The winter chill is setting in, but the action on the pitch is heating up as the EFL Carabao Cup reaches its penultimate stage. With a trip to Wembley Stadium on the line, four of England’s heavyweights are set to clash in two mouth-watering first-leg ties this week.
From the resilient holders looking to defend their crown to a London rivalry renewed under fresh leadership, here is everything you need to know about the upcoming semifinals.
St. James’ Park: Newcastle United vs Manchester City
Kick-off: Tuesday, Jan 13, 20:00 GMT
The first leg of this northern blockbuster sees the defending champions, Newcastle United, host a rampant Manchester City side. Eddie Howe’s men have become cup specialists recently, but they face a City squad that is currently firing on all cylinders.
- The Storyline: Manchester City heads to Tyneside fresh off a historic 10-1 demolition of Exeter City in the FA Cup. Pep Guardiola’s side is hungry to reclaim the trophy they dominated for years. However, Newcastle has already proven they can topple the giants, having beaten City 2-1 in the Premier League earlier this season.
- Key Player to Watch: Harvey Barnes has been the Magpies’ “City Slayer,” scoring twice in their last meeting. For the visitors, all eyes are on new signing Antoine Semenyo, who netted on his debut last weekend and looks ready to lead the line.
- Team News: Newcastle will be missing Dan Burn and Fabian Schar, while City travels without Ruben Dias, Gavrdiol and Savinho due to minor knocks.
Stamford Bridge: Chelsea vs Arsenal
Kick-off: Wednesday, Jan 14, 20:00 GMT
A classic London Derby takes center stage on Wednesday. Chelsea enters a new era under manager Liam Rosenior, while Arsenal continues their relentless pursuit of silverware under Mikel Arteta.
- The Storyline: Rosenior enjoyed a perfect start to his Chelsea tenure with a 5-1 win over Charlton, but the Gunners represent a massive step up in quality. Arsenal is currently sitting at the top of the Premier League and is desperate to end a six-year domestic trophy drought.
- The Tactical Battle: Arsenal has been defensively rock-solid, but Gabriel Martinelli—who just scored a hat-trick in the FA Cup—will be the primary threat. Chelsea will look to Enzo Fernandez to control the tempo and break the lines of the disciplined Arsenal midfield.
- Historical Edge: Arsenal is unbeaten in their last eight meetings against the Blues, but cup football often throws the history books out the window.
Where to Watch
Both matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football in the UK. International fans can follow live scores, heatmaps, and real-time updates via the 365Scores App and where to watch in your location.
Note: The second-leg fixtures are scheduled for the week of February 2, 2026, where the finalists for the March 22 showdown will be officially decided.
