The Carabao Cup quarter-final draw has given Fleetwood Town another home tie, with Everton or Newcastle due to visit Highbury if Everton get through their remaining fourth-round tie on Thursday. Fleetwood are the lowest-ranked side left in the competition after beating Arsenal on penalties, and the quarter-finals will be played in the week commencing 14 December.
Liverpool and Manchester City stay at home
Liverpool will host Bournemouth, while Manchester City face Bradford at home. Both Premier League sides needed penalties to reach the last eight, so the draw has at least spared them an away trip after a tense route through the fourth round.
Liverpool's recent form gives the tie a bit more edge. They are unbeaten in their last five matches, with four wins and one draw, and have scored 12 goals in that run. Bournemouth arrive with the sharper momentum, though. They have won all five of their last five matches, scored 11 goals and kept three clean sheets, and they also beat Liverpool 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League last month.
The draw has set up a proper test for Liverpool, not a routine home pass. Bournemouth have been scoring freely and defending well, and Anfield will have to deal with a side that has not looked like a passenger in any competition recently. The quarter-final stage will now be decided in mid-December, with Fleetwood still waiting to see whether Everton or Newcastle comes through on Thursday.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
