EFL Cup: Which 8 Teams Will Qualify for the Semi-Final?

After Liverpool dismantled Manchester United, the football fest continues in England this week with the EFL Cup quarter-finals.

The competition which started in August will come to an end next year. Being a cup game, several clubs have been eliminated until this stage. The competition is about to get even stiffer as clubs draw closer to the final to be played in February.

Only 8 teams remain in the competition. And this week, the quarter-final fixtures will be played. Remember that it’s a knockout competition. Should the game end in a stalemate in 90 minutes, penalties will be played.

So which teams still remain in the competition?

1. Arsenal v Tottenham

Another London derby will be played before the end of the year. There’ll be more fireworks, more bants to be thrown and bragging rights (plus qualification) at stake. Both sides, having not won any major trophy in recent times, will be looking to go as far as possible in this EFL Cup competition.

For all the fine football Unai Emery’s side has been playing, they need to win a trophy. The same goes for Spurs too.

2. Chelsea v Bournemouth

Maurizio Sarri’s side has had one of the toughest games in the competition till date. Eliminating Liverpool did not come easy. Getting rid of Lampard’s Derby County was no small job. And to go even further, they have to get past Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth.

Bournemouth is notorious for how fast they can break on the counter. And the Blues will have to be wary of this when they take on their next EFL Cup opponents.

3. Leicester City v Manchester City

The Foxes welcome the Citizens to the King Power Stadium. Pep Guardiola welcomed back Kevin de Bruyne this weekend and it is expected that the Belgian will start in this game as he tries to gain full fitness.

Leicester City may not be the most prolific side in the Premier League. But they know how to pull of surprise results when they want it.

4. Middlesbrough v Burton

Both sides are the only non-Premier League sides left in the competition. And by the time this game is done with, only one side will be left to progress to the semi-finals.

Either side will fancy a chance to go against the likes of Chelsea or Manchester City or Arsenal. But until then this game is a must-win if they’re to progress to the next round.

Most teams have fielded youngsters in the EFL Cup games this season. This is not expected to change, especially for the “big teams” whose players will be playing a lot of games this festive period. With the usual suspects missing in action, how do you think these games will play out?

Leave us your comments and share your thoughts with us.