Chelsea's big guns demolish Villa

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LONDON, England -- Chelsea returned to winning ways on Wednesday when Frank Lampard, Andriy Shevchenko, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba gave them a 4-0 home win over Aston Villa in the fourth round of the League Cup.

Although the competition offers a UEFA Cup place for the winners, most of the leading Premier League clubs have fielded weakened teams in recent seasons but Jose Mourinho, stung by Saturday's league defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, wheeled out most of his big guns.

Villa, too, arrived at near full strength but the only team to take any league points from Stamford Bridge this season after their 1-1 September draw were overwhelmed by the London side.

Lampard headed them into the lead in the 32nd minute after Michael Ballack dispossessed Steven Davis and swung in a pinpoint cross.

Drogba should have doubled the lead moments later but blasted over the bar, while Thomas Sorensen made a great save to tip over a shot by Shevchenko.

However, the Ukraine striker found the net with a close-range header after another perfect delivery from Lampard in the 65th minute.

Chelsea were in complete command and got the third eight minutes from time when fullback Geremi made the most of a rare appearance to attack down the right and cross for Essien to score.

Drogba rounded things off four minutes later after a Salomon Kalou effort had been blocked.

It was not so easy for Arsenal, who had to wait until five minutes from time before Emmanuel Adebayor struck the winner against 10-man Everton, or Tottenham, who needed extra-time before overcoming Port Vale 3-1.

Liverpool were always in control of their match against Birmingham, which was sealed by Danish defender Daniel Agger's goal in first-half stoppage time.

Birmingham regained a measure of self-respect against Liverpool, who had beaten them 7-0 in an FA Cup clash last season, but still bowed out.

Agger's strike proved decisive, the defender lashing the ball into the roof of the net after Birmingham had failed to deal with a corner from Jermaine Pennant, who spent a season on loan at the club before moving from Arsenal to Liverpool on a permanent basis this summer.

Liverpool went on to carve out enough chances to have won at a canter with Craig Bellamy, who had a second half penalty saved by Maik Taylor, particularly profligate.

Despite the win, it was a tough night for Liverpool with key midfielder Mohammed Sissoko stretchered off midway through the first half with what appeared to be a dislocated shoulder.

Defender Tom Huddlestone scored twice for Spurs, including a precious equalizer 10 minutes from the end of regulation time after Leon Constantine had given Port Vale the lead.

A deflected long-range shot from Huddlestone in the first half of extra time gave Spurs the edge and England forward Jermain Defoe made sure of the outcome, finally finding the net after squandering a string of earlier chances.

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