CARLING CUP LIVE: Manchester City v Birmingham, Brighton v Liverpool, Chelsea v Fulham

21 September 2011 20:47
Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Carling Cup third round where on the second night of action there are six Premier League teams amongst the six ties to be played. Manchester City host the holders Birmingham while Liverpool will hope to avoid an upset away at Gus Poyet's Brighton. Send me your thoughts on the action at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk or via twitter @Ripinho.[LNB] Carling Cup R3 (7.45pm unless stated)Brighton 0-2 Liverpool[LNB]Cardiff 2-2 Leicester[LNB]Chelsea 0-0 Fulham[LNB]Everton 0-1 West Brom (8pm)[LNB]Manchester City 2-0 Birmingham[LNB]Southampton 2-1 Preston[LNB]21.32: Ignore the score, it's a cracker at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea go close again first through Lukaku then through David Luiz moments later.[LNB]I'm amazed this game hasn't had a goal.[LNB]21.29: GOAL! Brighton 0-2 LIVERPOOL[LNB]Brighton just went a push too far. The visitors counter and after Maxi Rodriguez latches on to a squared ball from Bellamy, he plays in Dirk Kuyt who inch perfect slots it into the bottom corner. Game over.[LNB]21.27: GOAL! CARDIFF 2-2 Leicester[LNB]Extra-time beckoning? The hosts are back in it with Rudy Gestede slotting home the equaliser from the edge of the box.[LNB]21.25: To underline Brighton's dominance this half they have had 61 per cent of the ball. Chances are coming at a premium though.[LNB]21.24: From OptaJoe:[LNB]54 - Owen Hargreaves made 54 passes v Birmingham, 8 more than he totalled in the PL during his final 3 seasons at Man Utd. Rebuilt.[LNB]21.22: It's been six months but he is finally back, Steven Gerrard replacing Suarez.[LNB]21.21: Madness at the Bridge. Turnbull has to be at his best to keep out Moussa Demble's shot, while Ryan Bertrand goes close for Chelsea at the other end.[LNB]21.18: Steven Gerrard is warming up for Liverpool with just under 20 minutes left.[LNB]21.15: GOAL! Everton 0-1 WEST BROM[LNB]Peter Odemwingie is brought down by Jan Mucha in the box with the referee choosing to punish the keeper only with a yellow card.[LNB]Chris Brunt steps up to blast the penalty down the centre.[LNB]21.14: PENALTY (West Brom)[LNB]21.13: GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 2-1 Preston[LNB]That is what I call an instant impact. Just 25 seconds after coming on, Adam Lallana starts and ends a move which puts the Saints back in front.[LNB]21.12: GOAL! Cardiff 1-2 LEICESTER[LNB]The Foxes have turned it around! Neil Danns does all the hard work as he reaches the box but his shot is blocked leaving Lloyd Dyer to hit home the rebound.[LNB]21.10: From Michael Owen on twitter:[LNB]Vicente coming on for Brighton. Played against him at the height of his powers and he was top notch.[LNB]21.07: Bad news for Brighton as Will Buckley goes off injured, but Vicente is on to make his debut - to a great reception from the home crowd too.[LNB] Paying the penalty: Kasami hits the crossbar from his spot kick[LNB]21.04: A much better half so far from Brighton who are starting to ask questions of the Liverpool defence.[LNB]The Reds showing nowhere near the dominance they did in the first half.[LNB]21.01: Well that's the end of Owen Hargreaves but fear not, he isn't injured as he goes off to a standing ovation to be replaced by James Milner.[LNB]20.58: And Chelsea have made their final sub with McEachran replaced by John Terry. [LNB]That's not an assessment on the youngster's performance but more how desperately the Blues need a centre-back on. [LNB]20.55: GOAL! Southampton 1-1 PRESTON[LNB]Preston ended the half well and have remained on top after the break. Adam Barton grabbing the equaliser.[LNB]20.52: Right where do we start? Alex is given a straight red card for denying Kerim Frei a goal scoring opportunity in the box, but the Brazilian looks like he actually wins the ball.[LNB]Either way, Pajtim Kasami takes the penalty but hits the bar![LNB]20.51: RED CARD (Alex, Chelsea)[LNB]20.51: PENALTY (Fulham)[LNB]20.48: The second halves are getting underway.[LNB]Chelsea have been forced into another change after Petr Cech has taken a knock to the head.[LNB]Andre Villas-Boas (or Carlo Ancelotti, see 20.23) has decided it's not worth risking it further and brought on Ross Turnbull.[LNB] Nothing between them: Wigan and Everton fought to a stalemate in the first half[LNB]20.46: Half-time: Everton 0-0 West Brom[LNB]20.43: One who has impressed me is Chelsea's Josh McEachran. He looks good on the ball and his passing range is fabulous - definitely one for the future[LNB]God knows how he is going to break into the Blues first team though.[LNB]20.40: It's a case of both sides cancelling each other out at Goodison Park, with Everton having the only shot on target. Defences well on top.[LNB]20.37: Half-time: Southampton 1-0 Preston[LNB]20.35: Half-time: Chelsea 0-0 FulhamHalf-time: Brighton 0-1 Liverpool[LNB]20.34: Liverpool have dominated for 45 minutes but are struggling to survive in injury time! Unmarked in the box, Craig Noone forces a save from Pepe Reina before the visitors just scramble clear the rebound.[LNB]20.33: Half-time: Manchester City 2-0 Birmingham[LNB]Half-time: Cardiff 1-1 Leicester[LNB]20.31: On the cusp of half-time, Chelsea are forced into a change with the injured Daniel Sturridge making way for frank Lampard.[LNB]20.28: Wow, just wow! Bellamy has just hit a 30-yard free-kick that rattles the crossbar, Casper Ankergren was well and truly beaten. It would have been an absolute stunner had it been an inch or two lower.[LNB]20.26: GOAL! Cardiff 1-1 LEICESTER[LNB]Well that didn't last long. Jeffery Schlupp cuts the ball back for Steve Howard to blast home the equaliser.[LNB] Double up: Balotelli scores Manchester City's second goal[LNB]20.25: GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 Birmingham[LNB]They threw away a two goal lead at the weekend but that isn't going to happen tonight.[LNB]Aleksandar Kolarov's sends in a magnificent low cross, leaving super Mario Balotelli with a simple tap in.[LNB]20.23: Hmmm, interesting developments at Stamford Bridge. It looks like Carlo Ancelotti wasn't sacked after all.[LNB]20.20: There seems to be no sign of an upset. Liverpool are well in control at Brighton while Manchester City are dominating Birmingham.[LNB]20.17: GOAL! CARDIFF 1-0 Leicester[LNB]But this one is slightly against the run of play. Leicester clear a cross but Don Cowie is there to head home for the hosts.[LNB]20.14: Liverpool should be two up. Suarez finds himself one-on-one with the keeper inside the box but places his shot wide. You would back him any other day of the week to score those.[LNB]20.12: GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 Preston[LNB]The Championship side deservedly lead after Ben Reeves' flick on is headed home by Jos Hooiveld.[LNB]20.09: I have been waiting for Romelu Lukaku to do something to try and justify his high profile move to Chelsea and he nearly does.[LNB]He wins the ball off Matthew Briggs when he really shouldn't be in a position to, but after charging towards goal his weak shot is saved by Mark Schwarzer.[LNB]20.06: From OptaJoe:[LNB]1256 - Days since Owen Hargreaves' last goal before tonight's for Man City v Birmingham (v Arsenal in April 2008). Lazarus.[LNB] Dream debut: Hargreaves scored a fabulous goal[LNB]20.03: GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 Birmingham[LNB]Fairytale stuff. Not only has he started brightly he's only gone and scored![LNB]The ball seems to bounce off Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves from 22 yards out hits a wonder whack![LNB]I am going to start a petition to get him, Owen and David Beckham (why not him too?) back into the England squad as soon as possible. I will go through the government if I have to.[LNB]20.02: And we are underway at Goodison Park.[LNB]20.01: Would love to bring you some action from Stamford Bridge but this west London derby has started very slowly. Likewise in Cardiff...except that isn't a west London derby...obviously.[LNB]19.58: Gus Poyet does not look impressed on the bench and in truth Brighton just can't get going. Liverpool well on top.[LNB] Off the mark: Bellamy celebrates scoring his first goal since rejoining Liverpool[LNB]19.55: GOAL! Brighton 0-1 LIVERPOOL[LNB]Michael Owen last night, Craig Bellamy today. Yesteryear's hotshots are showing they have still got it with the Welshman latching on to a smart through ball from Suarez to shoot across goal and into the bottom corner from a tight angle.[LNB]19.54: At St Mary's, Championship side Southampton are on top, taking the game to their League One opponents. No chances as yet though.[LNB]19.52: Good effort from Liverpool's Jay Spearing who after being set up by Luis Suarez, fires just over the bar.[LNB]19.50: Well Hargreaves has impressed me by the fact he has controlled the ball, passed it, moved - all without picking up an injury.[LNB]In all seriousness though it's a bright start from the hosts and even Mario Balotelli looks up for it.[LNB]19.47: Games are kicking off.[LNB]19.44: From the Cardiff City Stadium:[LNB]Cardiff v LeicesterCardiff: Marshall, Taylor, Keinan, Quinn, Blake, Kiss, Cowie, Mason, McPhail, Earnshaw, Gestede. Subs: Santiago, Gerrard, Whittingham, Conway, Gunnarsson, Naylor, Evans.[LNB]Leicester: Weale, Pantsil, Mills, St. Ledger, Ball, Johnson, Moussa, Danns, Howard, Dyer, Schlupp. Subs: Schmeichel, Peltier, King, Beckford, Abe, Fernandes, Kennedy.[LNB]Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)[LNB] Handy man: Vicente (right) starts on Brighton's bench[LNB]19.42: Owen Hargreaves is handed his Manchester City debut this evening after finally overcoming the injury problems that have blighted him for the past three years.[LNB]The 30-year-old has managed just six minutes of action since September 2008, and is now facing another test of his physical strength.[LNB]Kolo Toure also startes his first match since serving a six-month ban for failing a drugs test, whilst outcasts Nedum Onuoha and Wayne Bridge are also included to face a Birmingham side for whom Keith Fahey is the only player remaining from last season's Carling Cup final triumph.[LNB]19.39: And yes that is THE Vicente that used to star for Valencia on Brighton's bench.[LNB]Much like Hargreaves his career has been ravaged by injury and it's a shame he never reached his full potential.[LNB]19.36: How the holders line-up at the Etihad Stadium:[LNB]Man City v BirminghamMan City: Pantilimon, Onuoha, Toure, Savic, Bridge, Zabaleta, Hargreaves, Razak, Kolarov, Tevez, Balotelli. Subs: Taylor, Rekik, Milner, Clichy, Suarez, Aguero, Scapuzzi.[LNB]Birmingham: Doyle, Spector, Ibanez, Davies, Murphy, Burke, N'Daw, Fahey, Beausejour, Redmond, Rooney. Subs: Myhill, Caldwell, King, Gomis, Zigic, Asante, Jervis.[LNB]Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)[LNB]19.33: Line-ups from St Mary's Stadium:[LNB]Southampton v PrestonSouthampton: Bialkowski, Butterfield, Martin, Hooiveld, Dickson, Holmes, Chaplow, Schneiderlin, Reeves, De Ridder, Forte. Subs: Davis, Fonte, Lambert, Cork, Lallana, Ward-Prowse, Shaw.[LNB]Preston: Arestidou, Clucas, Morgan, Wright, Smith, Daley, Russell, Barton, Ashbee, Mayor, Tsoumou. Subs: Comrie, Gray, Carlisle, Nicholson, Miller, Mellor, Zibaka.[LNB]Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)[LNB]19.31: Everton's two summer signings Royston Drenthe and Denis Stracqualursi make their full debuts against West Brom in the Carling Cup at Goodison Park.[LNB]Manager David Moyes makes six changes from the team which beat Wigan at the weekend, with captain Phil Neville restored to the starting line-up after being benched for the last two matches.[LNB]West Brom boss Roy Hodgson is even more drastic after his side's 3-0 defeat to Swansea, making nine changes with only Jonas Olsson and Peter Odemwingie surviving.[LNB] Soaked in success: Liverpool last won the cup in 2003[LNB]19.28: Line-ups from Goodison Park:[LNB]Everton v West BromEverton: Mucha, Neville, Heitinga, Jagielka, Baines, Coleman, Barkley, Fellaini, Rodwell, Drenthe, Stracqualursi. Subs: Howard, Hibbert, Bilyaletdinov, Distin, Cahill, Gueye, Vellios.[LNB]West Brom: Fulop, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Mattock, Tchoyi, Dorrans, Thorne, Brunt, Odemwingie, Cox. Subs: Daniels, Morrison, Jara Reyes, Mulumbu, Dawson, Scharner, Berahino.[LNB]Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire)[LNB]19.25: Line-ups from the Amex Stadium:[LNB]Brighton v LiverpoolBrighton: Ankergren, Calderon, Greer, Steve Cook, Vincelot, Navarro, Sparrow, Bridcutt, Noone, Buckley, Mackail-Smith. Subs: Brezovan, Dunk, Barnes, Vicente, LuaLua, Taricco, Kasim.[LNB]Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Coates, Robinson, Kuyt, Spearing, Lucas, Maxi, Bellamy, Suarez. Subs: Doni, Gerrard, Carroll, Downing, Wilson, Shelvey, Flanagan.[LNB]Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)[LNB]19.22: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard makes his long-awaited return in this evening's Carling Cup third round tie at Brighton.[LNB]The 31-year-old has not featured since March but is named on the bench after overcoming a groin injury.[LNB]Kenny Dalglish makes seven charges to the side that started Sunday's 4-0 defeat at Tottenham, with summer signings Sebastian Coates and Craig Bellamy both handed their first Liverpool starts.[LNB]Brighton, who face Leeds in the Championship on Friday evening, also makes alterations, with Gus Poyet handing a full debut for Steve Cook as part of his five changes from the side beaten 1-0 at Leicester.[LNB]19.19: So good to see Hargreaves starting, such a big night for the lad. I just hope he can prove his fitness, England still misses him and not because he can actually score in a penalty shoot-out.[LNB] Drogba's delight: Chelsea won the competition in 2007[LNB]19.16: Full line-ups from Stamford Bridge:[LNB]Chelsea v FulhamChelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Luiz, Alex, Bertrand, McEachran, Romeu, Malouda, Sturridge, Lukaku, Kalou. Subs: Turnbull, Lampard, Mata, Drogba, Mikel, Bosingwa, Terry.[LNB]Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly, Baird, Senderos, Grygera, Gecov, Kasami, Frei, Briggs, Orlando Sa, Ruiz. Subs: Etheridge, John Arne Riise, Sidwell, Zamora, Dembele, Kacaniklic, Halliche.[LNB]Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)[LNB]19.13: Chelsea hand full debuts to Romelu Lukaku, Oriol Romeu and Ryan Bertrand as they make nine changes for tonight's Carling Cup third-round clash with Fulham.[LNB]There are also first appearances of the season for Josh McEachran and Paulo Ferreira, with Petr Cech and Daniel Sturridge the only survivors from Sunday's Barclays Premier League defeat at Manchester United, while Didier Drogba is on the bench after recovering from his head injury.[LNB]Fulham make only one fewer change, handing debuts to summer signings Orlando Sa and Marcel Gecov and recalls to Bryan Ruiz, Philippe Senderos, Matthew Briggs, Zdenik Grygera, Pajtim Kasami and Kerim Frei.[LNB]19.10: Chelsea starting XI:[LNB]Cech, Ferreira, Alex, D Luiz, Bertrand, McEachran, Romeu, Malouda, Kalou, Lukaku, Sturridge.[LNB]19.08: Manchester City starting XI:[LNB]Pantilimon, Onuoha, Toure, Savic, Kolarov, Razak, Hargreaves, Bridge, Zabaleta, Tevez, Balotelli. [LNB]19.05: We only have two games that can produce that upset of course - both mentioned in the top paragraph.[LNB]But I really do not see how Birmingham can get amongst any side Manchester City put out tonight...but then I guess that is the whole point of an upset.[LNB]19.00: For all the entertainment we had last night there was one thing we were lacking and that was an upset.[LNB]Sorry folks, but Aldershot's win over Rochdale isn't going to send shock waves around the competition (as impressive as the Shots were.)[LNB]Surely we can't go the whole round without one big side getting dumped out?[LNB]Team news on the way but I can reveal Steven Gerrard is on Liverpool's bench tonight.[LNB] Time to shine: Manchester City's Owen Hargreaves (right) is set to be handed his debut by Roberto Mancini[LNB]  Mancini ready to roll out Hargreaves for City debut against BirminghamVillas-Boas lines up ?20m January bid for Everton youngster BarkleyAndy Townsend: Let's all be up for this cup! Too many clubs want 17th place, instead of glory day at Wembley[LNB]

Source: Daily_Mail