Carabao Cup Chaos: Liverpool's Crisis Deepens with 3-0 Palace Humiliation as Arsenal, Newcastle Cruise to Quarter-Finals

Wednesday night's Carabao Cup fourth round delivered drama, upsets, and defining moments as eight teams booked their places in the quarter-finals. From Liverpool's shocking collapse at Anfield to Arsenal's rising stars and Newcastle's title defense staying alive, here's everything that happened across five compelling matches. Liverpool 0-3 Crystal Palace: Slot's Nightmare Deepens Arne Slot saw his much-changed Liverpool fall to a sixth loss in seven matches as Ismaïla Sarr's brace helped Crystal Palace reach the Carabao Cup quarterfinals. Oliver Glasner's Eagles got the better of the Reds for the third time this season as they followed their Community Shield shootout triumph and last month's Premier League victory at Selhurst Park with an Anfield win Football Web Pages. Sarr's first-half brace and a late Yeremy Pino strike secured FA Cup holders Palace a 3-0 fourth-round victory as increasingly scrutinized Liverpool boss Slot's bold decision to make 10 changes backfired in front of a full house Football Web Pages. Liverpool's Ruinous Run Continues The result continues the reigning Premier League champions' ruinous run that started with their Selhurst Park setback 32 days ago, whereas Glasner's side can dream of adding another trophy to its cabinet. Slot's men had started Wednesday's tie brightly, only for familiar foe Sarr to score twice at the end of the opening period to make it seven goals in nine matches against Liverpool Football Web Pages. The match turned decisively in Palace's favor late in the first half. A heavy Daniel Muñoz touch was cut out in the box by Joe Gomez, but he inadvertently teed up Sarr to slam low past Woodman in front of the Kop. That gut punch was followed by another blow four minutes later. Sarr met a low ball through the middle with a flick to Pino, who smartly played back for Sarr to take a touch and guide past Woodman Football Web Pages. The disaster was compounded in the second half when Liverpool finished their Carabao Cup loss to Crystal Palace after Amara Nallo was sent off in the second half Football Web Pages, reducing the hosts to ten men and effectively ending any hopes of a comeback. Slot Under Intense Pressure Arne Slot's Liverpool continue their bad run of form following their elimination at the hands of Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup, adding more pressure for the Dutchman NBC Sports. The decision to make wholesale changes—rotating 10 players from the weekend—has backfired dramatically, raising questions about Slot's judgment and whether Liverpool's squad depth can sustain challenges on multiple fronts. For the defending Premier League champions to lose six of their last seven matches represents an unprecedented crisis. Crystal Palace now have Liverpool's number this season, having beaten them in the Community Shield (on penalties), in the Premier League at Selhurst Park, and now emphatically at Anfield in the Carabao Cup. Arsenal 2-0 Brighton: Teenage Stars Shine Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka both struck in the second half to secure Arsenal's eighth-consecutive victory with a 2-0 Carabao Cup fourth-round win over Brighton Premier League. Ethan Nwaneri has hardly gotten on the pitch after his breakout last season. On Wednesday, he reminded everyone how much talent he possesses NBC Sports. The 17-year-old midfielder delivered a performance that showcased why Arsenal rates him so highly, capping it with a goal that demonstrated maturity beyond his years. Mikel Arteta praises teenage talents Max Dowman and Andre Harriman-Annous after the duo made their first starts for Arsenal vs. Brighton in the Carabao Cup NBC Sports. Arteta's willingness to trust youth players in meaningful matches reflects both confidence in Arsenal's academy and smart squad management as the Gunners pursue multiple trophies. Arsenal's Momentum Building The victory extends Arsenal's winning streak to eight matches across all competitions, demonstrating the consistency and form that makes them genuine title contenders. Unlike Liverpool's disastrous rotation, Arsenal successfully integrated young players while maintaining competitive intensity. Bukayo Saka's goal—his contribution amid the youth showcase—highlighted Arsenal's blend of experience and emerging talent. The Gunners are peaking at the right time, with momentum building across competitions. Newcastle 2-0 Tottenham: Holders March On Nick Woltemade's sixth goal of the season sealed holders Newcastle United's passage to a fourth-successive Carabao Cup quarterfinal as Tottenham Hotspur became their latest victims. Woltemade's second-half header wrapped up a 2-0 win set in motion by Fabian Schar's 24th-minute opener to leave the home contingent among a crowd of 51,216 at St James' Park dreaming of a return to Wembley NBC Sports. The victory was all the more impressive because of the eight changes head coach Eddie Howe made and while the Newcastle needed goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale's intervention on more than one occasions as Spurs pushed, the visitors could have few arguments with the outcome NBC Sports. Defending the Crown Newcastle United are the defending champions of the Carabao Cup, having won the 2024-25 edition - the first triumph for the club in the competition. The Magpies lifted the trophy after they defeated Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley LiveScore. The 70-year trophy drought ended in March, and Newcastle are showing every intention of defending their crown. Howe retained only Dan Burn, Malick Thiaw and Woltemade from the side which started Saturday's 2-1 Premier League win over Fulham, while opposite number Thomas Frank rested Vicario, Micky van de Ven, Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani NBC Sports. Despite heavy rotation from both managers, Newcastle's quality and home advantage proved decisive. Wolves 3-4 Chelsea: Seven-Goal Thriller Wolverhampton Wanderers 3, Chelsea 4 NBC Sports. In the night's highest-scoring affair, Chelsea edged Wolves in a pulsating encounter at Molineux that swung back and forth throughout. Chelsea's second-string XI, which has dominated cup competitions this season, faced their toughest test yet. It has been pretty smooth sailing for Chelsea's second XI so far, as they have cruised to multiple comfortable wins in the cup competitions they have been fielded in. But this, a far tougher challenge than they faced in the previous round against Barrow or in any of their UEFA Conference League ties, saw them come unstuck Sky Sports. They looked loose at the back, where Newcastle's high press in the first half caused all sorts of problems, and fairly lacklustre up front, with Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix failing to fire. Equally, Enzo Maresca seemed relatively unbothered. Cole Palmer was brought and put on the bench, but didn't see a minute of action. Only one sub was made at all. He clearly feels there are bigger fish to fry Sky Sports. Despite the defensive vulnerabilities, Chelsea found a way to win—a testament to their attacking quality and resilience. Maresca's rotation policy remains vindicated, even if this match exposed some limitations in his second XI. Swansea 1-3 Manchester City: Routine Guardiola Victory Swansea City 1, Manchester City 3 NBC Sports. Pep Guardiola's side navigated a potentially tricky trip to South Wales with relative ease, dispatching Championship opposition to reach the quarter-finals. With just under 20 minutes remaining and searching for an equaliser, all eyes were on the Man City bench. There was only one man you'd turn to for a goal but was Guardiola going to turn to goal machine Haaland? The answer was no and as Jahmai Simpson-Pusey came on as City's final substitute, you knew Haaland was a risk Guardiola was not willing to take Sky Sports. "No disrespect to Spurs' win, but you could see who wanted it more," Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp said. "When Guardiola isn't bringing on Haaland with 15 minutes to go, that tells you where Man City were. They already had a couple of injuries and didn't want any more" Sky Sports. Guardiola's pragmatism—protecting Erling Haaland and other key players despite needing a goal—illustrates City's priorities. With three away games on the trot against Bournemouth, Sporting, and Brighton, squad management takes precedence over cup glory. Tuesday's Results: Giant-Killing and Drama Tuesday night set the stage with three compelling matches: Tuesday, October 28: Grimsby Town 0-5 Brentford, Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 (4-5 pens) Fulham, Wrexham 1-2 Cardiff City Wikipedia. Brentford Demolish Grimsby Brentford's 5-0 thrashing of League Two Grimsby Town showcased the gulf between the Premier League and fourth-tier football. The Bees, who famously eliminated Manchester United in earlier rounds through a penalty shootout, proved no match for Brentford's firepower. Fulham Survive Scare Fulham needed penalties to see off League One Wycombe Wanderers after a 1-1 draw, winning 5-4 in the shootout. The narrow escape highlights how dangerous lower-league opposition can be in knockout football, where anything can happen on the night. Welsh Derby Drama There was also the fun of a Welsh derby between Wrexham and Cardiff City at the Racecourse Ground, with League One's Bluebirds stunning their 'Hollywood' hosts Wikipedia. Cardiff's 2-1 victory at the Racecourse Ground represents a major upset, with the League One side defeating the National League's Hollywood-backed Wrexham to reach the quarter-finals. Quarter-Final Draw: Tasty Ties Ahead The draw for the Carabao Cup quarter-finals was made on Wednesday October 29, 2025, following the conclusion of the round of 16, with League One Cardiff City set to face Chelsea at home in the pick of the fixtures Football Web Pages. The complete quarter-final draw: Newcastle at home to Fulham, Arsenal host Crystal Palace, Cardiff play Chelsea as Man City draw Brentford My Football Facts. Newcastle vs Fulham Carabao Cup holders Newcastle will host Fulham in the quarter-finals. The Magpies - who beat Liverpool in the March final to win their first trophy in nearly 56 years - eased past Tottenham 2-0 in their fourth round tie. Fulham needed penalties to see off League One side Wycombe My Football Facts. Newcastle will fancy their chances of progressing, particularly at St James' Park where they've been formidable. Fulham, having survived penalties against Wycombe, face a significant step up in quality. Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: Revenge Match Arsenal will host fellow Londoners Crystal Palace. Arsenal beat Brighton 2-0 on Wednesday evening, while Crystal Palace saw off a youthful Liverpool with a 3-0 win. The meeting between the Gunners and the Eagles is a replay of last year's Carabao Cup quarter-final, where Arsenal came from behind to win 3-2 at the Emirates My Football Facts. This tie is absolutely massive. Palace have been Liverpool's nemesis this season, while Arsenal are on an eight-match winning streak. Oliver Glasner will relish another opportunity to test himself against top opposition, while Mikel Arteta knows Palace have the quality to cause problems. Cardiff vs Chelsea: David vs Goliath League One Cardiff City hosting Premier League Chelsea represents the draw's biggest mismatch on paper. However, Cardiff have already proven giant-killing credentials by defeating Wrexham, and Chelsea's rotation policy—fielding second-string XIs—gives the Welsh side hope. Playing at home, Cardiff will make life uncomfortable for Chelsea. The Bluebirds will fancy their chances of causing an upset, especially if Enzo Maresca continues prioritizing Premier League and European matches over domestic cups. Manchester City vs Brentford Two Premier League sides meet as Manchester City host Brentford. Given Guardiola's cautious approach against Swansea—refusing to risk Haaland—City's commitment to this competition remains questionable. Brentford, meanwhile, look sharp after demolishing Grimsby 5-0. Thomas Frank has already demonstrated he can compete with top clubs when his team is fully focused. This tie could be closer than City fans expect, particularly if Guardiola continues heavy rotation. Liverpool's Season in Crisis Arne Slot's Liverpool continue their bad run of form following their elimination at the hands of Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup, adding more pressure for the Dutchman NBC Sports. Six losses in seven matches for the defending Premier League champions represents an unprecedented crisis. Questions now surround: Squad Depth: Can Liverpool's bench players compete at required levels? Tactical Flexibility: Has Slot's system been figured out by opponents? Mental Fragility: Are Liverpool's players losing confidence? Rotation Policy: Was wholesale changes the right approach? The Carabao Cup exit compounds Liverpool's problems. Having already lost to Palace in the League and Community Shield, the psychological advantage has firmly shifted to Oliver Glasner's side. Arsenal's Title Credentials Strengthening Arsenal's ability to rotate successfully while extending their winning streak to eight matches demonstrates championship maturity. Mikel Arteta praises teenage talents Max Dowman and Andre Harriman-Annous after the duo made their first starts NBC Sports, showing depth and youth development that complements established stars. The Gunners are building momentum at exactly the right time. With confidence high and young players stepping up, Arsenal look capable of challenging on multiple fronts. Newcastle's Defense Continues Newcastle beat Tottenham to set up a final eight tie against Fulham My Football Facts. The defending champions remain on track to retain their crown, demonstrating that last season's triumph wasn't a fluke. Eddie Howe's ability to rotate heavily while maintaining competitive standards suggests Newcastle have genuine depth. A fourth successive quarter-final appearance indicates Newcastle view the Carabao Cup seriously—this isn't a competition they're willing to sacrifice for league position. Looking Ahead: Quarter-Final Schedule The quarterfinal round will be played the week of December 15, 2025 Wikipedia. With the draw complete, teams have six weeks to prepare for what promises to be four compelling ties. The potential for upsets remains high. Cardiff hosting Chelsea provides genuine giant-killing opportunity. Palace facing Arsenal represents a genuine 50-50 despite the league standings gap. Brentford have proven they can trouble top sides. Only Newcastle vs Fulham looks straightforward on paper—and even that tie could produce surprises. The Road to Wembley The semifinals will be played over two legs in the weeks of January 12 and February 2. The League Cup Final will be played March 22, 2026 at Wembley Stadium in London Wikipedia. With eight teams remaining and four spots up for grabs in the semi-finals, the competition is reaching its business end. For clubs like Newcastle and Arsenal, the Carabao Cup represents realistic silverware opportunity. For Liverpool, Wednesday's elimination ends hopes of salvaging their troubled season with cup glory. Conclusion: A Defining Night Wednesday's Carabao Cup action delivered everything fans could want: upsets, emerging stars, defensive title credentials, and the shocking collapse of defending Premier League champions. Liverpool's 3-0 home humiliation to Crystal Palace represents this season's nadir for Arne Slot, while Arsenal and Newcastle march confidently toward potential glory. As the quarter-final draw sets up tantalizing ties for December, one thing is certain: the Carabao Cup remains fiercely competitive, and the road to Wembley will be littered with drama, upsets, and defining moments.