Today’s English League Cup Last 16 Fixtures & Previews

Arsenal welcome Brighton to the Emirates

The Premier League leaders host the EFL Cup history-makers in Wednesday’s fourth-round showdown, which pits Arsenal against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates.

The Gunners avoided a giant killing at the hands of Port Vale first up, while Fabian Hurzeler‘s men marched to an astonishing second straight 6-0 win over Barnsley in the third round.

Fast-forward to May, and EFL Cup glory but nothing else may go down as a blot on Mikel Arteta‘s Arsenal notebook, but the North London giants currently have the look of a team who could very well compete on all fronts in the coming months.

Not since 1993 have the Gunners hoisted the League Cup aloft – falling short in a few finals and semi-finals since then – but the extraordinary squad depth at Arteta’s disposal puts the hosts in an extremely strong position to challenge for mid-season silverware.

Arsenal did not have it all their own way against Port Vale in the third round of the 2025-26 tournament, but goals from Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard sufficed for a 2-0 win, before the former’s solitary strike took down former club Crystal Palace in Sunday’s Premier League London derby.

EFL Cup trips to the Emirates should evoke fond memories for the Brighton faithful, though, as the Seagulls memorably bested Arsenal in the third round of the 2022-23 edition, while both Premier League battles between the two clubs last season ended honours even.

With no European football to factor in this season. Brighton can afford to go strong in North London, where a rotated Arsenal side could finally concede their fourth goal of the season.

However, even a second-string and injury-hit Arsenal team should be able to capitalise on the visitors’ defensive deficiencies – especially with a few players bidding to prove a point – and Arteta’s men ought to just about do enough for a quarter-final spot.

Newcastle host Tottenham in top of the pick

Arguably the pick of the matches in the fourth round of the EFL Cup will come at St James’ Park on Wednesday night, with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur set to lock horns in the tournament.

The Magpies will enter the match off the back of a 2-1 victory over Fulham in the Premier League, while Spurs recorded an impressive 3-0 win over Everton last time out.

Newcastle have been victorious in four of their last five matches in all competitions, including their 2-1 league success over Fulham on Saturday, which has contributed to them moving into 12th spot in the Premier League table, boasting 12 points from their opening nine games.

The Magpies have been defensively solid in the league this term, conceding eight times in nine matches, but they have found it difficult down the other end, netting just nine goals.

Newcastle have actually won each of their last three games against Tottenham, including a 2-1 success when the two teams last locked horns at St James’ Park in September 2024.

Tottenham have lost five of their last six matches against Newcastle, while they have not managed to win at St James’ Park since a Premier League clash in October 2021.

Spurs last locked horns with Newcastle in the EFL Cup in December 2014, recording a 4-0 victory in the quarter-finals of the tournament, while they have not lost to the Magpies in the League Cup since 1976.

Tottenham will enter this match off the back of an excellent result, but this is a really tricky match to call, as both managers will make a number of changes from the weekend. It could go either way, but we are just backing the Magpies to navigate their way into the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Liverpool, Crystal Palace faceoff in EFL showdown

Now in full-blown crisis mode – if they were not already – Liverpool could lose another shot at silverware when they reunite with Crystal Palace in Wednesday’s EFL Cup fourth-round showdown.

Arne Slot‘s faltering crop have lost five of their last six matches across all competitions, but their capital counterparts are also enduring a miserable run after the end of their club-record unbeaten sequence.

The Champions League offered Liverpool some respite amid their Premier League plight last week, but the Reds’ 5-1 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt in Europe was not a sign of things to come in the top flight, where the defending champions are in relegation form.

Already matching the same number of top-flight losses they suffered last season, Liverpool can consider themselves rank outsiders to retain their Premier League title, having fallen seven points below an Arsenal side who are teaching the holders lesson after lesson in defensive diligence.

Many fingers are being pointed towards the causes of Liverpool’s capitulation – Jamie Carragher recently weighed in with his view of the Reds’ “disastrous season” – but just two clean sheets in 14 highlights where the majority of the Reds’ issues lie.

The hosts also made hard work of their 2-1 win over Southampton in the third round of the EFL Cup, and they have exited in the fourth round twice in the last five seasons, albeit while also marching to the trophy in 2022 and 2024 before last season’s runners-up finish.

Both Liverpool and Palace have bigger fish to fry than the EFL Cup this season, but Slot and Glasner ought to view Wednesday’s game as a prime opportunity to rebuild some momentum amid a sluggish spell.

Wolverhampton take on Chelsea at home

One of four all-Premier League ties in the fourth round of the EFL Cup will take place at Molineux on Wednesday evening, with Wolverhampton Wanderers welcoming Chelsea.

Wolves have won the League Cup on two previous occasions, with their last success coming in 1980, while the Blues have lifted the trophy five times, last triumphing in the tournament in 2015.

Wolves have struggled in England’s top flight this season, only picking up two points from their first nine matches of the 2025-26 campaign, which has left them bottom of the Premier League table.

The EFL Cup has proven to be a welcome respite for Wolves this term, and they have actually managed to win three of their last five matches against Chelsea in all competitions.

That said, the last two meetings between the two sides have brought wins for the capital outfit, including a 6-2 scoreline in their last clash at Molineux in the Premier League in August 2024.

Chelsea also won 3-1 when the pair last met at Stamford Bridge in January 2025, while the Blues recorded a 6-0 victory in their last meeting in the League Cup back in September 2012.

Enzo Maresca‘s side will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing result on Wednesday.

However, the Blues should be able to navigate their way into the quarter-finals of the competition.

FIXTURES

Arsenal 18:45 Brighton & Hove Albion