Fleetwood Town sit 18th in League Two, yet they’re among the last eight in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. They got there by beating Arsenal on penalties, and it’s their first time at this stage. Meanwhile, the draw also features Liverpool, Manchester City and Bournemouth. The festive rush, including a full slate of Boxing Day football, follows soon after.
With the week of 14 December near, this preview covers the format, each tie and my predictions. Those picks are opinion, so treat them as a fan’s read, not a forecast. Exact dates and kick-off times are still to be confirmed.
How the Carabao Cup Quarter-Finals Work
Eight clubs remain, and the Carabao Cup quarter-finals are single knockout ties in the week of 14 December 2026. After that, the semi-finals switch to two legs. The first legs come in the week of 11 January 2027. Meanwhile, the second legs follow in the week of 1 February.
Once the semi-finals are done, the final is on Sunday 21 March 2027, with Wembley Stadium waiting. So, a club needs three more ties to lift the trophy. Because it’s a straight knockout round, there’s no second chance for a slow start. As a result, even small errors can end a cup run.
The Carabao Cup Quarter-Finals Draw
The draw was made on Wednesday 28 October, before the last fourth-round tie had finished. Then Everton beat Newcastle United 3–1 on Thursday to complete the line-up. So, of the eight survivors, six come from the Premier League, one from League One and one from League Two. Here are the four ties.
- Liverpool v Bournemouth.
- Manchester City v Bradford City.
- Crystal Palace v Sunderland.
- Fleetwood Town v Everton.
Because the order of the draw doesn’t confirm home advantage, venues will matter later. For now, the bigger question is who handles the pressure best. Still, the early signs point to a round full of contrasts. Of course, that’s what makes the Carabao Cup quarter-finals so watchable.
Cup Shocks Fleetwood Now Join
Fleetwood’s win over Arsenal wasn’t the first big upset in this competition, and the list is long. Several shocks came at the quarter-final stage or later, so history says this round can bite. Here are three examples from the record books.
- 1969: Third Division Swindon Town beat Arsenal 3–1 after extra time in the final.
- 2012: League Two Bradford City beat Arsenal on penalties in the quarter-finals, after a 1–1 draw.
- 2025: League Two Grimsby Town beat Manchester United 12–11 on penalties in the second round.
This season’s shock is arguably the biggest on paper. Reports say Fleetwood became the first fourth-tier side to knock the reigning Premier League champions out of this cup. Because of that, Bradford will arrive at Manchester City with a knowing smile, since they’ve done it before. Still, City are the holders, so they won’t need reminding.
Tie-by-Tie Preview
Each of the four Carabao Cup quarter-finals carries its own storyline, from a holder’s defence to a fourth-tier fairytale. Below, I’ve taken the ties one at a time, using results from the fourth round. Because venues are still pending, the focus stays on recent form.
Liverpool v Bournemouth
Liverpool needed a shootout to beat Chelsea 6–5 in the fourth round. Wesley Fofana’s skied penalty finally decided it. Meanwhile, Bournemouth had an easier night, beating Aston Villa 3–0. Because of that, they arrive with confidence. My pick is Liverpool, though Bournemouth have shown they can hurt a big side.
Manchester City v Bradford City
City are the holders after beating Arsenal 2–0 in the 2026 final. Still, they needed a late comeback and a 4–3 shootout win over Brighton to get here. Meanwhile, League One Bradford beat Peterborough 2–0. They also have cup pedigree, since they beat Arsenal on penalties in the 2012 quarter-finals. My pick is City, but Bradford will fancy it.
Crystal Palace v Sunderland
Palace beat Fulham 1–0, while Sunderland edged Brentford 3–2. So, that makes this the tightest tie on paper. At the same time, both clubs are among five Premier League sides also in European competition. Even so, my pick is Palace by the smallest of margins.
Fleetwood Town v Everton
Fleetwood drew 1–1 with Arsenal at Highbury Stadium before winning 5–3 on penalties. First, Aaron Loupalo-Bi scored in the 21st minute. Then Viktor Gyökeres equalised for Arsenal in the 50th. After that, Max Dowman was sent off for the visitors. In the shootout, goalkeeper Jay Lynch saved Bruno Guimarães’ penalty to seal it.
Meanwhile, Everton beat Newcastle 3–1 in the last tie of the round. Fleetwood also beat Sheffield United earlier in the competition. Because they’ve already beaten a Premier League side, belief inside the club will be high. My pick is Everton, but Fleetwood’s momentum makes this a real banana skin.
Line-Ups and Key Names
Squads for the Carabao Cup quarter-finals aren’t announced, so line-ups will only become clear close to the week. Because of that, any other names would be guesses. Still, two Fleetwood names are already worth knowing after the Arsenal night. In fact, head coach Matt Lawlor called it the biggest night in the club’s history.
- Jay Lynch: the goalkeeper who saved Guimarães’ penalty in the shootout.
- Aaron Loupalo-Bi: the scorer of Fleetwood’s goal against Arsenal.
Why Penalties Could Matter Again
Three of the eight fourth-round ties went to penalties, and each one ended with a big name going out. Arsenal lost to Fleetwood, Brighton lost to City, and Chelsea lost to Liverpool. So, the Carabao Cup quarter-finals could easily bring more spot-kick drama. Because one tie decides everything, nerves matter as much as quality.
That’s why goalkeepers could become the story again. Jay Lynch is the obvious example after his save from Bruno Guimarães. Even so, a shootout is never a plan, and managers know it. Still, with the margins so thin, I’d expect at least one tie to run long.
Why December Will Test Squad Depth
Five of the eight clubs, namely Liverpool, Manchester City, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Crystal Palace, are also in Europe. Because of this, they face at least eight matches in December across all competitions. As a result, rotation will matter. A manager might rest key players in the cup, or go all in because silverware is rarer than points. That’s the other storyline of the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, and it will shape every team sheet.
The FA Cup adds to the load. The FA Cup second round is on 5 December. Then the FA Cup third round draw is expected two days later. By contrast, the picture looks different for Everton, Fleetwood and Bradford. Since they have fewer midweek games, they can focus more on the quarter-final itself. Even so, a cup run adds fixtures to smaller squads. Plus, the Carabao Cup may be the best chance of a trophy for some of the remaining clubs.
My Carabao Cup Quarter-Finals Predictions
Here’s how I see the four ties, though the cup rarely follows a script. After all, Arsenal’s exit at Fleetwood proved that. So, treat these picks as fun, not as advice. Also, remember that every pick below is a fan’s opinion.
- Liverpool to beat Bournemouth.
- Manchester City to beat Bradford City.
- Crystal Palace to edge Sunderland.
- Everton to see off Fleetwood Town.
If those picks land, the semi-finals would be an all-Premier League affair. That’s the safe route, so I’d expect at least one surprise. Still, the Carabao Cup quarter-finals have already shown that safe picks can fail. Even so, backing the favourites is hard to avoid.
Key Takeaways
- Quarter-final week: The Carabao Cup quarter-finals arrive in the week of 14 December 2026, so clear the diary.
- The ties: Liverpool play Bournemouth, City face Bradford, Palace meet Sunderland and Fleetwood take on Everton.
- Fleetwood’s story: The League Two side beat Arsenal 5–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.
- Semi-finals: Two legs will follow, with first legs in the week of 11 January 2027.
- Final: Wembley hosts it on Sunday 21 March 2027, so the road is clear.
FAQs
When are the Carabao Cup quarter-finals?
They’re due in the week of 14 December 2026, with exact dates still to be confirmed.
Who is in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals?
The last eight are Liverpool, Bournemouth, Manchester City, Bradford City, Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Fleetwood Town and Everton.
Who knocked Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup?
Fleetwood Town won 5–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the fourth round.
Are the Carabao Cup semi-finals two legs?
Yes, with first legs in the week of 11 January 2027 and second legs in the week of 1 February.
When is the Carabao Cup final?
The final is on Sunday 21 March 2027 at Wembley.
Conclusion
The Carabao Cup quarter-finals mix holders, giants and a League Two side with nothing to lose. My picks favour the big names, but Fleetwood have already shown how fast that script can change. With the week of 14 December close, the Carabao Cup quarter-finals will test squads and nerves alike. So, whoever survives will be only two ties from the trophy.
