Premier League Giants Breeze Into Carabao Cup Fourth Round

The Carabao Cup’s midweek fixtures delivered few shocks but plenty of flair as four Premier League heavyweights flexed their muscles against lower-league challengers. Manchester City, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal all cruised through, with each victory carrying its own talking points.

Foden Shows His Class For City

At Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium, Manchester City showcased the gulf between the champions and their Championship hosts. Phil Foden opened the scoring with the calmness of a player who seems to thrive under Pep Guardiola’s tactical trust, before setting up Savinho’s second. City’s 80% possession summed up the one-way traffic, even if Huddersfield’s Cameron Ashia nearly made it interesting when he rattled the post late on.

Fans online were quick to hail Foden’s performance, with one City supporter writing on X: “Phil isn’t just our future, he’s our present. World-class again.”

Newcastle’s Hold On The Trophy Looks Firm

Defending champions Newcastle reminded everyone why they lifted the cup last season with a commanding 4-1 win over Bradford City. Joelinton and Will Osula both bagged braces, while Bruno Guimarães pulled the strings in midfield. Eddie Howe’s rotated side still looked ruthless, underlining their intent to make the Carabao Cup their own again.

Newcastle fans, many of whom remember the club’s decades-long wait for silverware, have warmed to this competition. “Long may the Carabao reign continue,” joked one supporter on Reddit.

Palhinha’s Bicycle Kick Lights Up Tottenham’s Night

In north London, Joao Palhinha produced the highlight of the round with a stunning bicycle kick to set Tottenham on their way to a 3-0 win over Doncaster Rovers. An own goal and Brennan Johnson’s late strike sealed the deal for a Spurs side that looked professional from start to finish.

Coach Thomas Frank emphasised respect for the competition by naming a strong lineup, including Xavi Simons and Rodrigo Bentancur. Palhinha’s goal, already circulating across social media clips, had Spurs fans calling it “goal of the tournament so far.”

Eze Opens His Arsenal Account

For Arsenal, it was Eberechi Eze who stole the headlines, netting his first goal in the famous red shirt during a gritty 2-0 win at Port Vale. The Gunners were pushed harder than expected, with Vale buoyed by their biggest crowd in over 20 years. Leandro Trossard’s late strike eventually ended the contest, but Mikel Arteta admitted it had been a proper cup tie: tough, physical and noisy.

Eze’s debut goal sparked excitement among Arsenal supporters, many of whom see him as a creative weapon capable of unlocking stubborn defences. “That’s the start of something special,” one fan posted on Instagram.

A Competition With Local Flavor

The Carabao Cup has long carried a mixed reputation, sometimes dismissed as a “lesser” trophy but often remembered for its magic moments. For fans of lower-league clubs like Huddersfield and Port Vale, hosting England’s elite remains a rare chance to measure up against the best and fill stands to capacity.

For the Premier League sides, though, the competition is a chance to rotate, blood new signings, and, for managers under pressure, a way to deliver silverware quickly. With the fourth round looming, the stage is set for even more drama and fans across England will be hoping for the kind of cup upset that gives the Carabao its sparkle.

{Source: SABC Sport}

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