Carabao Cup preview, 17-18 December
Viewers on DStv and GOtv will be treated to some prime footballing action from the 2019/20 EFL League Cup – also known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons – which will hold its quarterfinals on the midweek of 17-18 December 2019.
This phase of the competition sees six of the Premier League‘s heavyweights joined in the final eight by lower league clubs Oxford United and Colchester United.
The quarterfinals of the League Cup open on the night of Tuesday 17 December as Liverpool head to Birmingham to face Aston Villa. This match will see the Reds effectively field a completely different team to the one which will do duty in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals the very next day, with manager Jurgen Klopp set to be with his first-teamers in Qatar for that competition even while this Carabao Cup clash takes place.
Nonetheless, Liverpool have already won at Villa Park this season, defeating the Lions 2-1 back in November thanks to late goals from Andrew Robertson and Sadio Mane. Whatever the make-up of the team the Reds send to face Villa, they will back themselves to secure a semifinal berth.
SuperSport viewers can then enjoy a trio of matches on the evening of Wednesday 18 December, starting with defending champions Manchester City heading to the Kassam Stadium to take on League One (third tier) side Oxford United. The Citizens have endured some difficult results of late, but they remain the kings of the Carabao Cup and manager Pep Guardiola will expect nothing less than a convincing victory from their trio to Oxfordshire.
Their cross-town rivals Manchester United will also be confident of victory when they welcome League Two (fourth tier) club Colchester United. The U’s have ousted two Premier League teams – Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur – thus far in the competition, but surely overcoming the Red Devils at Old Trafford will be a step too far for John McGreal’s team, especially with Man United targeting the League Cup as one of their realistic trophy hopes for this season.
Wednesday night also sees a second all top-flight clash between Everton and Leicester City at Goodison Park. Leicester’s superb form in the Premier League makes them the favourites for this clash, but the fact that the Toffees – inspired by caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson – claimed a win over Chelsea in their last home match suggests that this could be a real cracker for SuperSport viewers to enjoy.
Don’t miss the 2019/2020 football season on DStv and GOtv. Visit www.dstv.com and www.gotvafrica.com to subscribe or upgrade, and join in on the excitement. And while you’re on the move, you can stream matches on DStv Now.
Carabao Cup – Quarterfinal fixtures, broadcast details, 17-18 December
Tuesday 17 December
08:45 PM Aston Villa v Liverpool – LIVE on SuperSport Maximo and SuperSport 3
Wednesday 18 December
08:45 PM Everton v Leicester City – LIVE on SuperSport 5
08:45 PM Oxford United v Manchester City – LIVE on SuperSport 4
09:00 PM Manchester United v Colchester United – LIVE on SuperSport Maximo and SuperSport 3
