Arsenal draw Brighton at home while Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool face brutal Carabao Cup battles
The Carabao Cup fourth-round draw has thrown up a fierce set of fixtures, handing Arsenal a comfortable-looking home tie but sending their London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham into potentially treacherous away trips.
Arsenal will welcome Brighton to the Emirates after Eberechi Eze’s first goal for the club helped them cruise past League One Port Vale on Wednesday night. The Gunners’ reward is a showdown with Roberto De Zerbi’s men, who are expected to field a strong side as they look to spoil Mikel Arteta’s cup run.
Chelsea, by contrast, will have to do things the hard way. Mauricio Pochettino’s side came from behind to beat Lincoln in the previous round, but their next task is a testing clash at Wolves. A trip to Molineux under the lights promises hostility, intensity and a major threat to Chelsea’s silverware hopes.
Tottenham face perhaps the most daunting assignment of the round. Ange Postecoglou’s men swatted Doncaster aside with ease, but their prize is a trip to St James’ Park to face holders Newcastle. Eddie Howe’s team demolished Bradford in their last outing, and with the home crowd at full volume, Spurs will need every ounce of grit to progress.
Elsewhere, Wrexham and Cardiff will meet in a mouth-watering all-Welsh tie. The glamour of a local derby in the fourth round has fans salivating, with Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham side relishing the chance to test themselves against higher-league opposition. For Cardiff, the clash represents both a potential banana skin and an opportunity to stamp dominance in Wales.
Liverpool’s clash with Crystal Palace at Anfield is another headline fixture. Jurgen Klopp’s side edged past Southampton in midweek, while Palace advanced with equal determination. The two teams will lock horns again just days after meeting in the Premier League, setting up a bruising encounter that could carry extra spice.
For Grimsby, the dream lives on. Having stunned Manchester United earlier in the competition and then dumped out Sheffield Wednesday, the League Two side now host Brentford. Their giant-killing run has captured the imagination of neutrals, and a packed Blundell Park will believe another upset is possible.
Manchester City, masters of domestic cup football, face a tricky away tie against Swansea. Pep Guardiola is likely to rotate his squad, but City’s strength in depth ensures they remain favourites. Swansea, however, will be desperate to use the Liberty Stadium’s atmosphere to their advantage.
Fulham round out the draw with a potentially awkward visit to Wycombe. The Championship outfit have already proven stubborn opposition in earlier rounds and will fancy their chances of unsettling Marco Silva’s men.
The fourth-round ties are scheduled for the week commencing 27 October, with the road to Wembley beginning to narrow. While Arsenal might feel quietly confident, Chelsea and Spurs have been plunged into the kind of away days that can break cup dreams in a single night.
The stage is set for drama, shocks and potential heartbreak. The Carabao Cup may not carry the glamour of Europe, but it continues to deliver relentless storylines — and this round promises nothing less.