Liverpool draw Crystal Palace in Carabao Cup Round 4 after narrow Southampton win
Liverpool’s Carabao Cup title defence just became more complicated. After edging past Southampton 2-1 at Anfield in Round 3 — courtesy of goals from Alexander Isak and a late Hugo Ekitiké strike — the Reds have been drawn against Crystal Palace in the next round.
Manager Arne Slot fielded a heavily rotated side against Southampton, handing minutes to youngsters and fringe players. But despite the win, lapses at the back and Ekitiké’s costly red card underlined ongoing concerns as the competition toughens.
The Round 4 draw also produced several enticing fixtures: Arsenal will host Brighton at the Emirates, Wolves face Chelsea, while Newcastle welcome Tottenham in a clash of top-four contenders.
For Liverpool, however, the Palace tie carries extra weight. The London side defeated them on penalties in the FA Community Shield earlier this season, adding psychological spice to an already tricky matchup. With pressure mounting on multiple fronts, the Reds must decide whether to rotate again or unleash their heavy hitters when the tie kicks off at the end of October.
