Key events
GOAL! Manchester United 2-3 Brighton (De Cuyper, 70)
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Wolves (Alcaraz, 80)
GOAL! Manchester United 2-2 Brighton (Gross, 65)
GOAL! Coventry 1-3 Aston Villa (Abraham, 59)
GOAL! Fleetwood 1-0 Sheffield United (Norrington-Davies og, 57)
Half time: Coventry 1-2 Aston Villa
Half time: Manchester United 2-1 Brighton
GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Brighton (Kostoulas, 45+1)
GOAL! Coventry 1-2 Aston Villa (Barkley, 40)
Half time: Everton 0-0 Wolves
Half time: Fleetwood 0-0 Sheffield United
GOAL! Coventry 1-1 Aston Villa (Torp, 27)
GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Brighton (Mount, 10)
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Brighton (Lacey, 8)
GOAL! Coventry 0-1 Aston Villa (Abraham, 6)
Staring lineups: Manchester United v Brighton
Starting lineups: Coventry v Aston Villa
Starting lineups: Fleetwood v Sheffield United
Starting lineups: Everton v Wolves
Preamble
Manchester United 2-3 Brighton: Fernandes sends Rashford through with a lovely touch but Steele gets the better of the United man when one-on-one.
Lou Otway asks: “Carrick out. Too soon?
I would suggest it is. One problem is if Carrick is sacked soon, then Jason Wilcox would struggle to survive another failure.
Manchester United 2-3 Brighton: Fernandes is on for Mount. Carrick cannot have anticipated this move when two goals up.
Fleetwood 1-0 Sheffield United: The Blades are doing all they can to force an equaliser.
“I do not think I’ve heard Mason Mounts name mentioned once in the second half?” ponders Paul.
This could be why Fernandes is coming on.
Manchester United 2-3 Brighton: United have never EVER lost from being two goals ahead at Old Trafford.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-3 Brighton (De Cuyper, 70)
What a comeback, what a shambles from United. It is a smart move concluding with Kostoulas’ cross being deflected to De Cuyper who does the rest.
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Wolves (Alcaraz, 80)
Something for the prime ministers to cheer as Alcaraz shows some nifty footwork before smashing home.
Manchester United 2-2 Brighton: Carrick was already preparing Zirkzee, Lacey and Mbeumo. They replace Santos, Lacey and Sesko.
De Cuyper and Gomez come on for Brighton.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-2 Brighton (Gross, 65)
Gross is allowed to collect the ball in plenty of space on the edge of the box and he slots into the corner.
GOAL! Coventry 1-3 Aston Villa (Abraham, 59)
That could be the game over as the striker gets his second of the night.
Manchester United 2-1 Brighton: Sesko receives the ball in a good area without any pressure from anyone in blue but it just looks very confused by the situation.
Manchester United 2-1 Brighton: Hadjam is rinsed by Lacey, forcing the defender to pull him back, earning a booking.
Coventry 1-2 Aston Villa: Lampard is preparing Tchaouna and Simms to spice things up.
Fleetwood 1-0 Sheffield United: NO GOAL! Cannon smashes the ball in but the whistle is peeped to indicate offside.
Manchester United 2-1 Brighton: A graphic pops up to show United have not had a shot on target since their goal in the 10th minute, which was three quarters of an hour ago (in match minutes).
Manchester United 2-1 Brighton: A ball over the top is sent weakly back to his goalkeeper by Struijk, who will be nervous as Sesko chases the ball down but Steele wins the race by a split second.
Fleetwood 1-0 Sheffield United: NO GOAL! Andrew fires in what he thinks is a second, but the assistant referee has different ideas as he raises the flag.
Manchester United 2-1 Brighton: The hosts cold be forgiven for panicking after the goal late in the first half but they have looked quite composed since the whistle.
Coventry 1-2 Aston Villa: Emery has swapped his goalkeepers, with Suzuki on for Bizot.
Everton 0-0 Wolves: The Toffees are beginning to dominate but cannot find a way through.
Andy Flintoff asks: “How precisely are Sheffield United getting away with luminous green shirts for the outfielders and yellow goalkeeper jersey? There is no real contrast, even for those with perfect colour vision.”
They look very irritating under lights, too.
Manchester United 2-1 Brighton: No changes at the break for either side.
GOAL! Fleetwood 1-0 Sheffield United (Norrington-Davies og, 57)
The Blades defender turns the ball into his own net despite being under no pressure when defending a cross.
Brad Wilson pens: “… it’s the League Cup which means we’re due for a brutal, hateful narrow loss to divide the fans and spark dissent.
“Wolves steals one on a cheap header around the 55th.
“Everton absolutely dominates next 50 or so minutes, no goal, and Grealish is sent off for a second yellow. Maybe we can tuck in a key injury (Garner?) in there as well.
“I hate this Cup.”
Martin Lancon asks: “Would VAR have nulled the Brighton goal for that late one on Sesko just prior? I do feel that the ref is “enjoying” no VAR , Casemiro would have been redded for the tackle on Mazaroui?”
It’s not a foul.
Fleetwood 0-0 Sheffield United: Evans has a dig but it does not worry Cooper.
Half time: Coventry 1-2 Aston Villa
Coventry fought back well after going a goal down and will be looking to do similar after the break.
Half time: Manchester United 2-1 Brighton
The Brighton goal sets us up for a decent second half.
Manchester United 2-1 Brighton: I am interested to see if Darlow can do a job for United. I’d be worried if Lammens gets injured because I’ve never particularly rated the former Leeds man.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Brighton (Kostoulas, 45+1)
A lovely ball over the top reaches Kostoulas thanks to his smart movement and Darlow failing to come and claim. The striker does the rest.
Espen B says: “Abraham, who Emery clearly doesn’t rate at all has scored for Villa, an academy kid has scored for United, Koumas and Nyoni were arguably Liverpool’s best players last night. Yes, it’s the Carabao/milk/league cup against semi reserve sides but considering all these teams have struggled so far this season, maybe their respective managers should rethink a little bit and play players on merit, not transfer value or name recognition?”
“I like the referee at Old Trafford. No dramatics, letting the game flow. Cue massive second half error,” says Joshua Keeling.
Coventry 1-2 Aston Villa: A little bit of pushing and shoving results in Wan-Bissaka going into the book. He is wearing gloves in mid-September, so probably deserves it.
GOAL! Coventry 1-2 Aston Villa (Barkley, 40)
A free header from a corner for Barkley, and it is too good an opportunity as he nods home from six yards.
Manchester United 2-0 Brighton: A patient move from Brighton is ended when the flag being raised incorrectly, rightly angering those in blue.
Half time: Everton 0-0 Wolves
The Toffees have had the better chances.
Coventry 1-1 Aston Villa: McGinn has a decent chance but drags it wide when he should do better.
Down the other end, Gboho fires a shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Everton 0-0 Wolves: Virginia is called into action again, this time to stop a Barry header.
Manchester United 2-0 Brighton: Boscagli smashes a shot from 30 yards and it flies inches over.
Half time: Fleetwood 0-0 Sheffield United
Nothing to see here.
Everton 0-0 Wolves: Grealish pings a shot but Virginia pushes it away. That is about as good as it’s got for the prime minister and his mate.
Andy, if you’re reading, do write in.
John Brennan writes: “I just noticed that Microsoft are on the back of Man United’s jersey. Very apt as they were both market leader in the 90’s and 2000’s before being passed out by other competitors. While they are still around, they are nowhere near their former status.”
BOOM!
GOAL! Coventry 1-1 Aston Villa (Torp, 27)
Barkley bundles over Yirenkyi on the edge of the box, earning the Villa man a booking. Torp lines it up … and curls it into the top corner. The goalkeeper does not even move.
Manchester United 2-0 Brighton: Mazraoui heads a cross over his own crossbar but it seems to take a lot out of him. He doesn’t look in great nick.
Manchester United 2-0 Brighton: Mazraoui is back on and easing his way back into the match.
Coventry 0-1 Aston Villa: It all feels quite flat inside the ground. I am not sure the Carabao Cup has got the locals excited.
Manchester United 2-0 Brighton: Mazraoui is up but looks in a lot of pain. He hobbles to the side. Amass could come on as a direct replacement, if required.