Carabao Cup: Semi-final first leg Newcastle vs. Man City, Chelsea vs. Arsenal, live on Sky Sports | Soccer News

The Carabao Cup returns to Sky Sports this week for the first leg of the semi-final.

Leaders Newcastle United face Manchester City at St James’ Park on Tuesday, while Chelsea face Arsenal on Wednesday. Both games kick off at 8 p.m.

All four teams hope to gain an advantageous position before the comeback game in early February. Arsenal host Chelsea on Tuesday 3rd February, before Manchester City take on Newcastle on Wednesday 4th February.

The final will take place at Wembley on Sunday 22nd March and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Ahead of this week’s match, Sky Sports’ football journalists take a look at the key talking points from the semi-final.

Same but different – Newcastle face new Carabao Cup test

Carabao Cup semi-finals are nothing new for the Magpies. It was last year’s match against Arsenal that qualified them for the Wembley final.

Newcastle will need to do the same against Manchester City this year if they are to defend their title, but while experience from 12 months ago will be key, there are a number of differences.

Let’s start with the opposition parties. Josep Guardiola has won the Carabao Cup four times and is a master of juggling multiple competitions. Eddie Howe described them as the most difficult team in the country to play over two legs, and few would disagree.

EFL Cup Live

Tuesday, January 13th 7pm

Secondly, Newcastle are playing at home in the first leg, whereas last season’s second leg was at home (although it is often seen as an unfavorable draw).

St James’ Park is known for its loud, intimidating atmosphere that can silence even the best teams. Much of Newcastle’s success has been driven by passion and energy from the stands.

Anyone with a ticket for Tuesday’s game will know they need to do exactly the same to give Newcastle as much of an advantage as possible before the return leg at the Etihad, and there’s no doubt Magpies fans will be making a fuss as well.

Of course, Newcastle’s team is also evolving. Alexander Isaac, who scored in the first leg and final against the Emirates last January, is not available, but Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes, who scored twice in last season’s semi-final tie, are both in good form.

After all, this competition holds a very special place in Newcastle’s heart. Given the sheer emotion and joy winning the Carabao Cup last season brought to Tyneside, some might argue that none of the final four sides are more desperate to win than the Magpies.

And it felt like Newcastle were destined to win. They had the players, the coach, and the momentum.

Although they are currently in a similar position, there are many differences that will require an experienced manager to defend their Carabao Cup title and get them back at Wembley.
charlotte marsh

Semenyo will be given a key role in Pep’s change in priorities

Manchester City are in dreamland when it comes to the Premier League standings. After last season’s disastrous defeat, manager Pep Guardiola’s greatest hope will be something close to what was achieved. It can be seen at the halfway point of the title photo.

But if Guardiola is realistic, he knows that the Premier League is not City’s best chance of winning silver this season, despite being 10 points better than this time last year. The Carabao Cup may be a tournament that provides some consolation.

City won the League Cup six times between 2013 and 2021 but have not been able to get beyond the quarter-final stage since then. It probably makes sense when evaluating the priorities of your last few campaigns. Guardiola won three league titles and the Champions League during that time.

But priorities change over time. If Arsenal lose in the Premier League and success in Europe is a pipe dream, domestic cup competitions are the best chance to add to Guardiola’s trophy cabinet as he approaches the end of a remarkable decade. Probably his last.

Competing on all fronts is the minimum expectation and this next block of games will determine City’s future. Nine games will be played in four separate competitions over the next four weeks, but the squad lacks depth due to injuries. That grueling run included two matches against Newcastle, the Manchester derby and trips to Tottenham and Liverpool. Maintaining the spark is key.

The arrival of Antoine Semenyo could be the boost City need, with individual talent capable of making an immediate impact. City have acquired yet another low-block specialist who can cut through dense defenses and create more opportunities for Erling Haaland to feed off. Semenyo will certainly be given the task at St James’ Park on Tuesday.

He has scored five goals in his last seven appearances, including one on his City debut last weekend, and has clearly made a difference. Even when complex possessions don’t work, Semenyo excels in transition. In this chaotic era of football, he is the perfect deviant.
laura hunter

Arsenal have trophy hopes but must put title charge on hold

Mikel Arteta is striking a delicate balance between now and May. Many would say it would be wise to forego domestic cup competitions in order to maintain Arsenal’s pace at the top of the Premier League. I think that’s a mistake.

Putting all your eggs in one basket is a dangerous game. If one fails, there is still a team, or at least one, that is in a position to take advantage. Arteta knows first-hand the threat Manchester City pose and their ability to seize opportunities and halt their winning streak. The title fight is not over yet and there are no guarantees.

Arteta has been given the strongest team in the league for this very reason. It is designed to withstand the test of time throughout the season as Arsenal perform well in each competition. They have already survived a tough festive period and have emerged with a six-point advantage over City, giving them a nice breathing space. Stand back while all possibilities are open to you.

EFL Cup Live

Wednesday, January 14th 7pm

The Spaniard needs a trophy and a trophy of his own making. He will not be eligible to play in the 2020 FA Cup as he takes over the team midway through the season. Arsenal have not even reached the final since then.

Sunday’s FA Cup win over a weakened side, Portsmouth, should be further evidence that Arteta can rotate and expect to win no matter the opponent. Perseverance on a project should be rewarded at some point with a trophy or title, not just “progress.” The longer you wait, the less meaning the word has.

Failure is not an option for Arteta this time. He must go to Chelsea with the same winning mentality that he has worked so hard to develop.
laura hunter

Arsenal test could set the tone of Rosenior’s reign

Liam Rosenior’s first game as Chelsea head coach went as expected with a 5-1 win over Championship side Charlton. But his first real test will be on Wednesday when Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

The magnitude of this opportunity speaks for itself. Unbeaten in their last seven trips to Stamford Bridge, the Premier League leaders, rivals from across the capital, are in town and a spot at Wembley is on the line. Rosenior will be making his first appearance in front of Chelsea’s home fans, but first impressions are important.

His predecessor, Enzo Maresca, was unloved by most of the fan base, but was respected primarily for his tactical sense in important matches. He departed on New Year’s Day having scored wins against Barcelona and Liverpool in recent months, as well as producing an impressive 10-man draw against the Gunners.

Can Rosenior emulate that success? That’s the big question mark standing in his way. His achievements at Derby, Hull and Strasbourg show that he is an excellent coach. But is he good enough to compete with the likes of Mikel Arteta and Josep Guardiola? Is he good enough to win the trophy Chelsea fans want?

The skepticism is understandable. While Rosenior was warmly received by The Valley’s away fans, the same cannot be said for his appointees. Chelsea have taken a step back from last season, with another head coach leaving amid a rift with the club’s decision-makers. Co-owner Behada Egbali and several sporting directors have been targeted by away supporters in the past week.

The atmosphere is difficult for Rosenior to step into. It will become even more difficult if his side underperform against the Gunners, giving further impetus to those who doubt he would have been given the job if he had not already been at Chelsea’s sister club.

The best way to win over the skeptics and quell any dissatisfaction with the boss within the fan base is to win. It would be a good start if we can do that against Arsenal. It would be even better if we could do it at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final.

That’s why Wednesday is so important for Chelsea and Rosenior. That could go a long way in setting the tone for his reign.
Joe Shred