The Carabao Cup enters another important stage on Wednesday as Premier League clubs turn their attention to domestic cup football. Among the headline fixtures, Manchester United face Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford, while Liverpool host Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.
For Manchester United, the Carabao Cup arrives at a difficult moment. Michael Carrick’s side have made an inconsistent start to the Premier League campaign, while Brighton have emerged as one of the most dangerous attacking teams in the division.
Manchester United vs Brighton: Pressure Builds on Carrick
Manchester United enter their Carabao Cup meeting with Brighton knowing that another disappointing result could increase the pressure surrounding manager Michael Carrick.
United have collected just one victory from their opening four Premier League matches and were recently beaten by Manchester City in the derby. Their performance in that defeat was particularly concerning because United struggled to create enough attacking threat despite having a numerical advantage for much of the contest.
The Carabao Cup therefore provides Carrick with an opportunity to change the mood around Old Trafford.
However, Brighton are unlikely to make that task easy.
Brighton Have Started the Season in Style
Brighton have been among the Premier League’s most entertaining sides during the opening weeks of the campaign. Fabian Hürzeler’s team have scored 13 goals in their first four league matches, making them the division’s leading scorers at this stage.
Their impressive start includes a 4-0 victory over Aston Villa and a 5-0 away win against Coventry City.
What makes Brighton particularly difficult to defend is their variety in attack. Their 13 goals include two own goals, while the other 11 have been scored by eight different players. That means Manchester United cannot simply focus on stopping one primary goalscorer.
Pascal Groß is another player United will need to watch closely. The experienced midfielder produced an excellent display against Coventry and has a notable record against Manchester United, having scored seven career goals against them.
Brighton Already Defeated United in the FA Cup
Recent history adds another layer to Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fixture.
Brighton claimed their first-ever cup victory over Manchester United earlier in 2026 when they won 2-1 at Old Trafford in the FA Cup.
United did respond last season by completing a league double against Brighton, winning 4-2 at home before recording a 3-0 victory at the Amex.
The two clubs have also met previously in the League Cup, with Manchester United winning both encounters. United recorded a 3-0 victory at Brighton in 2020, while their previous meeting in the competition in 1992 ended with United progressing 2-1 on aggregate.
United Could Rotate Their Team
With the Carabao Cup offering an opportunity to make changes, Carrick could alter his starting lineup following the weekend derby.
Benjamin Šeško could be particularly important. The forward has endured some inconsistent performances this season but has already scored in United’s Champions League campaign. His introduction from the bench in the derby came relatively late, and a start against Brighton could give him a greater opportunity to make an impact.
Manchester United are also dealing with several injury concerns. Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte, Amad Diallo, Tom Heaton and Carlos Baleba are listed among the absentees, while Luke Shaw faces a late fitness assessment.
Patrick Dorgu could therefore continue to cover for Shaw if the defender is unable to play.
Brighton Also Have Injury Problems
Brighton will not arrive at Old Trafford with a completely healthy squad either.
Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma, Jack Hinshelwood, Zadok Yohanna, Mats Wieffer, Stefanos Tzimas and Evan Ferguson are among the players expected to miss the match.
Georginio Rutter, Femi Azeez and Michael Svoboda are also doubts after missing Brighton’s emphatic victory over Coventry.
Despite those absences, Brighton’s attacking depth has been one of their biggest strengths this season.
Liverpool vs Tottenham Adds Another Carabao Cup Highlight
Another major Carabao Cup fixture sees Liverpool welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield.
The match is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, with kickoff at 8 p.m. BST. Liverpool will be looking to respond after being held to a goalless draw by Fulham in their previous Premier League match.
The League Cup represents an opportunity for Liverpool to regain momentum, although domestic cup fixtures can also provide managers with an opportunity to rotate their squads.
Tottenham will hope to take advantage of any changes made by the home side and produce a strong performance at Anfield.
How to Watch Liverpool vs Tottenham
Fans looking to watch the Liverpool vs Tottenham Carabao Cup match have several options depending on their location.
In the United Kingdom, the game is listed for TNT Sports 1. Viewers in the United States can watch on Paramount+, while Stan Sport carries the match in Australia.
For viewers in India, the match is listed on SONY TEN 5. Coverage is also available through various broadcasters in other international markets.
Carabao Cup Provides a Fresh Opportunity
The Carabao Cup can quickly change the narrative around a team because knockout football leaves little room for mistakes.
For Manchester United, beating Brighton would provide Carrick with valuable breathing room after a difficult start. For Brighton, another victory over United would strengthen their reputation as one of the Premier League’s most dangerous sides.
Liverpool and Tottenham, meanwhile, have their own reasons to take the competition seriously as they look to progress deeper into the domestic cup.
With Premier League heavyweights entering the competition, the Carabao Cup is beginning to provide the kind of high-profile fixtures that can define the early stages of a season.
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