Daniel Sturridge scored twice as liverpool strolled into the league Cup third round with a 5-0 win at Burton Albion on Tuesday, while Chelsea edged third-tier Bristol Rovers 3-2.
Divock Origi, Roberto Firmino and Sturridge all scored as liverpool, last season's beaten finalists, crushed Championship side Burton, who are managed by ex-liverpool midfielder Nigel Clough.
Michy Batshuayi marked his full Chelsea debut with a brace against Bristol Rovers, while Victor Moses was also on target as manager Antonio Conte enjoyed a third straight competitive win.
Premier league sides Crystal Palace, Everton, Hull City, Swansea City and Stoke City also went through, Peter Crouch scoring a hat-trick for Stoke in a 4-0 win at Stevenage. But Watford and West Bromwich Albion were both taken to extra time by third-tier opposition, the former drawing 1-1 at home to Gillingham, the latter held 2-2.
Schweini rules out move
MANCHESTER: Bastian Schweinsteiger has ruled out a move to another European club and still hopes to play for Manchester United.
The 32-year-old midfielder has struggled since joining United last season and has yet to play this campaign for new coach Jose Mourinho, who reportedly told him he was no longer needed and ordered him to train away from the first team.
Schweinsteiger has remained tight-lipped thus far.
But on his Twitter page on Wednesday, he said "MUFC will be my last club in Europe. I respect other clubs, but Manchester United was the only one which could make me leave Bayern Munich."
He added "I will be ready, if the team needs me. This is all I can say about the current situation."