Fleetwood land dream Arsenal tie as Liverpool and Chelsea collide in Carabao Cup fourth round

The Carabao Cup fourth-round lineup is set, and the draw has delivered a heavyweight clash: Liverpool will welcome Chelsea to Anfield in the most eye-catching tie of the round. Elsewhere, Premier League champions Arsenal face a trip to Fleetwood Town, the lowest-ranked side still standing in the competition after their victory over Sheffield United.

• Liverpool will host Chelsea at Anfield, where Xabi Alonso's new project aims to pull off an upset.
• Fleetwood Town, the only League Two club left in the draw, welcome Arsenal after beating Sheffield United 1-0.
• Everton and Newcastle meet in another all-Premier League tie, with the Toffees advancing thanks to Charly Alcaraz's goal.
• Bradford City and Peterborough United guarantee a League One presence in the quarter-finals.
• Brighton will face Manchester City if they get past Norwich in the final third-round fixture.

Liverpool against Chelsea headlines the fourth round

The meeting between Liverpool and Chelsea dominates the fourth-round narrative. The single-leg tie will be played at Anfield and brings together two Premier League heavyweights who view the Carabao Cup as a realistic route to silverware this season. Chelsea, now led by Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso, return to a competition they have historically enjoyed.

Both sides arrive with clear intentions. The cup format offers managers the chance to rotate, give fringe players valuable minutes and keep a trophy bid alive without relying on league results until the end of the campaign.

Fleetwood Town dream of stunning Arsenal

Fleetwood Town have earned a magnificent reward. The League Two side booked their fourth-round slot with a 1-0 win over Sheffield United, settled by a disastrous own goal from Rhys Norrington-Davies. Now they host Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, in a tie that will live long in the club's history.

Welcoming the Gunners represents the kind of occasion that justifies an entire season for supporters accustomed to lower-league football. Highbury Stadium is set for a memorable atmosphere, with Mikel Arteta's men the clear favourites but facing no room for error in a one-off knockout format.

Everton and Newcastle set for another Premier League showdown

The fourth round will also feature a clash between Everton and Newcastle. The Toffees secured their place with a 1-0 victory over Wolves, sealed by Charly Alcaraz's 80th-minute winner. The result came in front of a special crowd: Andy Burnham and Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, both Everton fans, attended the match at the stadium.

The Newcastle tie raises the stakes for an Everton side hoping to use home advantage and keep their hopes of a deep cup run alive. Eddie Howe's men, meanwhile, will look to assert their European pedigree and book a quarter-final spot.

The rest of the Carabao Cup fourth-round ties

The draw has produced a varied bracket that also includes a London derby between Fulham and Crystal Palace. Bournemouth will host Unai Emery's Aston Villa, who arrive boosted by a convincing 3-1 win over Coventry in the previous round. Sunderland, for their part, take on Brentford.

A League One side guaranteed in the quarter-finals

The tie between Bradford City and Peterborough United guarantees that at least one League One representative will reach the quarter-finals. They are the only two third-tier clubs still alive in the competition, and their direct meeting ensures another underdog story in the next round.

Brighton await Manchester City if they beat Norwich

The final fourth-round spot will be decided on Thursday when Brighton face Norwich in the last outstanding third-round fixture. Brighton enter the match riding high after a historic comeback at Old Trafford, where they overturned a 2-0 deficit to knock out Manchester United.

Should they overcome Norwich, a return to Manchester awaits, this time to face Manchester City. The prospect of another scalp on Mancunian soil adds extra intrigue to a competition that keeps delivering surprises.

When are the Carabao Cup fourth-round games played?

The fourth-round fixtures will take place during the week commencing 26 October. Ties are decided over a single leg, with level matches after 90 minutes going straight to penalties.

FAQs about the Carabao Cup fourth round