Premier League managers rest several first-team stars in Carabao Cup... with top-flight sides making an average of 8.2 alterations in fourth round
- Premier League clubs made wholesale changes in the Carabao Cup last-16 stage
- Chelsea, Everton, Tottenham and West Ham made combined 30 changes from 44 players who started their weekend Premier League matches
- Premier League sides in round four showed an average of 8.2 alterations
The Carabao Cup changes continued on Wednesday night as Premier League managers kept their first-choice stars fresh.
Chelsea, Everton, Tottenham and West Ham make a combined 30 changes from the 44 players who started their weekend Premier League games, meaning top-flight sides in round four showed an average of 8.2 alterations.
Only centre-backs Antonio Rudiger and Gary Cahill kept their places as Chelsea granted Charly Musonda his wish for first-team action and also handed rare appearances to summer signings Danny Drinkwater - who will make his Blues debut - and Ethan Ampadu.
Antonio Conte rang the changes on Wednesday in their Carabao Cup clash with Everton
As for their opponents, Everton caretaker manager David Unsworth made only five changes from Ronald Koeman's last teamsheet - the lowest of any top-flight team in last-16 action - but gave a debut to youth-team prospect Beni Baningime as well as recalling Aaron Lennon.
The ex-England winger had made just three substitute appearances totalling barely an hour this season following his much-publicised treatment for a stress-related illness.
Tottenham, as expected, rested Harry Kane and gave Danny Rose his first start since January in a side showing seven changes while under-pressure West Ham boss Slaven Bilic retained only Cheikhou Kouyate and Manuel Lanzini from Friday's humiliating loss to Brighton.
On Tuesday, Arsenal had changed all 11 players from their weekend win over the Toffees, including a first-team debut for goalkeeper Matt Macey and a second cup start in two weeks for Mathieu Debuchy.
West Ham made nine changes from the weekend's action, while Tottenham made seven
That all-new line-up fell behind against Norwich before winning in extra time thanks to Eddie Nketiah, whose number 62 shirt contributed to a total of 384 for the squad numbers of their seven largely unknown substitutes.
Crystal Palace made 10 changes, with only left-back Patrick van Aanholt keeping his place, as they were hammered 4-1 by Championship side Bristol City.
Sergio Aguero was surprisingly one of two Manchester City players retained - the Argentina striker missed out on breaking the club goalscoring record outright but scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out after a goalless draw with Wolves.
There were eight changes apiece for Leicester and Swansea and seven for both Manchester United and Bournemouth. The latter saw defender Jack Simpson score on his senior debut before long-term injury victim Callum Wilson marked his return to the starting line-up with his first goal since January.
Arsenal had changed all 11 players from the weekend when they played Norwich on Tuesday
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