Malo Gusto did not mince words after Chelsea’s Carabao Cup tie at Lincoln City, describing the Blues’ opening 45 minutes as substandard and saying the League One opponents “bullied” the world champions. The defender singled out the first half at the LNER Stadium as the low point of a match in which Chelsea controlled possession but failed to convert it into meaningful threat.

The Italian manager was quick to criticise his team’s first-half display against Lincoln after the full-time whistle. Chelsea had 78% possession before the break but managed just three shots to their opponents’ nine, with none of Chelsea’s efforts on target.

Gusto was similarly blunt in his assessment, calling the opening period “really bad.” “Of course, in the first half we played like kids,” said the Frenchman. “They bullied us in every part of the pitch. It was really bad for us.

“The second half was important to come back with more desire, more confidence. It is important for the team to keep building these kinds of things to become better.

“We knew they were going to play like this. It was their qualities, so they played with that. We were aware before of that. It was the game. The game was about duels, fighting. That is why we tried to do more in the second half to show our desire to win, and that is what we did.”

Chelsea exit the competition this season and will reflect on a performance that continued a sequence of disappointing displays. The defeat follows an uninspiring draw with Brentford, a heavy loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League and last weekend’s collapse against Manchester United. Last season Chelsea were knocked out in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup and the club will face Wolverhampton Wanderers away in the next round as they aim to go deeper in the competition this term.

Hugo Ekitiké’s sending off against Southampton in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie has prompted anger within the Liverpool squad and the club is expected to respond beyond words.

Team-mates described the incident as “Naïve,” “silly,” “stupid.” Manager Arne Slot, typically composed in public, was openly furious and the forward quickly apologised on social media. Reports suggest the club will move to dock pay as part of a formal punishment.

The Daily Mail reports Ekitiké stands to lose two weeks of wages. The article notes the €95 million summer recruit from Eintracht Frankfurt reportedly signed a six-year contract worth €15 million per year, and that the red card would cost in the region of €575,000.

Internal reprimands are also expected. The Daily Mail states the forward will face a dressing-room sanction after Jeremie Frimpong delivered the first scolding, pushing his new team-mate and shaking his head before the red card was issued.

Liverpool’s vice-captain Andy Robertson remarked after the match:

“I’d be very surprised if he does it again.

“I think scoring a goal is always emotional and you always get that emotion. But he’s obviously just forgotten he’s been booked. His first one is stupidity, kicking the ball away, we know the rules around that. Two silly bookings to pick up and now we miss him for Saturday.

“It’s silly from his part but he’s only young and he will learn from it.”

Federico Chiesa offered a similar verdict to the Daily Mail. “It was a bit naïve of him,” the Italy international told the Daily Mail, before adding: “It was really naïve. We need him, he is a fantastic player. He showed it here—he is always there when we need a goal, just like [Alexander] Isak. I’m really sorry for him but he is young and he has to improve. Next time, he has to think twice before doing something like that.”

The club now faces a decision on formal discipline that could combine a financial penalty and internal rebuke for what team members have labelled an avoidable lapse.

The fourth-round draw for the Carabao Cup is complete, bringing the remaining teams one step closer to the final at Wembley Stadium. The ties will be played in the week of Oct. 27.

Grimsby Town remain the competition’s unexpected story after progressing past Sheffield Wednesday. The club’s run earlier included the shock of eliminating Manchester United in the second round after a memorable penalty shootout.

The third round produced a number of Premier League casualties. Everton, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Burnley were all eliminated at that stage, clearing the way for a mix of top-flight and lower-league sides to contest the next round.

The draw moves the competition into a phase where momentum and squad management will matter. With Wembley Stadium awaiting the eventual winner, clubs still in the draw will weigh the value of the trophy against the demands of league campaigns and other cup competitions.

Supporters and analysts can review the full list of fixtures drawn for the Carabao Cup fourth round to see the specific match-ups and plan for the coming fixtures. The fourth round will take place in the week of Oct. 27, giving teams time to prepare for a knockout set of ties that could redefine several clubs’ seasons.

As the Carabao Cup reaches this stage, Grimsby Town’s progress continues to be a focal point, while the exits of Everton, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Burnley underline the competition’s capacity for surprise. The remaining fixtures will determine which clubs advance toward Wembley Stadium and a place in the latter stages of the tournament.