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Liverpool will face Bournemouth in the quarter-finals of the 2026/27 Carabao Cup, while holders Manchester City have been drawn against League One side Bradford City after Wednesday’s fourth round.
The quarter-final draw, conducted at Anfield following Liverpool’s penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea, also gave League Two side Fleetwood Town a home draw against Everton or Newcastle United. Project reports
Crystal Palace will host Sunderland in the remaining quarter-finals, setting up an intriguing quarter-final stage with Premier League heavyweights and lower league teams chasing further upsets.
According to the English Football League, all four quarter-finals are scheduled for the week commencing 14 December 2026.
The draw produced the following pairings:
Fleetwood Town vs Everton or Newcastle United
Manchester City-Bradford City
Crystal Palace v Sunderland
Liverpool-Bournemouth
The Fleetwood fixture will be confirmed after Everton and Newcastle play their remaining fourth round match on Thursday 29 October.
Liverpool face Bournemouth after Chelsea’s penalty drama
Liverpool secured their place in the quarter-finals after beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
The victory secured another home draw for the Reds, who will now turn their attention to Bournemouth in search of another domestic cup triumph.
Bournemouth earned their place in the quarter-finals with a convincing 3-0 win over Aston Villa, making the meeting with Liverpool one of the most anticipated fixtures of the round.
The match will also give Bournemouth the opportunity to test themselves against one of England’s leading clubs in a competition where a single result can determine a team’s progress.
Manchester City passed the Bradford test
Reigning champions Manchester City will host Bradford City, giving the League One club the opportunity to challenge the holders on their own turf.
City survived a scare against Brighton in the fourth round, coming through 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Bradford, meanwhile, advanced with a 2-0 win over Peterborough United.
The tie represents a significant challenge for Bradford, but the club will hope to capitalize on the knockout format and produce a memorable performance against the reigning champions.
For City the objective will be to maintain the defense of the trophy and take a further step towards the final.
Fleetwood were rewarded after the upset of Arsenal
Fleetwood Town earned one of the most eye-catching matches of the quarter-finals after eliminating Arsenal on penalties.
The League Two side drew 1-1 with Arsenal before winning on penalties 5-3, securing a place in the quarter-finals at the Premier League club’s expense.
Fleetwood will now host either Everton or Newcastle United, depending on the outcome of their remaining fourth-round match on Thursday.
The home draw gives Fleetwood another opportunity to build on their remarkable run and potentially eliminate another top-flight opponent.
Their progress has added a losing streak to this season’s competition, with the club now just two wins away from reaching the final.
Crystal Palace will host Sunderland
Crystal Palace will welcome Sunderland to an all-Premier League quarter-final after both clubs progressed from their respective fourth-round matches.
Palace defeated Fulham 1-0, with Eddie Nketiah scoring the winner, while Sunderland beat Brentford 3-2 in an entertaining game.
The match will guarantee a Premier League team a place in the semi-finals, with both teams looking to turn their progress into a serious challenge for the trophy.
Dates of the remaining rounds
The quarter-finals will take place during the week commencing 14 December 2026.
The first leg of the semi-finals is scheduled for the week starting 11 January 2027, while the second leg is scheduled for the week starting 1 February.
The competition will conclude with the final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 21 March 2027.
With Liverpool and Manchester City still in contention, along with the prospect of another defeat by Fleetwood or Bradford, the quarter-final promises a thrilling next chapter in the race for the Carabao Cup.
