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Follow reaction and EFL Cup semi-final draw after Manchester City beat Brentford and Newcastle see off Fulham.
This live report covers the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Manchester City defeated Brentford, with Cherki and Savinho scoring. In the other match, Newcastle secured a late win against Fulham after Wissa opened the scoring for Newcastle, Lukic equalized for Fulham, and Miley put the hosts back ahead in stoppage time. The semi-final draw is set to follow, with Newcastle facing Man City and Chelsea playing either Crystal Palace or Arsenal. Live coverage details are available via the 'watch & listen' tab.
That's the end of the Carabao Cup action for another six days. The next football coverage will be tomorrow, as Crystal Palace take on Kups in the Conference League, where they need a positive result to avoid a play-off round in the new year.
Following their 2-0 victory, Brentford is scheduled to train at City's facility tomorrow before returning to London. When asked about Keith Andrews' opinion that Abdukodir Khusanov should have been sent off, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola humorously stated, "Tomorrow at the training ground, I'll invite him to the cafe and we will discuss it."
Man City boss Pep Guardiola highly praised Rayan Cherki after the match, stating, "Close to the 18-yard box of the opponent he is an exceptional player. It was a fantastic goal, a blind guy, a blind woman can realise, it is not necessary to be a journalist or a manager to realise he is a fantastic, fantastic player. I saw it many times with Phil [Foden] this type of goal, with Kevin [De Bruyne] before, so I am happy that it opened the game."
In the semi-final draw, the teams drawn first will have the advantage of playing their first leg match at home.
The exciting Carabao Cup semi-final draw has been completed. The matchups are: Chelsea vs Arsenal or Crystal Palace, and Newcastle vs Manchester City. The first legs of these semi-finals are scheduled to be played on the week of 12 January, with the return legs taking place on the week of 2 February.
That was an exciting draw worth waiting ages for.
The first semi-final pairing has been announced: Newcastle will face Manchester City.
Can anyone guess the other semi-final now?
The second semi-final pairing is Chelsea v Arsenal or Crystal Palace.
Time for the draw!!
Fulham manager Marco Silva expressed pride in his players' attitude and work ethic despite the difficult loss. He noted the first half was better for Fulham, but the second became more challenging. Silva acknowledged the bravery of his players until the final whistle in a tough away fixture and emphasized the need for rest before their important game on Monday.
One more TV ad break before we get to the semi-final draw.
Brentford midfielder Mathias Jensen reflected on their Carabao Cup match against Manchester City, stating they 'gave it a go' and played with 'a lot of courage'. He felt they performed 'quite well', noting that City's goals came from a set-piece and a transition, and that City didn't have many clear-cut chances. Jensen believed they did well in the initial phases but lacked 'a bit of quality in the final third'.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was 'really pleased' with the tough win against Fulham, emphasizing the team's control and deserving victory. He highly praised young Lewis Miley's 'brilliant performance' at right-back, noting Miley's talent and belief in playing at this level. Howe was also positive about Yoane Wissa's goal and Alex Murphy's contribution from the bench. He highlighted the team's determination to bounce back after Sunderland and their ambition to win trophies despite the tough remaining competition. Howe expressed concern over Tino Livramento's injury, calling it a 'worrying sign' given their stretched squad.
Brentford boss Keith Andrews praised his team for playing with 'a lot of courage' against Manchester City, despite having only one day for preparation and training after making several changes due to player absences. He commended the players' intelligence and adaptability in flipping their system, noting his impression of their play, particularly their defensive efforts. Although disappointed with the lack of quality in the final third, Andrews was very proud of his team's performance.
Man City youngster Divine Mukasa expressed his enjoyment of his home debut, stating his goal was to enjoy himself and secure a win, which they achieved. He felt it was 'a great night' that truly showcased the club's ability to not only attract top players but also develop talent through its academy, highlighting his belief in the academy's potential.
Hopefully being the key word in waiting for the draw results.
The EFL announced that the semi-final draw would be held at 'approximately 10:35 PM', so fans are eagerly awaiting its commencement.
Lewis Miley's goal-scoring record shows a clear upward trend season by season: 0 goals in 2022-23, 1 in 2023-24, 2 in 2024-25, and 3 in 2025-26. This pattern suggests an expectation of four goals next season.
The semi-final first legs of the Carabao Cup are scheduled to be played during the week of 12 January, with the decisive second legs following on the week of 2 February.