Liverpool and Manchester City both survived penalty shoot-outs on Wednesday night to reach the quarter-finals of the English League Cup, avoiding the fate that befell Arsenal a day earlier. At Anfield, Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time. At the Etihad Stadium, holders Manchester City beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. The two results, reported by the Associated Press and AFP on October 28-29, completed a dramatic fourth round — with one tie, Everton against Newcastle United, still to be played on Thursday, October 29.
Liverpool edge Chelsea at Anfield
Both goals at Anfield came from the penalty spot. Chelsea took the lead in the 40th minute when Morgan Rogers converted from the spot after Ryan Gravenberch fouled Moisés Caicedo inside the area. Cody Gakpo equalised three minutes later, also from the spot, following a handball by Wesley Fofana. Neither side scored again in normal time, and the shoot-out went deep. Chelsea’s Valentin Barco hit the post, Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas blazed over a chance to win it, and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Emmanuel Emegha’s kick to keep Liverpool alive. After Joe Gomez scored for Liverpool, Fofana miscued the decisive kick over the crossbar and into the Kop, sending Liverpool through.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, quoted by AFP, said: “We are really happy. Three wins at home in a row is very important. We were struggling at home in the league but now we go against Arsenal on Sunday.” Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso added: “Every time you reach the penalties, someone will feel it is harsh to go out of the competition.” It was, AFP noted, Alonso’s third defeat in three visits to Anfield as a manager, after losses with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024 and Real Madrid in 2025.
City survive a Brighton scare — twice
Manchester City twice came from behind against Brighton. Malick Yalcouyé opened the scoring for the visitors in the 30th minute before Mateo Kovačić levelled ten minutes later. Georginio Rutter restored Brighton’s lead shortly after half-time, but Vitor Reis levelled again in the 72nd minute to force a shoot-out. In the shoot-out, backup goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli saved Brighton’s last two spot kicks, from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk, to rescue City — even though Kovačić had earlier had City’s fourth penalty saved. City won 4-3 and stay on course to retain the trophy.
The rest of Wednesday’s ties
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Bournemouth beat Aston Villa 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium, Sunderland overcame Brentford 3-2 at the Stadium of Light, and Crystal Palace won 1-0 at Fulham thanks to Eddie Nketiah’s 37th-minute goal. Those five winners join Tuesday’s qualifiers: Fleetwood Town, who stunned Arsenal on penalties, and Bradford City, who beat Peterborough United 2-0.
Quarter-final draw: Liverpool host Bournemouth, City host Bradford
The quarter-final draw, made on Wednesday night, is: Fleetwood Town vs Everton or Newcastle United; Crystal Palace vs Sunderland; Manchester City vs Bradford City; Liverpool vs Bournemouth. Liverpool will host Bournemouth at Anfield — a reunion for Iraola with his former club — while Manchester City will host third-tier Bradford City at the Etihad Stadium. All four quarter-finals will be played in the week commencing December 14.
What is still to come
Everton and Newcastle United play the final fourth-round tie on Thursday, October 29, to decide who travels to Fleetwood Town in the last eight.
FAQ
Who won the Liverpool vs Chelsea League Cup tie? Liverpool won 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Anfield on October 28, 2026.
Who did Manchester City beat to reach the quarter-finals? Manchester City beat Brighton 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
Who do Liverpool and Manchester City play in the quarter-finals? Liverpool host Bournemouth and Manchester City host Bradford City, in ties scheduled for the week commencing December 14.
Sources
Associated Press (Steve Douglas), “Man City and Liverpool win penalty shootouts to advance in English League Cup,” October 28, 2026: https://www.alabamas42.com/sports/ap-man-city-wins-penalty-shootout-to-advance-in-english-league-cup/
AFP via Malay Mail, “Liverpool edge Chelsea on penalties as Man City survive Brighton scare to reach League Cup quarter-finals,” October 29, 2026: https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2026/10/29/liverpool-edge-chelsea-on-penalties-as-man-city-survive-brighton-scare-to-reach-league-cup-quarter-finals/241036
USA TODAY, “Carabao Cup quarterfinal draw: Liverpool vs Bournemouth, Man City gets Bradford City,” October 28, 2026: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2026/10/28/carabao-cup-quarterfinal-draw-results-liverpool-bournemouth-fleetwood-town/92479868007/
TNT Sports, “Carabao Cup quarter-final draw,” October 2026: https://www.tntsports.co.uk/football/league-cup/2026-2027/quarter-final-draw-fleetwood-town-newcastle-united-everton-bradford-city-manchester-city_sto23350188/story.shtml
