Liverpool hit 7, Arsenal next
London: Liverpool teenager Curtis Jones scored twice in a 7-2 victory over Lincoln City in the League Cup, while defending champions Manchester City edged past Bournemouth 2-1 on Friday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side advanced to a fourth-round meeting next Friday with Arsenal, who also visit Anfield in the Premier League on Tuesday. Phil Foden’s late goal secured City’s progress to a match next week with Burnley. Bertrand Traore made a scoring start to his Aston Villa career in a 3-0 win at Bristol City that set up a meeting with Stoke.
The 19-year-old Jones scored Liverpool’s third and fourth goals before halftime, cutting in from the left on both occasions to curl in right-footed shots, and was the visitors’ main creative force in midfield.
Jones also won the free kick from which Xherdan Shaqiri whipped in the opener for his first goal in over nine months.
Takumi Minamino continued his promising start to the season with a first-time shot in the 18th minute. All of Liverpool’s four first-half goals were scored from at least 20 yards.
18 seconds after the break Minamino added another, stabbing in Harvey Elliott’s smothered effort. Marko Grujic scored his first for the club almost five years after joining,
and Divock Origi wrapped up the rout in the 89th with his ninth goal in 12 League Cup matches.
Tayo Edun and Lewis Montsma had made it 5-1 and 6-2 by scoring for third-tier side Lincoln.
Liam Delap, the 17-year-old son of former Stoke midfielder Rory, made his City debut alongside American goalkeeper Zack Steffen.
City took the lead in the 18th minute when Foden set up Delap, who swept a left-footed shot into the top corner from just inside the box.
But Bournemouth, who were relegated from the Premier League in July, levelled four minutes later through Sam Surridge.
City brought Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling off the bench in the latter stages and secured the victory in the 75th minute when Foden scored after Riyad Mahrez hit the post.
League Cup results: Bristol City 0-3 Aston Villa, Lincoln City 2-7 Liverpool, Manchester City 2-1 Bournemouth.