Michael Owen scored twice as defending champion Manchester United rallied past second-tier Scunthorpe 5-2.
Liverpool lost 4-2 on penalty kicks following a 2-2 tie against Northampton, which came away with arguably the biggest win in its history.
Milan Jovanovic put Liverpool, a seven-time League Cup champion, ahead in the ninth minute in a downpour at Anfield, but Billy McKay tied it in the 56th and Northampton took the lead on Michael Jacobs' goal in the 98th. David Ngog equalized in the 116th, and Abdul Osman converted the decisive penalty kick.
Liverpool, owned by feuding Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr., is just 16th in the 20-team Premier League. Northampton is 17th in League 2, the old English fourth Division.
Newcastle upset Chelsea 4-3 following a last-minute goal by Shola Ameobi, his second goal of the night, and West Bromwich Albion came from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1 on goals by Gianni Zuiverloon and Simon Cox.
United, which like Chelsea and City played largely second-string lineups, fell behind in the 19th minute but came back on the goals by Owen, and one each by Darron Gibson, Chris Smalling and Ji-sung Park.
Aston Villa beat Blackburn 3-1 and Wigan defeated Preston 2-1.
American defender Eric Lichaj started for Aston Villa, and Brad Guzan started in goal in place of American compatriot Brad Friedel. Lichaj's only previous competitive appearance was Aug. 19 at Rapid Vienna in the first leg of a Europa League qualifying playoff.
