"It is the least important competition for us," declared Xabi Alonso just minutes after Chelsea were dumped out of the EFL Cup on penalties by Liverpool.

It was an unexpected remark that quickly caused a stir across the Channel, particularly after the Basque manager had insisted in his pre-match press conference that they were taking the tournament "seriously".

"The Premier League is our main objective," he reiterated in the wake of the defeat to the 'Reds'.