Which 8 Teams Will Qualify for the EFL Cup Quarter-Finals?

Club football action continues this week across Europe.

But league football and UCL football will be taking a back seat for league cup games across Europe. What that means is that in England, the Carabao Cup action will continue from where it stopped last month.

16 teams have since moved on to the next stage of the competition which will be played over the next three days.

Of these 16 teams, 10 ply their trade in the Premier League. It’s easy to use this as a yardstick and say that a PL team will win this. But Cup games can be very dicey. As we countdown to the games, let’s take a look at the games to be played:

• Bournemouth vs. Norwich

Judging by the performances of both clubs in the previous round, this might as well go down as a goal fest. In Bournemouth’s win over Blackburn, 5 goals were scored. In Norwich’s away win over Wycombe, 7 goals were scored.

• Burton vs. Nottingham

The Round of 32 games both sides played saw both teams score.

• Arsenal vs. Blackpool

The Gunners’ winning run came to an end against Crystal Palace this past weekend. But they will go into this one with plenty of confidence nonetheless, knowing they should be able to find a way past a Blackpool defense that kept a clean sheet against QPR in the previous round.

• West Ham vs. Tottenham

Spurs needed penalties to send Watford out of the Carabao Cup in the Round of 32. Up next for them is a tricky tie: a London derby and a Quarter-Finals slot at stake.

• Chelsea vs. Derby

Being a cup tie, it’s likely that Chelsea’s hattrick hero, Reuben Loftus-Cheek will get a chance to have a go at Frank Lampard’s Derby, a side that knocked Manchester United out of the competition. Will Frank Lampard’s Stamford Bridge reunion end in a win or defeat for the Englishman?

• Middlesbrough vs. Crystal Palace

Middlesbrough’s was one of the five matches that went to penalties in the Carabao Cup Round of 32 games. They host a Crystal Palace that made light work of West Brom.

• Manchester City vs. Fulham

Whatever happens against Tottenham on Monday, the Citizens will be looking to continue their quest to retain the cup they won earlier this year with a win over Fulham.

•  Leicester City vs. Southampton

The game between Leicester and Southampton has been postponed due to the event that happened during the weekend which saw Leicester City lose it’s owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Which of these teams do you see qualifying for the quarter-finals of the competition? How many of these games do you think will go into penalties? Share your thoughts with us by leaving us your comments.