Carabao Cup: United starts cup defense with a win over Palace, awaits next opponents

Carabao Cup action heats up as Manchester United defend title, Chelsea and Arsenal seek redemption, and Newcastle faces Manchester City

Casemiro celebrates after scoring against Palace in the League Cup on Tuesday, who are the teams that will join the Red Devils in the 4th round of the Carabao Cup? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Manchester United began the defense of their Carabao Cup on Tuesday with the visit of Crystal Palace to Old Trafford, and Erik Ten Hag’s men didn’t leave any stone unturned.

The Eagles will travel to Old Trafford again on Saturday for a Premier League game, but they will have to do better than they did on Tuesday under the lights when they conceded three goals without being able to reply to any.

The likes of Sofyan Amrabat and Mason Mount took to the pitch again for United, with the former making his full debut after coming on as a substitute in the 1-0 win over Burnley over the weekend, a result that halted a run of losses for the Red Devils.

Championship side Ipswich dumped Wolves out of the Carabao Cup at Portman Road on the night, heaping more pressure on Gary O’Neil’s side. It’s Ipswich’s fifth straight win, mind-blowing form for Kieran McKennie’s side.

Elsewhere on the night, Vincent Kompany led Burnley to their first win since their success in the 2^nd round of the Carabao Cup away at Nottingham Forest. The Cherries hammered Salford 4-0, heaping more misery on the League 2 side.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa will be home to struggling Everton, with the Toffees hoping to enjoy a good bounce after their big win at Brentford at the weekend. Speaking of Brentford, the Bees are at home to Arsenal, a tale of two teams seeking a return to winning ways.

Arsenal dropped two precious points at home to Tottenham from a winning position on Sunday and would need a positive result in the Cup game on Wednesday to warm up for Bournemouth at the weekend while Brentford seeks a win to drown the pains of the shock loss to Everton.

Chelsea’s horrible form will need more than prayers to grind to a halt as the Blues host high-flying Brighton. Chelsea has lost three times and drawn twice in six league games, and only a win against a strong team like Brighton could boost their confidence.

Liverpool will be home to championship side Leicester City, a banana peel that the Kops must avoid an upset with the Foxes primed to prove they’re not a spent force even as a non-premier league side; Jurgen Klopp will need to manage his squad with fast-paced football coming thick and fast.

Finally, on Wednesday, Newcastle will entertain Manchester City at St. James’s Park. It’s the first game since the Geordies hammered Sheffield United mercilessly, and it's also the first game the Premier League leaders will play without Rodri, who was sent off in their 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the weekend.