Chelsea overcame a two-goal deficit to win a sweeping victory over Leeds United 6-3 on Wednesday, thanks to the brilliance of Cole Palmer and Danny Welbeck in an exciting confrontation in the third round of the English League Cup.
Spanish coach Xabi Alonso's team was threatened with early exit after Bosnian Tariq Muharimovic's goal in the first half, then American Brenden Aaronson added the second goal at the beginning of the second half at Stamford Bridge.
But Alonso pushed striker Palmer at half-time, along with Morgan Rogers, Portuguese Pedro Neto and Reece James, and he was right in his decision and his team achieved an exciting comeback.
Palmer scored two goals that brought the hosts back into the match (53 from a penalty kick and 55), before Neto gave Chelsea the lead (60), then Welbeck added the fourth goal (65).
Dominic Calvert-Lewin reduced the gap for Leeds (75), but Valentin Barco (80) and Welbeck (90 + 4) later scored, ensuring that Chelsea qualified for the fourth round in style.
The 1-2 loss to Arsenal, the English Premier League champion, on Sunday ended Alonso's ideal start of three consecutive victories.
However, the Chelsea coach quickly returned to winning ways with a chaotic victory that largely reflects the nature of his short period at the helm of the coaching staff.
Chelsea scored 16 goals during the first five matches under Alonso's leadership, a clear indication of their attacking strength.
But the team also conceded 10 goals, which confirms that the defensive problems it suffered from last season did not disappear after the arrival of the Spanish coach.
Despite spending 349 million pounds sterling (472 million US dollars) during the transfer market, Chelsea finished the match against Arsenal relying on Reece James and Frenchman Malou Gusteau, two players who usually occupy the right-back position, in midfield.
Manchester City, the defending champion, will meet Norwich City next week in the third round, while league champion Arsenal will face Ipswich Town.
Liverpool will also play against Tottenham, while Manchester United will host Brighton at Old Trafford next week.
Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Bradford guaranteed their qualification to the fourth round on Tuesday.
Liverpool came from behind to win an important opening victory over its Spanish guest, Atletico Madrid, 2-1, on Wednesday at Anfield Stadium, in the first round of the European Champions League Unified Group League.
After Marcos Llorente gave Atletico the lead (17), Liverpool responded with two goals through Hungarian Dominik Soboslai (40) and Argentine Alexis McAllister (50).
McAllister expressed his dissatisfaction with not obtaining a new contract on the eve of the match, but he gave his team an important opening victory.
The match also witnessed the newcomer to Liverpool, the French international winger Bradley Barkola, leaving the field limping, affected by a calf injury (60).
For the first time this season, Argentine coach Diego Simeone brought in his compatriot, international striker Julián Alvarez, as a starter, after all attempts to move him to Barcelona reached a dead end.
Llorente gave Rojiblancos the best start at Anfield when he gave them the lead following a through pass from Alvarez. He passed Hungarian Milos Kerkes before raising the ball over Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker, ahead of his goal, and it landed in the net (17).
The hosts imposed a draw after the Uruguayan international defender loaned from Barcelona, Spain, Ronald Araujo, prepared the ball with a smart touch in front of Soboslai, as he changed the direction of the ball, then fired an accurate shot that settled in the lower left corner (40).
The Reds took the lead after McAllister fired a shot, scoring his 20th goal in a Liverpool shirt, after the ball bounced off Swedish Alexander Isak and reached him on the outskirts of the penalty area (50).
Sporting Lisbon of Portugal started its campaign in the new version of the Champions League in the best possible way, following its valuable and well-deserved 3-1 victory over its Turkish guest, Galatasaray, on Wednesday, in the first round of the league stage of the continental competition.
Galatasaray advanced with a goal through friendly fire, after Goncalo Inacio, the Sporting Lisbon player, scored an error in his own goal for the Turkish team in the fifth minute.
Sporting Lisbon quickly regained its balance again, as Gini Katamu scored the equalizer for the Portuguese team in the 27th minute, while his teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo Zalazar added the second and third goals in the 57th and 63rd minutes, from a penalty kick and 63, respectively.
With this result, Sporting Lisbon won the first three points in its tournament this season, while Galatasaray remained without any points.
Lisbon will host France's Lens in the next round next month, while Galatasaray will meet its Spanish guest Barcelona in a heavy-caliber confrontation.
