Marouane Fellaini scored late in extra time to spare Everton’s blushes as they came from a goal down to beat League One (third division) Stevenage 2-1 and reach the League Cup third round on Wednesday.
The Belgian, at the centre of a transfer tussle with Manchester United, bundled in from close range after a goal-mouth scramble with 115 minutes on the clock.
A day after their Merseyside neighbours Liverpool were also taken to extra-time by third-tier Notts County, Everton found themselves in a similar spot of bother when they fell behind to a first-half Luke Freeman goal.
Newcastle United were held for 80 minutes by fourth tier Morecambe before substitute Shola Ameobi found the net with a deflected shot and his younger brother Sammy completed a 2-0 win with a calm finish.
There were no such difficulties for Aston Villa and Stoke City
who both scored three times to move into the next round.
Kenwyne Jones grabbed a hat-trick for Stoke as they beat Walsall 3-1 and Villa wrapped up a 3-0 win over Rotherham with goals from Andreas Weimann, Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph.
Premier League Cardiff City were pushed hard by fourth-tier Accrington Stanley but broke through in the 61st minute when Nicky Maynard finished after a neat flick and Rudy Gestede doubled the lead a minute later to complete a 2-0 win.
Championship leaders Nottingham Forest needed extra-time to beat fellow second-tier side Millwall 2-1 with Jamaal Lascelles heading the winner after 94 minutes.
Watford sealed their place in the third round with a 2-0 win over Bournemouth thanks to an Elliott Ward own goal and a chipped finish from Cristian Battocchio.
Capital One Cup
Long-time rivals Manchester United and Liverpool have been drawn to play each other at Old Trafford in the third round of the Capital One Cup.
The Premier League giants were the first clubs out in the draw and the match could mark Liverpool forward Luis Suarez’s return to action after a 10-match ban.
The 26-year-old was handed a 10-match suspension after biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic last season.
Eager to leave Liverpool this summer at one point, it now looks like he may be staying, and his return would obviously add extra interest to an already intriguing tie.
League One Swindon knocked out Championship QPR on Tuesday night and the Robins have been rewarded with a glamorous home tie against Chelsea, while Bristol City, who saw off Crystal Palace, will be away at Southampton.
Swansea lifted the Cup last season and they have been handed a potentially tricky tie at Championship side Birmingham.
Aston Villa will be at home to Spurs while other all-Premier League ties are West Ham against Cardiff, West Brom v Arsenal and Fulham-Everton.
Manchester City have been drawn at home to Wigan and Newcastle’s home tie with Leeds could be an interesting encounter.
Capital One Cup third round draw:
Man Utd v Liverpool
Sunderland v Peterborough
West Ham v Cardiff
Man City v Wigan
Burnley v Nottingham Forest
Newcastle v Leeds
Southampton v Bristol City
West Brom v Arsenal
Swindon v Chelsea
Tranmere v Stoke
Watford v Norwich
Aston Villa v Tottenham
Hull v Huddersfield
Leicester v Derby
Birmingham v Swansea
Fulham v Everton
Ties to be played week commencing September 23.