Carabao Cup Chaos: Giants Await Fourth-Round Fate as Fleetwood Dream Big

• Brighton dump Man United 3-2 after a comeback; draw for the last 16 follows tonight
• League Two Fleetwood are the lowest-ranked side left and dream of a glamour tie
• Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea among those safely through; ties week commencing 26 October

Proper midweek chaos in the Carabao Cup, and we’ve not even got to the draw yet. The last-16 line-up is all but set after Brighton came from two down to stun Manchester United 3-2 at Old Trafford, with the fourth-round draw to follow tonight. If you’re already weighing up form and upsets, our best football betting sites guide is a handy place to start.

Fourth-Round Field Takes Shape

Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham set the tone on Tuesday, with Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai doing the damage in a statement win. Arsenal matched that swagger at Portman Road, beating Ipswich 4-2 as 16-year-old Max Dowman helped himself to a superb brace. Elsewhere, Fulham edged West Ham 3-2 thanks to an 77th-minute strike from Oscar Bobb, while Brentford progressed past Reading 2-1.

Chelsea, Newcastle United, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace had already booked their spots, joined by League One pair Bradford City and Peterborough United. Holders Manchester City face Norwich tomorrow to complete the card.

From tonight’s other ties: Aston Villa won 3-1 at Coventry, while Everton squeezed past Wolves 1-0 courtesy of a second-half finish from Carlos Alcaraz.

Fleetwood’s Fairytale and United’s Misery

Give it up for Fleetwood Town. The League Two side ousted Championship outfit Sheffield United 1-0, profiting from a Rhys Norrington-Davies own goal to become the lowest-ranked team left in the competition. They’re ball number 14 and will fancy a money-spinning trip to one of the big boys—proper cup romance, that.

As for United, a two-goal lead melted away as Brighton hit back through Charalampos Kostoulas before Pascal Gross levelled and Maxim De Cuyper belted the winner. It leaves more questions for Michael Carrick and a fanbase craving a response. Momentum matters in this competition, and right now the Seagulls have it.

Administrative bit: fourth-round ties are single-legged and will be played during the week commencing 26 October. If it’s level after 90, we go straight to penalties—no extra-time faff, just nerve and technique from 12 yards. Bring on the draw.

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