The draw for the fourth round of the 2026/27 Carabao Cup has set up a series of mouth-watering ties, headlined by a massive showdown between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield. The marquee clash represents the pick of five confirmed all-Premier League encounters in the round of 16. Chelsea booked their place in the fourth round after overcoming Wolves at Molineux, setting the stage for a high-stakes journey north to face Liverpool in one of English football’s most compelling rivalries.
Alongside the showdown at Anfield, four other top-flight battles have been locked in. Everton are scheduled to host Newcastle United, while Bournemouth welcome Aston Villa. London rivals Fulham and Crystal Palace will collide in another top-tier tie, and Sunderland have been paired against Brentford. A sixth all-Premier League encounter could also materialize depending on the result of Manchester City’s third-round match against Norwich City on September 17. The winner of that tie will earn a home fixture against Brighton, who secured their spot in the fourth round after pulling off a sensational comeback victory against Manchester United.
In stark contrast to the top-flight battles, reigning Premier League champions Arsenal have been drawn against the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition. The Gunners, who reached the final of the 2025/26 edition before falling 2-0 to eventual champions Manchester City, will travel to Lancashire to face League Two side Fleetwood Town. Meanwhile, lower-league drama is guaranteed to continue into the quarter-finals thanks to an all-League One pairing between Bradford City and Peterborough United. For Peterborough, reaching this stage represents a major landmark, having not advanced this far in the competition since 2009.
All fourth-round matches are scheduled to take place during the week commencing October 26. As the tournament progresses toward the quarter-finals, the stakes remain exceptionally high for both established giants and underdog contenders. With current holders Manchester City looking to maintain their grip on the trophy they won last season and finalists Arsenal determined to push for silverware, the upcoming round promises to deliver crucial moments across the domestic cup landscape.
