Carabao Cup fourth-round line-up confirmed as big guns cruise through

The full line-up for the Carabao Cup fourth round has been confirmed following the completion of Wednesday night’s third-round fixtures.

Arsenal booked their place with a professional 2-0 win over Port Vale, thanks to goals from Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard in each half. Defending champions Manchester City also advanced after overcoming Huddersfield 2-0, with Phil Foden and Savinho on the scoresheet.

Elsewhere, Newcastle United eased past Bradford City with a 4-1 victory, while Tottenham Hotspur cruised to a 3-0 win against Doncaster Rovers.

They join Liverpool, Chelsea, Wycombe Wanderers, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Wolves, Fulham, Cardiff City, Swansea City and Brighton in what promises to be an exciting fourth round. The draw will be conducted later on Wednesday night.

Opinion:
The Carabao Cup often wears the tag of England’s “less glamorous” domestic trophy, but nights like this remind us why it continues to hold its charm. It’s a blend of the expected and the unpredictable — Premier League giants marching on while lower-league hopefuls like Wycombe and Cardiff keep the dream alive.

For Arsenal, who haven’t lifted the trophy since 1993, this competition could become a golden opportunity to blend squad depth with silverware ambitions. Manchester City, on the other hand, remain a machine; Pep Guardiola’s men have dominated this cup in recent years, and their seamless progress suggests they still have it high on their priority list.

But the real beauty of the Carabao Cup lies in its unpredictability. Teams like Brentford, Fulham, and Crystal Palace may not be traditional trophy contenders, but one magical run can rewrite history. And as always, fans will be watching closely for potential “giant-killings” that make this competition so entertaining.

With the big names still in, the underdogs still dreaming, and the draw promising fresh drama, the fourth round looks set to deliver the kind of football that reminds us why knockout cups remain such a thrill.