Liverpool and Manchester City kept their Carabao Cup title hopes alive after winning tense penalty shootouts against Premier League rivals Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion in Wednesday’s fourth-round matches.
Manchester City twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Brighton at the Etihad Stadium before securing a 4-3 victory on penalties. Liverpool also needed spot kicks after being held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea at Anfield, eventually winning the shootout 6-5.
The results sent both clubs into the quarter-finals, while Arsenal suffered a stunning exit after losing to fourth-tier Fleetwood Town on penalties the previous evening.
Manchester City Survive Brighton Scare
Defending champions Manchester City were pushed hard by Brighton, who twice took the lead and threatened to end the holders’ campaign.
City eventually forced a 2-2 draw, setting up a penalty shootout in which goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli became the decisive figure.
After Mateo Kovacic saw his penalty saved, City were under pressure. However, Rulli saved Brighton’s final two attempts from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to secure a 4-3 shootout victory.
The result kept City on course to defend their League Cup crown and added another dramatic chapter to their pursuit of the competition’s silverware.
Liverpool Edge Chelsea in Another Penalty Drama
Liverpool also needed penalties to overcome Chelsea in a closely contested encounter at Anfield.
Both goals came from the penalty spot. Morgan Rogers put Chelsea ahead in the 40th minute after Ryan Gravenberch fouled Moisés Caicedo, but Liverpool responded just three minutes later when Cody Gakpo converted after Wesley Fofana handled the ball during a corner.
Neither side managed to find a winner in normal time, sending the tie to a lengthy shootout.
The decisive moment came when Fofana sent Chelsea’s final penalty over the crossbar, allowing Liverpool to claim a 6-5 victory.
The result extended Chelsea’s unwanted record of losing all five penalty shootouts against Liverpool, including previous defeats in the 2022 FA Cup and League Cup finals.
It was also a frustrating return to Anfield for Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, who previously played for Liverpool between 2004 and 2009.
Bournemouth and Crystal Palace Also Advance
Elsewhere, Bournemouth continued their impressive run with a commanding 3-0 victory over Aston Villa, recording their fifth consecutive win across all competitions.
Crystal Palace secured a 1-0 away victory against Fulham, while Sunderland defeated Brentford 3-2 to book their places in the last eight.
The fourth-round results followed Fleetwood Town’s remarkable elimination of Arsenal. The League Two side held the Premier League club to a 1-1 draw before winning 5-3 on penalties, producing one of the competition’s biggest shocks.
Bradford City also advanced after beating Peterborough United 2-0.
Carabao Cup Quarter-Final Draw
The quarter-final draw has produced several intriguing matchups, with Liverpool and Manchester City both handed home fixtures.
The confirmed ties are:
- Fleetwood Town vs Everton or Newcastle United
- Manchester City vs Bradford City
- Crystal Palace vs Sunderland
- Liverpool vs Bournemouth
Liverpool will face Bournemouth at Anfield, while Manchester City will welcome Bradford City as they continue their bid to retain the trophy.
The quarter-final matches are scheduled for the week beginning December 14, 2026.
With Arsenal already eliminated and several Premier League clubs still competing, the race for the Carabao Cup is becoming increasingly unpredictable. Liverpool and Manchester City have survived difficult fourth-round tests, but their penalty-shootout victories offer no guarantee of an easier path to the final.
