Carabao Cup quarter-final draw: Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool all discover fate
The Carabao Cup quarter-finals have been decided, with Manchester United set to take on Tottenham and defending champions Liverpool due to travel to Southampton
by Matthew Cooper · The MirrorManchester United will face Tottenham in the headline tie of the Carabao Cup quarter finals after Wednesday night's draw.
United booked their place in the last eight with a 5-2 win over Leicester under interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, while Tottenham dumped Manchester City out of the competition with a 2-1 victory.
Southampton will host reigning champions Liverpool after their wins over Stoke and Brighton respectively, while Arsenal will take on Crystal Palace and Newcastle will face Brentford. The fixtures will take place the week commencing Monday, December 16.
Carabao Cup quarter-final draw in full:
Tottenham vs Manchester United
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
Newcastle vs Brentford
Southampton vs Liverpool
23:45Matthew Cooper
That's all from us
That marks the end of our coverage of tonight.
23:25Matthew Cooper
Guardiola hails City despite defeat
Pep Guardiola has insisted Manchester City were "exceptional" despite the fact they were beaten 2-1 by Tottenham.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, he said: "Exceptional. The young players did well. An incredible top side they are so fast and I am really pleased. We play so good. If you play a game that quick they attack quicker, we played really good.
"Of course, in the second half there was transitions they could have finished the game - I know perfectly how good we played. Football sometimes, we are in a difficult position with the amount of players."
22:56David McDonnell
Van Nistelrooy speaks
Ruud van Nistelrooy led Manchester United to victory in his first game in charge – then said he wants to be part of incoming boss Ruben Amorim's coaching team.
Van Nistelrooy is in temporary charge of United following Erik ten Hag's sacking and began his tenure with a thumping win to set up a quarter-final meeting away to Tottenham.
United skipper Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro scored twice, with Alejandro Garnacho plundering the other, as the Red Devils went on the rampage at Old Trafford.
Sporting Lisbon boss Amorim is set to become United's new boss once a deal is finalised, with Van Nistelrooy revealing he is happy to be a part of his backroom staff if required.
"I came here as an assistant to help the club," said Van Nistelrooy. "Now, in this role, I’m helping as long as needed. In the future, in any capacity, I’m here to help the club further to build towards the future that’s what I'm here for."
22:44KEY EVENT
Quarter-final draw in full
Manchester United will face Tottenham in one of the bigger ties in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
United were comfortable winners on Wednesday night, putting five past Leicester City. The 2023 Carabao Cup champions cruised into the final eight with Ruud van Nistelrooy in the dugout, but the interim boss may well have made way for Ruben Amorim by the time the next round gets underway.
The other matches will see holders Liverpool travel to Southampton and Arsenal host Crystal Palace in a London derby. Finally, Newcastle's reward for beating Chelsea is a home meeting with Brentford.
The quarter-final matches are due to take place in mid-December. The two-legged semi-finals will follow in the new year, with the final taking place on March 16 at Wembley.
Tottenham vs Manchester United
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
Newcastle vs Brentford
Southampton vs Liverpool
22:43Matthew Cooper
Final quarter-final
Southampton vs Liverpool
22:43Matthew Cooper
Third tie
Newcastle vs Brentford
22:42Matthew Cooper
Second tie
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
22:42KEY EVENT
Draw underway
The first tie out of the hat is: Tottenham vs Manchester United
22:41Matthew Cooper
Here we go
The draw is about to get underway. Jamie Redknapp and Izzy Christiansen will pick out the balls.
22:32David McDonnell
Man Utd questions
Manchester United fans – and Erik ten Hag in particular – are entitled to ask where electric performances like this have been all season.
Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, in charge following Ten Hag's sacking on Monday, promised a return to United's attacking heritage, with plenty of goals – and the players duly delivered.
After a season of unremitting tedium on the pitch and a lack of goals, this was a throwback to the United of old – cavalier, full throttle football, with a goal threat every time the team attacked.
It was the uncompromising style embodied during the glittering days of Sir Alex Ferguson – watching on at Old Trafford – in which Van Nistelrooy played his part as a prolific goalscorer.
22:23Matthew Cooper
Not long until the draw...
It won't be too long until we find out what the quarter-final matches will be, with Sky Sports stating the draw is expected to start around 10.40pm.
22:17KEY EVENT
When are the quarter-finals?
The quarter-finals are due to be played the week commencing Monday, December 16.
Official dates will be confirmed at some point after the draw is made. The schedule means there's potential for a number of different fixtures to be repeated back-to-back, much like the game between Newcastle and Chelsea, who faced each other at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The quarter-final winners will go on to the semi-finals, which will be played over two legs. The first leg is set to be held during the commencing January 6, 2025, while the final will be held on March 16, 2025.
22:12Matthew Cooper
FT: Tottenham 2-1 Man City
Tottenham have knocked Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup.
22:07KEY EVENT
Ball numbers
The ball numbers for the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw are as follows:
- Brentford
- Southampton
- Crystal Palace
- Liverpool
- Manchester United
- Newcastle United
- Arsenal
- Tottenham
22:06Neil McLeman
Gakpo delivers
Carabao specialist Cody Gakpo scored twice - including a stunning strike into the top corner - before the holders held off a late Brighton fightback to reach the last eight.
The Dutch star netted four on the way to winning the trophy last season -and two in the previous round against West Ham. And after a goalless first half at the Amex Stadium, the former PSV forward blew the tie wide open by his sensational opener just 40 seconds after the break.
Gakpo netted a second and Luis Diaz scored a late third as Simon Adingra and Tariq Lamptey netted for the hosts in a frenetic finale. But Arne Slot remains unbeaten in cup competitions at the Anfield club while Brighton have still not got beyond the fourth round of this competition since 1978-79.
22:06Simon Bird
Newcastle rediscover missing ingredient
Reports of Newcastle United’s demise this season may have been greatly exaggerated.
Eddie Howe’s side blew Chelsea away in 26 minutes with the kind of intensity that has been missing. The Geordies finally found a formula that clicked allowing Alexander Isak to set up a win confirmed by an own goal by Axel Disasi.
Enzo Maresca paid the price of making 11 changes - including leaving Cole Palmer on the bench - and they were rattled by a superb start. Howe’s side have been off-key in the league, mid-table and mediocre, but this was a benchmark for a relaunch which hints at a revival and a tantalising crack at a Carabao Cup last eight tie.
This was the intense Toon of a year ago, on their game, pressing hard, tight and organised with Sandro Tonali running the show with the hard running legs of Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock either side. Newcastle resurrected their trademark opening 25-minute blitz of previous seasons, and were two up after 26 minutes.
22:03KEY EVENT
How to watch the draw
While the draw will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Ultra HDR for subscribers, it will also be available to watch for free on Sky Sports Football's YouTube channel.
If you're a Sky customer who will be on the go during the draw, you'll be able to see it unfold via live stream on the Sky Go app. Jamie Redknapp and Izzy Christiansen will make the draw, with Mark Chapman hosting proceedings.
22:02Chris McKenna
Nwaneri steals the show
Ethan Nwaneri stole the show with a stunning strike which helped Arsenal breeze past Preston and into the quarter-finals.
The Gunners fired in three to see off the Championship side but it was the second from 17-year-old Nwaneri which was by far the pick of the bunch. The teenage academy graduate followed up his brace in the last round against Bolton with a beauty.
It was a superb finish from the edge of the area sandwiched between Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz goals which made this an easy night for Mikel Arteta’s men at Deepdale. It was all change for Arsenal but still over £200m worth of players out on the pitch with a sprinkling of academy talent and, of course, the loan man Raheem Sterling.
21:42Matthew Cooper
FT in four games
Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle and Crystal Palace join Liverpool, Brentford and Southampton in the quarter-finals.
Arsenal beat Preston 3-0, while United put five past Leicester. Newcastle picked up a comfortable 2-0 win over Chelsea, with Crystal Palace fighting back to win 2-1 against Aston Villa.
21:24Mark Jones
FT: Brighton 2-3 Liverpool
Cody Gakpo drove holders Liverpool into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a brace that lit up Brighton & Hove Albion's Amex Stadium and set up a stunning second half.
After a tight first period which featured chances for both sides, Gakpo exploded into the second with a thunderous strike from the corner of the penalty area which flew past Jason Steele.
The Dutchman then drove home a low shot to make it 2-0 midway through the half, before Simon Adingra pulled one back for the hosts. Luis Diaz then added a third for the Reds, before Tariq Lamptey's effort deflected off Jarell Quansah for Brighton to pull another one back.
Liverpool held on for a victory though, and a place in the last eight of the competition.
21:19Matthew Cooper
Brighton GOAL!
Brighton are back in it again after Tariq Lamptey finds the back of the net, with his effort deflected past Liverpool goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros.
21:14Matthew Cooper
Liverpool GOAL!
And Liverpool have restored their two goal cushion against Brighton through Luis Diaz.
21:09Matthew Cooper
Crystal Palace GOAL!
Crystal Palace are once again in front, with Daichi Kamada capitalising on a lose pass from Aston Villa to make it 2-1.
21:09Matthew Cooper
Brighton GOAL!
Brighton are back in it after capitalising on a mistake from Liverpool, with Simon Adingra making it 2-1.
21:07Matthew Cooper
Man Utd GOAL!
Bruno Fernandes gets his second goal of the game to make it 5-2 to Manchester United.
21:05Matthew Cooper
Man City GOAL!
Matheus Nunes gets one back for Manchester City after some brilliant work from Savinho, who got the better of Destiny Udogie before firing a cross into Nunes.
21:00Matthew Cooper
Arsenal GOAL!
That is all but game over at Deepdale as Kai Havertz makes it 3-0 to Arsenal.
20:52Matthew Cooper
Liverpool GOAL!
Cody Gakpo has now doubled Liverpool's lead after some poor defending from Brighton.
20:41Matthew Cooper
Tottenham GOAL!
Manchester City are 2-0 down now thanks to a brilliant strike from Pape Sarr.
20:35Matthew Cooper
Liverpool GOAL!
Cody Gakpo has broken the deadlock with a stunning striker. Liverpool are 1-0 up against Brighton.