Carabao Cup Quarter-Final Draw: Fleetwood to Face Everton or Newcastle

Carabao Cup Quarter-Final Draw: Fleetwood to Face Everton or Newcastle

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Fleetwood Town, the lowest-ranked side remaining in the Carabao Cup, will host either Everton or Newcastle United in the quarter-finals after stunning Premier League champions Arsenal on penalties. The League Two club, currently 18th in their division, secures a home tie at Highbury in December following their historic run, as reported by RTE.

While Fleetwood prepares for a top-flight clash, League One side Bradford City faces a daunting trip to the Etihad Stadium to take on the holders and nine-time winners Manchester City.

Fleetwood Town awaits Everton or Newcastle

Fleetwood’s path to the quarter-finals was paved by a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Arsenal on Tuesday. The “Cod Army” has already made history by reaching this stage. Their specific opponent remains undecided, as Everton and Newcastle United must first battle it out in the final fourth-round match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this Thursday night.

For a club sitting 18th in League Two, the implications of a home game against a Premier League side are massive.

Manchester City and Liverpool face contrasting challenges

Manchester City's journey to the quarter-finals was rocky. The holders required a penalty shootout to overcome Brighton in the last 16. They now host Bradford City, a club that knows the pressure of this stage, having reached the final in 2013 while playing in the bottom tier. Bradford earned their place in the last eight with a 2-0 victory over Peterborough.

Liverpool also relied on a penalty shootout to advance, edging past Chelsea. Their reward is a matchup against Bournemouth, led by head coach Andoni Iraola. This creates a tactical reunion for Iraola, who faces his former club. Bournemouth enters the quarter-finals with significant momentum, coming off a dominant 3-0 win against Aston Villa.

Fleetwood Town celebrate
Photo: BBC

Sunderland and Crystal Palace clash at Selhurst Park

The remaining fixture is an all-Premier League affair between Crystal Palace and Sunderland. Palace has established a recent tradition of consistency in this competition, reaching the last eight for three straight seasons. They advanced after Eddie Nketiah scored the only goal in a victory over Fulham.

Sunderland enters the tie as a dangerous opponent, having recently dispatched Premier League opposition Brentford with a 3-2 win. The match will take place at Selhurst Park, where Palace will look to use their home advantage and recent cup pedigree against a resilient Sunderland side.

Quarter-Final Matchups at a Glance

Home Team Away Team Status
Manchester City Bradford City Confirmed
Crystal Palace Sunderland Confirmed
Liverpool Bournemouth Confirmed

The Road to the Semi-Finals

All four quarter-final ties are scheduled to take place during the week commencing December 14. The scheduling creates a window for managers to balance league form with cup ambitions, particularly for underdogs like Fleetwood and Bradford.

The primary question now rests on Thursday’s result between Everton and Newcastle, which will determine exactly who travels to Highbury to face the tournament’s biggest surprise.

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