Wembley might still be a few months away on the horizon, but Anfield is already starting to dream.
When you look at Liverpool’s storied history in this competition—boasting a record ten triumphs—the League Cup always carries a distinct weight on Merseyside. Under Andoni Iraola, the Reds have just taken their first firm step toward another potential March trip to the capital, swatting aside Tottenham Hotspur in a commanding 3-1 victory under the lights on Tuesday night.
It was a performance that had everything supporters crave. Alexis Mac Allister continued his red-hot run of form by finding the back of the net, while Spurs summer transfer target Cody Gakpo also got his name on the scoresheet. But the real exclamation point came courtesy of an absolute rocket from Dominik Szoboszlai right in front of the Kop, sealing a night that reminded everyone just how electric Anfield can be when the floodlights are on.
Now, attention inevitably turns from the grass to the balls in the bowl. With the dust settled on a brilliant Tuesday evening of cup football, the entire fanbase is asking one simple question: who is next?
### When is the Carabao Cup Fourth Round Draw?
If you are planning your Wednesday night around the television, you will not have to wait too much longer. The Carabao Cup fourth round draw takes place tonight—Wednesday, September 16—at approximately 10:30 pm BST.
The draw will be broadcast live on Sky Sports straight after the conclusion of Manchester United’s high-stakes tie against Brighton & Hove Albion. Pien Meulensteen will host the proceedings, with former Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp and Ashley Young stepping up to do the honors of pulling the balls out of the bowl.
The best part about the round four draw? There are no seedings, no regional permutations, and no hidden complications. It is a completely open draw, meaning anyone can face anyone.
### Who Has Made It Through So Far?
As things stand, we already know 11 of the 16 sides who will be booking their places in the hat for the quarter-finals.
Alongside Liverpool, three other Premier League heavyweights successfully navigated Tuesday night’s hurdles: Arsenal, Brentford, and Fulham all punched their tickets. They are joined by League One representatives Peterborough United, who proved once again that domestic cups love a giant-killing storyline.
Those sides join the six teams who secured their progression a week earlier—a staggered schedule designed to avoid a fixture gridlock with UEFA club competitions. That means Chelsea, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Championship side Sunderland are safely through, alongside another League One outfit in Bradford City.
The final five matches of this round take place across Wednesday and Thursday nights, rounding out the last-16 lineup:
* **Wednesday, September 16:**
* Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (7:45 pm)
* Fleetwood Town vs Sheffield United (7:45 pm)
* Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion (8:00 pm)
* Coventry City vs Aston Villa (8:00 pm)
* **Thursday, September 17:**
* Manchester City vs Norwich City (7:30 pm)
### Navigating a Brutal Schedule
For Iraola and his squad, keeping one eye on the fixture calendar is practically a full-time job.
The fourth-round ties are scheduled to take place across October 27, 28, and 29. However, Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League schedule offers a vital clue as to when the Reds might play. With a daunting home match against Brighton & Hove Albion looming the preceding Sunday, a Tuesday night slot is automatically ruled out—meaning Wednesday or Thursday looks the most likely fit, especially with a massive clash against Arsenal waiting at Anfield on Sunday, November 1.
Add in a demanding European slate featuring matches against Villarreal and Fenerbahçe in the Champions League around that exact period, and the logistical jigsaw puzzle becomes staggering.
Iraola will undoubtedly be crossing his fingers for a kind home draw to ease the burden on his squad legs. But whatever happens when Redknapp and Young start pulling out the balls tonight, Liverpool have firmly thrown their hat into the ring. The march to Wembley is officially underway.