Alonso hails Palmer-Rogers link after Chelsea's 6-3 win

Xabi Alonso took the blame for a chaotic first half against Leeds that left Chelsea 0-2 down until the 53rd minute of their League Cup third-round tie, before his side hit back to win 6-3.

Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, both introduced at half-time, changed the game. Chelsea scored four times in 12 minutes, with Palmer scoring twice and Rogers supplying three assists. Danny Welbeck also scored twice, with Pedro Neto and Valentín Barco adding the others. Barco, a midfielder who joined Chelsea only this month, got on the scoresheet with his first goal for the club.

"I'm pleased with the result and the reaction," Alonso told Sky Sports. "Yes, there were a lot of changes made. That's a risk. Things didn't go as we planned, so we had to make changes. I take responsibility for the first half. The fans were brilliant, the atmosphere lifted the players. I like that the substitutes were ready for the game. They knew they wouldn't start, and they were ready to contribute. It's difficult to play at that level when you put out a team that has barely played together, and Leeds were so active."

He picked out the understanding between his two match-winners. "Of course, that's very important. There's a great understanding between them. They like helping each other. That's important for the team," Alonso said of Palmer and Rogers.

Leeds pulled two goals back late on to briefly revive the tie before Chelsea scored twice more to settle it at 6-3.