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EFL Cup second round: Watford, West Brom crash out but Chelsea, Liverpool through

Gillingham's Cody McDonald and Watford's Christian Kabasele tussle for the ball
Image: Gillingham's Cody McDonald and Watford's Christian Kabasele tussle for the ball in a game that saw the League One side win in extra-time

Watford and West Brom were the Premier League casualties on a night when most of the top-flight sides made light work of their EFL Cup second-round ties.

Seven of the nine Premier League teams in action advanced in normal time but Watford were beaten 2-1 at home in extra-time by Gillingham, while West Brom lost 4-3 on penalties to another League One side in Northampton.

Michy Batshuayi of Chelsea celebrates scoring his side's third goal against Bristol Rovers
Image: Michy Batshuayi scored twice in an entertaining five-goal game against Bristol Rovers

Earlier, Antonio Conte's Chelsea were made to sweat by League One Bristol Rovers, but went through at Stamford Bridge courtesy of a 3-2 win in which new signing Michy Batshuayi scored twice.

The Blues twice held two-goal leads but though Rovers had several chances to equalise after Ellis Harrison dragged the visitors back to 3-2, Eden Hazard and Oscar came on to reinforce Chelsea and the visitors eventually ran out of steam.

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Highlights of the EFL Cup 2nd round match between Chelsea and Bristol Rovers

Liverpool made much lighter work of lower-league opposition, thrashing Burton Albion 5-0 at the Pirelli Stadium and several of their rivals followed suit.

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Highlights of the EFL Cup 2nd round match between Burton and Liverpool

The impressive Sadio Mane teed up Divock Origi for the Reds' opener on 15 minutes and after Roberto Firmino and a Tom Naylor own goal extended the Reds' lead, a late double by substitute Daniel Sturridge added further gloss.

Former England striker Peter Crouch bagged a hat-trick - completing his treble with an acrobatic scissor kick - in his first appearance of the season as Stoke defeated Stevenage 4-0, while Arouna Kone struck twice as Everton romped to a 4-0 win of their own over Yeovil at Goodison Park.

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Highlights of the EFL Cup 2nd round match between Stevenage and Stoke City

Adama Diomande claimed a double as Hull came from behind to beat Exeter 3-1 and Swansea - winners of this competition in 2013 - beat Peterborough by the same scoreline.

Crystal Palace were 2-0 winners over Blackpool on a night when £27m signing Christian Benteke played 45 minutes on his debut, Scott Dann and Connor Wickham with goals either side of the break.

Of the non-Premier League clubs who progressed, Norwich did so in the most style with a 6-1 success over Coventry while Brighton's 4-2 victory came on the road at Oxford thanks to three late goals.

Leeds saw off Luton 1-0 thanks to a fine long-range effort from Tyler Denton on his debut, Nottingham Forest struck late to edge Millwall 2-1 and Sandro's double saw QPR see off Rochdale by the same scoreline.

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Highlights of the EFL Cup 2nd round match between Newcastle and Cheltenham

Wolves saw off Cambridge 2-1 and Newcastle - who have now won three in a row in all competitions - avoided a banana skin against Cheltenham with an Ayoze Perez-inspired 2-0 triumph, the same scoreline which Preston recorded against Oldham.

Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham struck an extra-time winner as Bristol City saw off Scunthorpe 2-1, while Blackburn - bottom of the early Championship table - grabbed a morale-boosting win in dramatic style, beating Crewe 4-3 in extra-time.

Bradley Dack was Gillingham's extra-time hero against the Hornets, who had led through Odion Ighalo until Mark Byrne forced another half-hour eight minutes from time.

And West Brom followed Walter Mazzarri's side out of the cup with a spot-kick defeat at Sixfields, Kenji Gorre with the decisive penalty following Saido Berahino's miss after the game finished 2-2 after 120 minutes.

Reading were also victorious on penalties - ousting MK Dons 4-2 - but value-for-money came at the iPro where Derby finally prevailed against Carlisle after a mammoth 14-13 shoot-out.

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