The Carabao Cup, England’s second-most prestigious domestic cup competition, has reached its fourth round, showcasing eight electrifying matchups that promise to deliver captivating football.
The draw, conducted on Wednesday night, immediately after Arsenal and defending Champion, Liverpool, recorded bug wins against Bolton Wanderers and Westham United, respectively, has pitted some of the country’s top teams against each other, setting the stage for thrilling encounters.
One of the most anticipated fixtures is the clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
The two teams previously met in the 2020/21 Carabao Cup final, with Manchester City emerging victorious.
This rematch promises to be just as intense, with both teams vying for supremacy.
Defending champions Liverpool will travel to Brighton & Hove Albion, seeking to continue their title defense, after beating fellow Premier League side, Westham United 5-1 at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Liverpool’s depth and experience make them favorites, but Brighton’s home advantage and determination to cause an upset could lead to a nail-biting contest.
Manchester United, fresh from their 7-0 demolition of Barnsley in the competition, will host Leicester City at Old Trafford.
United’s attacking prowess and Leicester’s resilience will make for an engaging matchup.
Arsenal’s youngsters face a stern test against Preston North End at Deepdale.
Arsenal’s squad depth and Preston’s determination to pull off a giant-killing act will ensure an exciting encounter.
Aston Villa hosts Crystal Palace in another intriguing matchup.
Both teams possess talented players and will look to exploit each other’s weaknesses.
Brentford vs. Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton vs. Stoke City round out the fixtures.
These matches offer opportunities for lesser-known teams to shine and potentially pull off upsets.
Upset on the cards
The Carabao Cup has a rich history of upsets, where lower-tier teams defy odds and topple their more illustrious opponents.
One notable example is Leicester City’s 2016 shock defeat to League Two side Accrington Stanley.
In 2017, Liverpool suffered a humiliating 2-0 loss to Championship side Hull City.
More recently, Manchester United’s 2020 elimination by Championship side Derby County, and Liverpool’s 2022 loss to Leicester City’s conquerors, Nottingham Forest, demonstrate the competition’s unpredictability.
These upsets underscore the Carabao Cup’s unique charm, where smaller teams can capitalize on bigger teams’ complacency, injuries, or squad rotations, making each match a thrilling possibility for giant-killing.
This season, underdogs like Brentford, Preston North End, and Stoke City could pull off surprises on their opponents and advance to the next round.
Accredited Stations
The fourth-round matches which will take place in the week commencing October 28, with broadcasting rights held by Sky Sports (UK), ESPN+ (US), and DAZN (Canada).