lucky.

Still, Lucky's entry didn't change the Reds' fortunes, as Nallo was sent off just 12 minutes after stepping on the pitch?! Yeremy Pino netted his maiden Palace goal in the 87th minute, definitely confirming his team's elimination. Crystal Palace proved to be Liverpool's kryptonite, beating them for the third time this season in as many clashes they played!

Given that Arsenal are the Premier League leaders, Arteta gave some rest to a couple of key players, such as Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Viktor Gyokeres, and David Raya. Luckily for him, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler did the same, so the first half lacked pace and quality and was a genuine "snoozefest."

Truth be told, the Seagulls were better and had three shots on target, but Georginio Rutter, Stefanos Tzimas, and Paul van Hecke weren't focused enough in the decisive moments.

And when the visitors wasted their chances, the Gunners exploited their first! Mikel Merino sent a marvellous heel pass to Myles Lewis-Skelly, and the defender set a perfect opportunity for his "academy buddy" Ethan Nwaneri, who broke the deadlock, putting Arteta's team in front with his maiden goal of the season.

Twenty minutes before the end, the Spanish tactician decided to send his "heavy artillery" to the pitch and try to seal the deal with Gabriel, Jurrien Timber, and Bukayo Saka, and Arsenal's Starboy gave his boss what he expected! In the 76th minute, the Gunners' vice-captain doubled his team's lead and knocked out the visitors from the south of England.

ENGLAND LEAGUE CUP ROUND 4

Tuesday

Grimsby - Brentford 0-5 (0-3)

/Jensen 22, Lewis-Potter 26, Nelson 43, Carvalho 54 pen, Collins 75/

Wycombe - Fulham 4-5 on pen (1-1)

/Woodrow 4 - King 48/

Wrexham - Cardiff 1-2 (0-1)

/Moore 52 - Salech 13, Fish 71/

Wednesday

Arsenal - Brighton 2-0 (0-0)

/Nwaneri 57, Saka 76/

Liverpool - Crystal Palace 0-3 (0-2)

/Sarr 41, 45, Pino 87/

Swansea - Manchester City 1-3 (1-1)

/Franco 12 - Doku 39, Marmoush 76, Cherki 90+3/

Wolverhampton - Chelsea 3-4 (0-3)

/Arokodare 48, Wolfe 73, 90+1 - Santos 5, George 15, Estevao 41, Gittens 89/

Newcastle - Tottenham 2-0 (1-0)

/Schar 24, Woltemade 50/