Carabao Cup quarter-finals: Why the remaining eight clubs will be eyeing League Cup glory | Football news

Ahead of a fascinating midweek of Carabao Cup quarter-final action, Sky Sports writers round up the reasons why each of the remaining eight teams need a win to continue their silverware hopes.

Draw quarter final

Wednesday 18 December

• Arsenal vs Crystal Palace – 19.30 kick-off – live on Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports+ and that Sky Sports app
• Newcastle vs Brentford – 19.45 kick-off – live on Sky Sports+ and that Sky Sports app
• Southampton vs Liverpool – 20.00 kick-off – live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports+ and that Sky Sports app

Thursday 19 December

• Tottenham vs Manchester United – 20.00 kick-off – live on Sky Sports Football and that Sky Sports app

Can Arsenal use Carabao Cup to start trophy dynasty?

Mikel Arteta has taken Arsenal to new heights, but apart from a shock FA Cup win in his first half of the season, the Gunners have little to show for their progress.

Could just one cup triumph be enough to give Arsenal the sense and confidence to go for more?

As Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, Arteta saw how useful a Carabao Cup trophy lift could be for a season. City won four editions of this competition in a row and backed it up with a league title later in the season on three occasions.

Arsenal are nowhere near those levels yet, especially from a cup perspective. Since the summer of 2022, the Gunners have never been further than the fourth round of the FA Cup, nor the fourth round of the Carabao Cup – until now. They also lost two out of their three knockout stages in Europe.

Wednesday’s cup tie with Crystal Palace could be important for another reason – the ability to rotate. Forwards such as Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri are struggling for minutes and form – but a moment of attacking inspiration can free the shackles.

With back-to-back slip-ups in the Premier League, Arteta may need this competition to improve the mood.
Sam Blitz

Do Palace have a better chance of damaging Arsenal in the cup?

Crystal Palace go into a double-header with Arsenal this week and how Oliver Glasner plays it will be intriguing.

The Eagles took a point from Man City in their last home game and have picked up positive results against Man Utd, Tottenham and Newcastle there. They were also not far from grabbing a point from Liverpool. With Palace still just four points above the relegation zone, every point earned in that competition is precious.

But perhaps this week Glasner will prioritize the cup meeting with the Gunners. Mikel Arteta is likely to field more fringe players at the Emirates and, while Palace’s recent record at that stadium is poor, they may fancy their chances if they employ a similar counter-attacking gameplan to the one that won them maximum points at Brighton on Sunday.

Glasner – a Europa League winner and German Cup runner-up in his previous role at Eintracht Frankfurt – knows how to navigate a cup run and with Palace’s recent performances suggesting they should pull clear of the danger zone, a significant cup win in their London rivals would be something to cherish in what has been a largely difficult and frustrating start to the season.
Peter Smith

Another step towards ending 70 years of injury for Newcastle?

It is almost 70 years since Newcastle last lifted a major trophy. They will have another opportunity to launch a challenge to end their barren run when they take on Brentford at St James’ Park. They bounced back from their shock defeat to the Bees by beating Leicester last time out.

Newcastle have been a side on the brink under Eddie Howe. A team of players capable of competing with the very best in the Premier League and a team that found themselves challenging in Europe just two seasons ago, but they are yet to find the next level.

The Magpies were runners-up in 2023 when they were overtaken by Manchester United, but the famous next step could await them again.

Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali all starred as they ended their winless run against Leicester and Howe will rely on them again to end their seven-decade run without a major honor as they close out the Carabao Cup .
William Bitibiri

Cup victory is Brentford’s best chance for Europe

Surprisingly, this is not the longest Brentford have been in this competition, with the Bees reaching the Carabao Cup semi-finals in the Covid-affected 2020-21 campaign.

Thomas Frank has always taken the cup tournaments seriously, and there is a reason for that.

Brentford know that a top-seven finish to secure European football is a steep challenge, especially if they continue to rock away in the Premier League, so the cup competitions are the Bees’ best chance of progressing to the next level.

The west Londoners, with one point away from seven away league games, will need to produce an improved performance at Newcastle if they are to reach the last four again.

But Frank’s side must remember that they go into Wednesday’s cup tie not only level with Newcastle – the two teams are level on points in England’s top flight – but also with a psychological advantage after the 4-2 win at the Gtech Community Stadium earlier at this time. month.
Sam Blitz

Slot wants to keep Liverpool’s Big Mo going on the south coast

Liverpool travel to Southampton in the strange position of leading both the Premier League and the new UEFA Champions League standings after losing just once in all competitions so far this season but needing a win after drawing their last two league games to lose initiative in the title race.

Of course, there is no panic in the red ranks at the moment, but one gets the feeling that a shock reverse on the south coast on Wednesday night against a team with nothing to lose under interim head coach Simon Rusk could have a destabilizing effect on the title favourites.

Conversely, if the holders can progress to another semi-final – it would be their fifth in this competition since 2016 – it just keeps the momentum – or ‘Big Mo’ as they say in the US – going for Arne Slot during a hectic period in his so far remarkable debut campaign at Anfield.
Rich Morgan

Could Reds win prove a springboard for Saints’ top-flight survival?

Some Southampton fans may see Wednesday’s quarter-final with Liverpool as an unwelcome distraction as the club fight for relegation from the Premier League, but a shock win against holders Liverpool at St Mary’s could actually be the catalyst for an unlikely survival bid.

Of course, Saints go into the tie on the back of a demoralizing 5-0 home defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, which saw manager Russell Martin lose his job, with Simon Rusk taking over on a temporary basis on the south coast.

However, Southampton recently drove the Reds close when they met in the league at St Mary’s, where the visitors had to come from behind to win late on in a five-goal thriller, while they will also take on an injury-hit side. who have failed to win either of their last two top-flight matches.

And while Rusk may have very little time before midweek’s visit to Liverpool, the interim boss will have a group of players determined to respond to Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing.

“We have to be better. It’s as simple as that,” centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis told Premier League Productions:

“We’ve got guys in there that are willing to put everything on the line. It sounds a little deceptive, but we’ve got what it takes in this locker room (to stay up). We’re not going to stop believing.”
Rich Morgan

Amorim can follow in the footsteps of his predecessors with the Carabao Cup victory

Ruben Amorim has constantly reiterated the need for time and patience, but like all fan bases, spectators will begin to grow restless in their desire to see their team lift silverware. It would be harsh to judge Amorim on his early trophy prospects when he was appointed United boss in November, but it feels like a pressure that Amorim will embrace.

Erik ten Hag claimed the Carabao Cup at the first time of asking, but was constantly questioned about the identity of his side, failing to instill a noticeable style throughout his years at the club. Hoping to steer United into a new era, Amorim may be judged more on how quickly his team can adapt to his philosophy in the short to medium term rather than silverware, but that doesn’t mean the Carabao Cup offers the opportunity to begin his reign. in the best possible way.

Jose Mourinho, a mentor to Amorim, also won the Carabao Cup in his first season at Old Trafford. A four-time winner of the competition, Mourinho recognized the importance of the first trophy win to set the tone for the season ahead. A win at Tottenham will give Amorim the chance to follow his predecessor’s proven example.
William Bitibiri

Spurs to set up successful season with Man Utd win

Ange Postecoglou always wins silverware in his second season. How Tottenham fans would love for that streak to continue and see their long wait for trophy success finally end this term.

The Europa League and FA Cup are options, but this opportunity to reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup with victory against a beatable Manchester United at home cannot be missed.

Spurs’ thrashing of Southampton came at the right time, snapping a five-game winless run. But a statement win at home – where they have played four frustrating games in a row without success – could shift the mood significantly back onto a more positive basis.

Of course, defeat could swing it the other way – and with Liverpool coming to town on Sunday, it looks like it could be a crucial week in terms of where Spurs’ season goes.
Peter Smith

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