Chelsea thrash Leeds 6-0 in the League Cup

Chelsea overturned a two-goal deficit to secure a thrashing 6-3 victory over Leeds United yesterday, thanks to the brilliance of Cole Palmer and Danny Welbeck in an exciting encounter in the third round of the English League Cup.

The Spanish manager Chabi Alonso’s side was threatened with an early exit after Bosnian striker Tarik Muharemović scored in the first half, followed by American midfielder Brenden Aaronson adding a second goal at the start of the second half at Stamford Bridge. However, Alonso made key substitutions between the halves, bringing on striker Palmer alongside Morgan Rogers, Portuguese winger Pedro Neto, and Reece James. His decision paid off as his team staged a thrilling comeback.

Palmer scored two goals to bring the home side back into the contest (53rd minute from a penalty and 55th minute), before Neto gave Chelsea the lead (60th minute), and Welbeck added a fourth (65th minute). Dominic Calvert-Lewin pulled one back for Leeds (75th minute), but Valentin Barco (80th minute) and Welbeck (90+4th minute) struck later to seal an elegant progression for Chelsea into the fourth round.

The 1-2 defeat to Premier League champions Arsenal on Sunday had ended Alonso’s perfect start of three consecutive wins. However, the Chelsea manager quickly returned to winning ways with a chaotic victory that largely reflected the nature of his short tenure at the helm.

Chelsea have scored 16 goals in their first five matches under Alonso, a clear indication of their attacking strength. However, they have also conceded 10 goals, confirming that the defensive problems that plagued them last season have not disappeared since the arrival of the Spanish coach.

Despite spending £349 million ($472 million) during the transfer window, Chelsea finished their match against Arsenal relying on Reece James and Frenchman Malo Gusto—players who typically operate as right-backs—in midfield.