Liverpool have been drawn to welcome Chelsea at Anfield for the fourth‑round tie of the Carabao Cup, while the reigning Premier League champions Arsenal will face the competition's lowest‑ranked remaining side, Fleetwood Town. This set of fixtures marks a busy week of all‑Premier League match‑ups in the knockout stage, with several high‑profile clubs set to clash on neutral or home grounds. The upcoming encounter will see Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso make his first return to Anfield in a coaching capacity.
Alonso, who guided his side to a victory over Leeds United in the previous round, will be looking to add another win to his early tenure at Stamford Bridge. For Liverpool, the challenge comes on the back of a recent triumph over Tottenham Hotspur, a result that secured their progression to this stage of the tournament.
Alonso’s connection to Liverpool runs deep: as a player, he was part of the squad that lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy, and his name was even linked to the Liverpool managerial vacancy after the departure of Jürgen Klopp. Instead of taking the helm at Anfield, he opted to embark on his managerial career with Chelsea, bringing a blend of experience and ambition to the London club. Chelsea’s trip to Anfield is one of six fixtures in this round that feature only Premier League sides. The other matches include Manchester City’s home tie against Brighton & Hove Albion, a game that follows City’s own 2‑0 win over Norwich City.
Brighton earned their place in this round after staging a dramatic comeback to defeat Manchester United, a result that has added an extra layer of intrigue to their clash with the league leaders. Meanwhile, Sunderland will travel to Brentford, and Fulham will host Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage. Bournemouth will welcome Aston Villa, creating another all‑top‑flight showdown.
In the lower divisions, League Two outfit Fleetwood Town will host Arsenal after pulling off a surprise victory over Championship side Sheffield United in the third round. Fleetwood’s upset over Sheffield United was one of the tournament’s biggest stories, demonstrating the magic of cup football where smaller clubs can challenge and sometimes defeat higher‑ranked opponents. Arsenal’s draw against Fleetwood offers the Gunners a chance to rotate their squad while still progressing, but they will need to respect the determination of a side that has already shown they can cause upsets. The draw also guarantees that a League One team will still be represented in the quarter‑finals.
Bradford City are set to host Peterborough United, ensuring that the competition retains its reputation for providing opportunities for clubs outside the top two tiers to make deep runs. This blend of elite clubs and underdogs is a hallmark of the Carabao Cup, offering fans a mixture of predictable quality and the thrill of potential giant‑killing acts.
Other fixtures scheduled for the week commencing 26 October include Everton taking on Newcastle United at Goodison Park, and Brentford traveling to Sunderland. These matches, along with the ones already mentioned, complete a packed calendar that will see a total of twelve teams battling for a place in the quarter‑finals. The Carabao Cup’s fourth round is set to deliver a series of compelling narratives: Xabi Alonso’s first Anfield appearance as a manager, Arsenal’s encounter with the competition’s lowest‑ranked survivor, and the continued presence of a League One side in the latter stages. Fans can also look forward to the promotional Super 6 draw, which offers a chance to win a £1 million prize and is open to entry at no cost.
As the fixtures unfold, the tournament promises both high‑stakes drama and the timeless allure of knockout football, where any team can triumph on a given day. Overall, the upcoming round underscores the Carabao Cup’s unique ability to blend the established powerhouses of English football with the ambition and unpredictability of lower‑league clubs, ensuring that each match carries both prestige and the possibility of a memorable upset.