EFL Cup Recap: Lessons from Wednesday’s Ties

The fourth round of the EFL Cup concluded last night, featuring nine Premier League clubs in action. Here, EPLNews reviews the key takeaways and reveals the quarter-final fixtures that await us in December.

Liverpool 0-3 Crystal Palace

Liverpool’s disastrous run continued as Crystal Palace inflicted a sixth defeat in seven games on the Premier League champions, marking another low in their torrid spell.

It is the first time since 1953 that the Reds have suffered five consecutive domestic losses, with their only recent success coming in the UEFA Champions League against Eintracht Frankfurt. Since 27 September, no team across Europe’s top five leagues has lost more matches than Liverpool.

Remarkably, this was the third defeat in 80 days for Liverpool at the hands of Palace. They previously lost to the Eagles in the FA Community Shield on penalties in August and were beaten 2-1 in the Premier League at Selhurst Park, which began this downward spiral.

Despite the slump, Arne Slot made ten changes, handing debuts to goalkeeper Freddie Woodman—a lifelong Liverpool supporter—and 18-year-old winger Kieran Morrison. Only left-back Milos Kerkez retained his place, as Slot trialled a back five in search of stability.

The tactical reshuffle failed to pay off. Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring in the 41st minute, pouncing on a loose ball inside the box. The Palace forward struck again just before half-time—his sixth goal of the season—after a slick one-two with Yeremy Pino.

With no senior players on the bench, Slot had no experienced options to rescue the game. Matters worsened when Amara Nallo was sent off for bringing down Justin Devenny, becoming the first Liverpool player ever to be red-carded in consecutive appearances.

The humiliation was complete when Pino curled in a third goal two minutes from time, sealing Liverpool’s heaviest defeat under Slot. The Dutch coach will hope to stop the rot when Aston Villa visit Anfield on Saturday.

For Crystal Palace, this first victory in five matches will boost confidence ahead of their upcoming clash with Brentford.

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Premier League leaders Arsenal extended their winning run to eight games, edging closer to ending their EFL Cup drought.

Second-half goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka were enough for the Gunners to reach the quarter-finals of a competition they last won in 1993.

It was a historic night for Max Dowman, who became the youngest player ever to start a competitive match for Arsenal at 15 years and 302 days. Seventeen-year-old Andre Harriman-Annous, cousin of England rugby captain Maro Itoje, also made his first start as part of ten changes from Mikel Arteta.

Brighton, who had allowed only one shot on target across three Premier League fixtures in October, threatened early with attempts from Carlos Baleba and Georginio Rutter. But Arsenal soon found their rhythm, taking the lead in the 57th minute through Nwaneri, who finished smartly from Myles Lewis-Skelly’s pass after Mikel Merino’s clever backheel.

Saka doubled the lead five minutes after coming off the bench, calmly converting after Jason Steele denied Harriman-Annous.

Arsenal held on for their sixth consecutive clean sheet, becoming the first English top-flight side to win six matches in a single month without conceding. They now turn their attention to Saturday’s Premier League trip to Burnley, while Brighton aim to respond against Leeds United.

Swansea City 1-3 Manchester City

Manchester City overcame an early scare to defeat EFL Championship side Swansea City and progress to the EFL Cup quarter-finals.

The home side briefly sensed an upset when Goncalo Franco fired a stunning opener in the 12th minute. However, Pep Guardiola’s heavily rotated side responded six minutes before half-time when Jeremy Doku’s shot deflected off Cameron Burgess for the equaliser.

City dominated after the interval and took the lead 13 minutes from time through Omar Marmoush, who smashed home his first goal of the season from Rayan Cherki’s assist. Cherki then secured the win in stoppage time, steering in a composed finish to seal victory for the eight-time EFL Cup winners.

Guardiola, pleased to give key minutes to his fringe players, saw Oscar Bobb as the only player to retain his spot from the weekend defeat to Villa. City now prepare to face AFC Bournemouth at the Etihad on Sunday.

Wolves 3-4 Chelsea

Chelsea survived a late Wolverhampton Wanderers fightback to secure their place in the last eight—but were left frustrated after Liam Delap saw red on his return.

The Blues stormed to a three-goal lead before half-time against a Wolves team rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table and without a win in nine. It was the fifth time this season that Wolves have conceded three or more goals at Molineux.

Andrey Santos opened the scoring after five minutes from Jamie Gittens’ pass, before Gittens set up Tyrique George for the second ten minutes later. Four minutes before the break, Estevao punished Wolves’ sloppy defending with a delightful dink over Jose Sa.

The hosts rallied in the second half through finishes from Tolu Arokodare and David Moller Wolfe, but Chelsea’s nerves were eased when Gittens restored their cushion with a superb outside-of-the-boot strike.

Wolfe added a second in stoppage time, but Wolves fell to a fourth consecutive defeat.

Chelsea, who made ten changes, were forced to play the closing stages with ten men after Delap—making his comeback from a hamstring injury—was dismissed for two bookings, including an elbow. He will now miss Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Tottenham Hotspur. Wolves next travel to Fulham, hoping to end their poor run.

Newcastle 2-0 Tottenham

Newcastle United kept their EFL Cup title defence alive by seeing off Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park.

The Magpies, who lifted their first major domestic trophy in 70 years by winning this competition last season, reached the quarter-finals for a fourth consecutive campaign.

Manager Eddie Howe rotated heavily, making eight changes ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with West Ham United, but his side were still too strong for Spurs, who made four alterations under Thomas Frank.

Fabian Schar opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a header from Sandro Tonali’s corner, before Nick Woltemade doubled the lead five minutes after the restart from Joe Willock’s cross. The German forward, who joined from Stuttgart in the summer, now has six goals for the club.

Spurs’ hopes of ending their trophy drought under Frank are over, and they must now regroup before facing Chelsea in the league this weekend.

EFL Cup Quarter-Final Draw

• Arsenal v Crystal Palace
• Cardiff City v Chelsea
• Manchester City v Brentford
• Newcastle United v Fulham

Ties will be played during the week beginning 15 December.

Crystal Palace face a daunting visit to Premier League leaders Arsenal, while holders Newcastle welcome Fulham. Manchester City will host Brentford, and Cardiff City—the only non-Premier League side left—take on Chelsea.

The Bluebirds, along with Palace, Brentford, and Fulham, are all chasing their first-ever EFL Cup triumph.