In a dramatic night of domestic cup football, Arsenal and Chelsea secured their places in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, while a struggling Liverpool side crashed out following a heavy defeat. Chelsea edged out a thrilling 4-3 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Wednesday, despite a late fightback from the home side. Arsenal comfortably saw off Brighton and Hove Albion with a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium, showcasing the depth of their squad with goals from academy graduates.
Chelsea’s match against Wolves in the fourth round of the competition was a seven-goal spectacle. The Blues took a commanding 3-0 lead into the interval, thanks to goals from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, and Estêvão Willian.However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second half, with Tolu Arokodare and David Møller Wolfe pulling goals back for Wolves. Jamie Gittens scored Chelsea’s crucial fourth goal, shortly after substitute Liam Delap was sent off, but Møller Wolfe instantly replied, ensuring a nervous finish before Chelsea ultimately held on for the 4-3 win.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s season continued its troubling trajectory as they suffered a shocking 3-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace at Anfield. The defeat, which marked the club’s sixth loss in their last seven matches across all competitions, saw Arne Slot’s heavily rotated side comprehensively beaten. Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr netted a brace just before half-time, and Yeremy Pino sealed the emphatic victory with a late goal, compounding the pressure on the Liverpool manager.
Arsenal’s victory over Brighton was a more straightforward affair, securing a 2-0 result at the Emirates. The Gunners, who made ten changes to their starting lineup, relied on their talented youth, with goals coming from academy products Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka. The match also saw Max Dowman, aged 15 years and 302 days, become the club’s youngest ever player to start a competitive match, highlighting Mikel Arteta’s strategy of injecting youth and rotation to maintain their strong form across all competitions.
The results mean that Arsenal will face Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, setting up an immediate rematch in the domestic cup following their recent Premier League encounter, which Arsenal won 1-0 on the preceding Sunday. Manchester City and Newcastle United also progressed in the cup, joining Chelsea, Arsenal, and Crystal Palace in the draw for the next stage of the competition, which offers a key domestic trophy.
