THE DRAW for the Carabao Cup quarter-finals will take place on Saturday – and SunSport’s simulated one in preparation threw up some bumper ties.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Sunderland all booked their spot in the last eight on Tuesday.
The Gunners romped past Leeds while the Blues and Black Cats both needed penalties to advance past Southampton and QPR respectively.
A day later they were joined by Brentford, Tottenham, West Ham, Liverpool and Leicester City.
It was the Hammers who ensured that a new name will be on the trophy for the first time since 2017 after they dumped holders Manchester City out.
That left all eight dreaming of cup glory, but each club still has plenty of work to do before they can even think of Wembley.
And they will all have to wait until Soccer AM airs on Sky Sports for the 10.30am Carabao Cup draw to discover who they will play in the week commencing December 20.
There will be no seeding – meaning anyone can draw anyone – and that means that the prospect of some blockbuster clashes is very real.
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In anticipation of it, SunSport used a knockout stage simulator to take a look at what the potential ties could be.
And the results were brilliant:
ARSENAL VS SUNDERLAND
The first one out of our pretend hat was Arsenal landing a home tie against League One Sunderland.
And you can bet the Gunners would not only fancy their chances of advancing but of silencing Black Cats boss Lee Johnson aswell.
Johnson poked fun at Arsenal and Tottenham in midweek by claiming the North London pair were not the ‘big guns’ left in the competition.
Speaking to Sunderland club reporters on who he wanted in the next round, Johnson joked: “I’d love to have Arsenal away or Tottenham away if not that. And then we’ll wait for the really big guns when it’s two legs.”
Arsenal fans quickly picked up on the comment and would be desperate to see Mikel Arteta’s men dish out a thrashing and advance to the semi.
BRENTFORD vs WEST HAM
A London Derby that both clubs would fancy their chances of winning.
The Bees are looking to go one step further than last season’s semi-finals while David Moyes would love to follow-up on European qualification by delivering a trophy for the Hammers.
Throw in Said Benrahma returning to Brentford as well, the potential clash would certainly be a belting cup tie.
CHELSEA vs TOTTENHAM
Another all-London showdown that would have the nation wanting to tune in.
Chelsea vs Tottenham is always a must-see and this would be no different with the added spice of a place in the last four at stake.
Spurs were beaten in last season’s final by City but if they could knock the Blues off at Stamford Bridge then they would fancy their chances of going all the way.
LIVERPOOL vs LEICESTER
Jurgen Klopp has been giving his fringe men a chance in the competition this year and would likely do so again after they downed Preston this week.
Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers has been doing the same with his team also battling in Europe as well as in the Premier League.
After guiding Leicester to the FA Cup last term, he would love nothing more than to bring more silverware to the King Power this season.
Throw in the added incentive of potentially knocking out his old club, then this showdown would also have all the makings of being a cup classic.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
