Carabao Cup fourth-round draw LIVE – Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United and Liverpool learn next opponents
Plenty of big clubs are left in the draw hoping to replace Liverpool as champions
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The draw for the Carabao Cup fourth round took place at the culmination of the clash between Liverpool and West Ham at Anfield on Wednesday night - the last of the scheduled fixtures in the third round, which was spread over two midweeks.
However, one more game will need to be played out to complete the round, after AFC Wimbledon’s meeting with Newcastle was postponed after flooding and pitch damage.
Liverpool were last year’s winners - then under Jurgen Klopp - and the Reds hold the record for most League Cup wins, too, with ten. They will continue their attempts to retain the trophy with a fourth-round trip to Brighton, following the draw, while the pick of the ties was Tottenham being set to host Manchester City.
Follow the Carabao Cup fourth round draw reaction below along with reaction to Liverpool’s match with West Ham:
Arne Slot goes on the attack to show how Liverpool can remain Carabao Cup kings
Last season, Jurgen Klopp described Diogo Jota as the best finisher at Anfield. If Arne Slot is yet to bestow such a compliment – and, more modest in his rhetoric, his praise of anyone so far has tended to be measured – he has installed the Portuguese as his first-choice No 9, a role he only had intermittently under the German. If Slot looked justified after the biggest win of his brief reign, this was a night when Klopp felt vindicated, too.
Jota’s first double since January displayed his predatory instincts, elusive movement and capacity to make scoring look simple. As Liverpool came from behind to beat West Ham United, the catalyst was the one member of Slot’s first-choice team to start. Jota may have felt the outsider in a second-string side but he served as their rescuer after Jarell Quansah, continuing his inauspicious start to life under Slot, accidentally put the Hammers ahead.
But Liverpool turned a deficit into a 3-1 win against AC Milan last week. Their powers of recovery were apparent again as Mohamed Salah, with one, and Cody Gakpo, with the second brace of the night, ensured history repeated itself. Last season, West Ham lost 5-1 at Anfield in the Carabao Cup.
Carabao Cup draw in full
Below is the full draw for the next round of the Carabao Cup!
Ties will take place in the week commencing 28 October, with games split between the Tuesday and Wednesday of that week.
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City
AFC Wimbledon/Newcastle v Chelsea
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
Preston North End v Arsenal
Manchester United v Leicester City
Southampton v Stoke
Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday
Brighton v Liverpool
Arne Slot goes on the attack to show how Liverpool can remain Carabao Cup kings
Last season, Jurgen Klopp described Diogo Jota as the best finisher at Anfield. If Arne Slot is yet to bestow such a compliment – and, more modest in his rhetoric, his praise of anyone so far has tended to be measured – he has installed the Portuguese as his first-choice No 9, a role he only had intermittently under the German. If Slot looked justified after the biggest win of his brief reign, this was a night when Klopp felt vindicated, too.
Jota’s first double since January displayed his predatory instincts, elusive movement and capacity to make scoring look simple. As Liverpool came from behind to beat West Ham United, the catalyst was the one member of Slot’s first-choice team to start. Jota may have felt the outsider in a second-string side but he served as their rescuer after Jarell Quansah, continuing his inauspicious start to life under Slot, accidentally put the Hammers ahead.
But Liverpool turned a deficit into a 3-1 win against AC Milan last week. Their powers of recovery were apparent again as Mohamed Salah, with one, and Cody Gakpo, with the second brace of the night, ensured history repeated itself. Last season, West Ham lost 5-1 at Anfield in the Carabao Cup.
Slot goes on the attack to show how Liverpool can remain Carabao Cup kings
Liverpool 5-1 West Ham: A brace apiece for Jota and Cody Gakpo sends the reigning holders into the fourth round
Steve Cooper booed by Leicester fans despite Carabao Cup progress
Leicester City boss Steve Cooper is “even more committed” to succeed following negative fan chants during the penalty shoot-out victory at League TwoWalsall in the Carabao Cup.
The Foxes made 10 changes and had to rely on goalkeeper Danny Wardsaving spot-kicks from Taylor Allen, David Okagbue and Liam Gordon in the shoot-out to advance to the fourth round.
Charlie Lakin and Albert Adomah missed big chances for Walsall in the 90 minutes as the hosts held their own.
Steve Cooper booed by Leicester fans despite Carabao Cup progress
The Foxes have only won once in all competitions this season and scraped past Walsall in the League Cup on Tuesday night
Christopher Nkunku nets hat-trick as Chelsea thrash Barrow in Carabao Cup
Enzo Maresca made 11 changes to his Chelsea line-up for the visit of Barrow in the Carabao Cup third round, but a fine start to the Italian’s Stamford Bridge tenure was never at risk of being derailed as Christopher Nkunku’s hat-trick secured a 5-0 romp over the League Two side.
The Blues were three goals up and out of sight inside half an hour with Joao Felix the ring leader in an overwhelming first-half attacking display, the forward who played 44 times last season for Barcelona making featherlight work of a team who were in the National League as recently as four years ago.
The Portugal international had a crucial hand in his side’s third goal, his free-kick striking the post and going in off Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman, that after Nkunku had scored twice in the first 18 minutes.
Nkunku nets hat-trick as Chelsea thrash Barrow in Carabao Cup
Paul Farman scored an own goal while Pedro Neto registered his first goal for the Blues.
Emiliano Buendia savours ‘special night’ as captain helps Aston Villa through
Emi Buendia hailed a special night after scoring his first goal since March 2023 as Aston Villa reached the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 win at Wycombe.
Winger Buendia, who missed the whole of last season through injury, headed the opener before Jhon Duran tucked away a penalty to see off League One Wanderers, who hit a late consolation through Richard Kone.
“It is a really special night, to come back to play again for this club,” the Argentinian, who captained Villa, told Sky Sports.
Emiliano Buendia savours ‘special night’ as captain helps Aston Villa through
Buendia’s header was added to by Jhon Duran in a 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Wycombe.
Man City’s forgotten man makes his case – but even Rodri’s injury might not restore Matheus Nunes
If a midfielder has dominated the discourse surrounding Manchester City, it is not Matheus Nunes. While they await bulletins on the state of Rodri’s knee, the Portuguese’s first City goal ranks as a subplot of their week. Rodri has an ubiquity but Nunes has become the £53m forgotten man, the sort of figure who may only be glimpsed in the starting 11 on Carabao Cup nights.
As he belatedly opened his City account, however, his goal proved decisive when a second-string side were given a late fright by Watford.
His reward may be a return to the relative obscurity of the bench. Nunes has only played 20 minutes in the Premier and Champions League so far this season. Ilkay Gundogan’s return has relegated him further down the pecking order, making him more of an afterthought.
Man City’s forgotten man makes his case – but Nunes still an afterthought
Man City 2-1 Watford: Nunes scored the winner after Jeremy Doku’s early strike
Below is the full draw for the next round of the Carabao Cup!
Ties will take place in the week commencing 28 October, with games split between the Tuesday and Wednesday of that week.
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City
AFC Wimbledon/Newcastle v Chelsea
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
Preston North End v Arsenal
Manchester United v Leicester City
Southampton v Stoke
Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday
Brighton v Liverpool
Ethan Nwaneri and Jack Porter take limelight in Arsenal’s thrashing of Bolton
Ethan Nwaneri scored twice on a historic night for Arsenal after 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter became the club’s youngest ever player to start a match in their 5-1 win against Bolton.
Porter, a replacement for the injured David Raya, stole the spotlight ahead of the third-round Carabao Cup fixture at the Emirates Stadium.
But it was the highly-rated Nwaneri whose name was up in lights when he scored a brace either side of the interval on a night to remember for the Enfield 17-year-old.
Nwaneri and Jack Porter take limelight in Arsenal’s thrashing of Bolton
Nwaneri netted twice while Declan Rice, Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz were also on target.
Pep Guardiola believes the Carabao Cup is a ‘waste of energy’ — and he’s right
The most successful manager in the League Cup’s history produced a damning admission. Manchester City will not waste their energy on the next round. Not, it should be said, out of choice. Pep Guardiola has won the League Cup four times, putting him in the company of Brian Clough, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho, due to an attitude that has reflects an insatiable desire to win, but also his determination to take it seriously.
Their four consecutive League Cup wins suggested it was a trophy worth winning, with a willingness to hoover up the lesser prizes has reduced the opportunities for anyone else to claim any silverware. Guardiola could rotate, but usually with the sense he would find a strong enough side to advance.
And now there has been a shift in approach. “The next round, I announce to you now, I play the second team,” Guardiola said. “We are not going to waste energy on this competition, for sure.”
Pep Guardiola believes the Carabao Cup is a ‘waste of energy’ — and he’s right
This is the year the Carabao Cup has entered into managed decline - not because of Manchester City or Guardiola - but because it is being marginalised by football’s wider expansion, writes Richard Jolly
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments