We now find ourselves at the point where the Carabao Cup gets a little interesting. Having reached the quarter-final stage, the prospect of winning silverware really kicks in for the eight remaining sides.
We lost several big clubs from the competition midweek, including holders Manchester United and Arsenal, but we have been left with an encouraging mix of top sides and underdogs.
Port Vale and Middlesbrough act as representatives outside of the top flight, while there are still some big dogs in the form of Liverpool, Chelsea and last year’s finalists Newcastle United.
With that in mind, here are the favourites to win the 2023/24 Carabao Cup – ranked.
While Port Vale have not faced the sternest opposition en route to the quarter-final, you need a little luck as a lower league side in the Carabao Cup.
The League One outfit have beaten Fleetwood Town, Crewe Alexandra, Sutton United and Mansfield on their way to the last eight, with their upcoming tie against Middlesbrough the highest-ranked opponent they will have faced.
While they will be underdogs for the clash with Michael Carrick’s side, a home affair gives them a greater shot at making an impressive semi-final appearance where they would be guaranteed to face Premier League opposition.
Bradford City were the last side to make the final of the competition outside of the top flight, could Port Vale do the same?
Similarly to Port Vale, it’s not been a brutal journey to the quarter-final for Middlesbrough.
The Championship side have beaten Huddersfield Town, Bolton Wanderers, Bradford and most recently Exeter City to make it this far, but a clash with Vale in the next round gives them a great chance to make the final four.
After a shocking start to the season, Carrick has got Boro back on track with eight wins from their last nine matches in all competitions. Now they have a chance to make the semi-final, with an outside shot of making the final of the competition for the first time since 2004 when they beat Bolton in their only League Cup triumph.
Having beaten in-form Championship side Ipswich Town 3-1 midweek, Fulham have set up a quarter-final clash with Everton in December.
The Cottagers knocked out Tottenham on penalties in the second round, then beating Ipswich’s rivals Norwich City before dumping out the Tractor Boys on Wednesday.
Fulham have never made it past the quarter-final in the competition’s history, most recently reaching this stage in the 2004/05 season.
Marco Silva could write himself into club folklore if he was the first manager to bring a domestic cup to Craven Cottage.
Having scraped past Lincoln City in the third round, West Ham showed their quality to beat Arsenal 3-1 at the London Stadium to make the quarter-final.
David Moyes was rewarded with a challenging trip to Liverpool, a fixture West Ham have already lost 3-1 this season, but they will fancy their chances of pulling off an upset against the 2022 winners.
The Hammers last made the Carabao Cup semi-final in 2013/14, going on to lose 9-0 on aggregate over two legs against Manchester City. They will be hoping to do better should they make it beyond the Reds in December.
Having eased past his former club Burnley midweek, with the help of former Clarets Dwight McNeil and James Tarkowski, Sean Dyche has helped Everton find some form at just the right time.
A slow start to the season has picked up in recent weeks, with the Toffees now having reached a first Carabao Cup quarter-final since the 2020/21 season.
A home tie with Fulham gives the Merseyside club a strong chance of making it to the last four, potentially setting up an encounter with city rivals Liverpool.
Everton have never won the League Cup before and haven’t won a major domestic trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 1995.
With no European football to focus on and an uphill battle to compete in the upper echelons of the Premier League this season, the Carabao Cup could prove a welcome distraction for Mauricio Pochettino in his debut season with Chelsea.
Having squeezed past AFC Wimbledon and Brighton in their first two games, Chelsea enjoyed a more comfortable evening against Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday with a 2-0 win.
The Blues have struggled for consistency this season, but could channel their frustrations into the Carabao Cup. However, a tough home tie with Newcastle is on the horizon.
In a repeat of last year’s final, Newcastle were the ones who had the last laugh on Wednesday evening. The Magpies sauntered past a dismal Man Utd, winning 3-0 despite making a number of changes to their starting lineup.
Having now knocked both Manchester clubs out of the competition, things are not going to get a lot easier when they travel to Chelsea in the quarter-final.
The Magpies, having already shown their pedigree in the competition, will fancy their chances travelling to Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea far from convincing this season.
If Newcastle go on to win the trophy, they will have done it the hard way.
Having endured some torrid times last campaign, the feel-good factor has returned to Liverpool. Darwin Nunez’s stunner saw the Reds past Bournemouth in the last round, having eased past Leicester City previously.
The 2022 Carabao Cup winners will be aiming for a second crown in three years and a home quarter-final tie with West Ham will give them hope of making the latter stages of the competition.
Jurgen Klopp has plenty of knockout experience, as well as having participated in many finals since arriving at Anfield, giving the Reds a great chance of going all the way this year.
In the current form they’re in, few would bet against them.
