Ahead of a fascinating midweek of Carabao Cup quarter-final action, Sky Sports' writers compile the reasons why each of the remaining eight sides need a victory to continue their hopes of silverware.
Quarter-final draw
Wednesday December 18
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace - 7.30pm kick-off - live on Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports+ and the Sky Sports app
Newcastle vs Brentford - 7.45pm kick-off - live on Sky Sports+ and the Sky Sports app
Southampton vs Liverpool - 8pm kick-off - live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports+ and the Sky Sports app
Thursday December 19
Tottenham vs Manchester United - 8pm kick-off - live on Sky Sports Football and the Sky Sports app
Can Arsenal use Carabao Cup to start trophy dynasty?
Mikel Arteta has taken Arsenal to new heights but, barring a shock FA Cup win in his first half-season in charge, the Gunners have little to show for their progress.
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Thierry Henry on 'predictable' Arsenal
Thierry Henry analyses Arsenal's 'predictable' football in the Premier League
Could just one cup triumph be enough to give Arsenal the swagger and confidence to get more?
As Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City, Arteta saw how useful a Carabao Cup trophy lift could be to a season. City won four editions of this competition in a row and backed that up with a league title later that season on three occasions.
Arsenal are not close to those levels yet, particularly from a cup perspective. Since the summer of 2022, the Gunners have never been beyond the fourth round of the FA Cup, nor the fourth round of the Carabao Cup - until now. They also lost two out of their three knockout stage ties in Europe.
Wednesday's cup tie with Crystal Palace could be important for another reason - the ability to rotate. Forward players such as Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri are struggling for minutes and form - but a moment of attacking inspiration could release the shackles.
With back-to-back slip-ups in the Premier League, Arteta may need this competition to improve the mood.
Sam Blitz
Do Palace have better chance of hurting Arsenal in the cup?
Crystal Palace go into a double-header with Arsenal this week and how Oliver Glasner plays it will be intriguing.
The Eagles took a point off Man City in their last home game and have picked up positive results against Man Utd, Tottenham and Newcastle there. They weren't far off grabbing a point off Liverpool either. With Palace still just four points above the relegation zone, every point earned in that competition is valuable.
Wednesday 18th December 7:00pm Kick off 7:30pm
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But perhaps this week Glasner will prioritise the cup meeting with the Gunners. Mikel Arteta is likely to field several fringe players at the Emirates and while Palace's recent record at that stadium is poor, they may fancy their chances if they employ a similar counter-attacking gameplan to the one which won them maximum points at Brighton on Sunday.
Glasner - a Europa League winner and German Cup runner-up in his previous role at Eintracht Frankfurt - knows how to navigate a cup run and, with Palace's recent performances suggesting they should pull clear of the danger zone, a significant cup win at their London rivals would be something to cherish in what has been a largely difficult and frustrating start to the season.
Peter Smith
Another step towards ending 70 years of hurt for Newcastle?
It's nearly 70 years since Newcastle last lifted a major trophy. They'll have another opportunity to mount a challenge to end their barren run when they take on Brentford at St James' Park. They bounced back from their harrowing defeat against the Bees by thrashing Leicester last time out.
Newcastle have been a side on the brink under Eddie Howe. A squad of players able to rival the very best in the Premier League, and one that found themselves challenging in Europe just two seasons ago but they are yet to find that next level.
The Magpies were runners-up in 2023 when they were bettered by Manchester United but that proverbial next step could await them once again.
Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali all starred as they ended their winless run against Leicester and Howe will be relying on them again to end their run of seven decades without a major honour as they close on the Carabao Cup.
William Bitibiri
Wednesday 18th December 7:00pm Kick off 7:45pm
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Cup win is Brentford's best chance for Europe
Surprisingly, this is not the furthest Brentford have been in this competition, with the Bees reaching the Carabao Cup semi-finals in the Covid-impacted 2020-21 campaign.
Thomas Frank has always taken the cup competitions seriously and there's a reason for it.
Brentford know a top-seven finish to secure European football is a steep challenge, especially if they continue to flounder on the road in the Premier League, so the cups are the best chance for the Bees to progress to the next level.
The west Londoners, with one point on the road in seven away league games, will need to put in an improved performance at Newcastle if they are to reach the last four once again.
But Frank's side should remember they go into Wednesday's cup tie not only as equals with Newcastle - the two teams are level on points in England's top-flight - but also with a psychological edge following the 4-2 win at the Gtech Community Stadium earlier this month.
Sam Blitz
Slot will want to keep Liverpool's Big Mo going on the south coast
Liverpool travel down to Southampton in an odd position of leading both the Premier League and the new UEFA Champions League standings having lost just once in all competitions so far this season, but in need of a victory after drawing their last two league games to lose the initiative in the title race.
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Liverpool, Fulham, Premier League
Ten-player Liverpool fight back to rescue point against Fulham
Sure, there is no panic in the Reds ranks at present, but you get the feeling a shock reverse on the south coast on Wednesday night against a team with nothing to lose under interim head coach Simon Rusk could have a destabilising effect on the title favourites.
Conversely, if the holders can progress to another semi-final - it would be their fifth in this competition since 2016 - it crucially just keeps the momentum - or 'Big Mo' as they say in the US - going for Arne Slot during a hectic period in his so far remarkable debut campaign at Anfield.
Rich Morgan
Wednesday 18th December 7:00pm Kick off 8:00pm
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Could Reds win prove a springboard for Saints' top-flight survival?
Some Southampton fans may look at Wednesday's quarter-final with Liverpool as an unwelcome distraction as the club battle relegation from the Premier League, but a shock win against holders Liverpool at St Mary's could actually be a catalyst for an unlikely survival bid.
Sure, the Saints head into the tie on the back of a morale-sapping 5-0 home loss to Tottenham on Sunday that saw manager Russell Martin lose his job, with Simon Rusk taking temporary charge on the south coast.
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Southampton-Tottenham highlights.
Highlights from the Premier League match between Southampton and Tottenham
However, Southampton did recently run the Reds close when they met in the league at St Mary's, with the visitors having to come from behind to win late on in a five-goal thriller, while they will also be taking on an injury-hit team who have failed to win either of their last two top-flight encounters.
And while Rusk may have precious little time before the midweek visit of Liverpool, the interim head coach will have a group of players determined to respond to Sunday's 5-0 thrashing.
"We need to be better. It's as simple as that," centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis told Premier League Productions:
"We have got boys in there willing to put anything on the line. It sounds a bit deluded, but we have what it takes in this dressing room [to stay up]. We are not going to stop believing."
Rich Morgan
Amorim can walk in the footsteps of his predecessors with Carabao Cup victory
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Manchester City and Manchester United highlights.
WHAT A FINISH! Highlights from the astonishing Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United
Ruben Amorim has constantly reiterated the need for time and patience but like all fanbases, onlookers will start to grow restless in their desire to see their team lift silverware. It would be harsh to judge Amorim on his early trophy prospects having been named the United boss in November, however, it feels like a pressure that Amorim will want to embrace.
Erik ten Hag claimed the Carabao Cup at the first time of asking but was constantly questioned about the identity of his side, failing to instil a discernible style over his years at the club. Hoping to steer United into a new era, Amorim will perhaps be judged more on how quickly his team can adapt to his philosophy in the short to medium term rather than silverware but that doesn't mean the Carabao Cup presents an opportunity to begin his reign in the best way possible.
Jose Mourinho, a mentor for Amorim, also claimed the Carabao Cup in his first season at Old Trafford. A four-time winner of the competition, Mourinho recognised the importance of the first trophy win to set the tone for the season going forward. A win at Tottenham will give Amorim the chance to follow the tried and tested example of his predecessor.
William Bitibiri
Spurs must set up successful season with Man Utd win
Ange Postecoglou always wins silverware in his second season. How Tottenham fans would love that streak to continue and see their long wait for a trophy success finally come to an end this term.
The Europa League and FA Cup are possibilities but this opportunity, to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals with victory against a beatable Manchester United at home, cannot be passed up.
Thursday 19th December 7:00pm Kick off 8:00pm
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Spurs' thrashing of Southampton was timely, busting a five-game winless run. But a statement win at home - where they have gone four frustrating fixtures in a row without success - could shift the mood significantly back onto a more positive footing.
Of course, defeat could swing it the other way - and with Liverpool coming to town on Sunday, this is looking like it could be a defining week in terms of where Spurs' season is going.
Peter Smith
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