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The Carabao Cup is in full swing (you can watch all the action across the street Biggest+ And CBS Sports Network), and we’re reaching a point where Premier League teams are starting to prioritize the tournament. While it can take a back seat earlier in the season when teams are just finding their feet, every team wants to win in the last eight. But there are always parties that want it – or even need to win – more than others, and that is what we want to identify here.
There are still trophy-hungry clubs in Tottenham and Newcastle United, Manchester United are trying to usher in a new era, title contenders in Arsenal and Liverpool are here and then there are the other sides in Brentford, Crystal Palace and Southampton. Each team has very different priorities in this tournament, so let’s take a look at that.
8. Liverpool
Arne Slot’s Reds, who have led the league so far and are at the top of the league, can prioritize whatever they want at this stage of the season. No one would complain if Liverpool won the EFL Cup, but it is a performance that would spark discussions about whether this would be a season where the Reds win a treble or even a quadruple. Both are difficult feats to achieve, but the focus will be on maintaining a lead in the Premier League while removing future matches from the schedule by qualifying directly for the round of 16 play in UCL play.
7. Arsenal
Arsenal’s position may not be as rosy as Liverpool’s, but when it comes to the Gunners it’s more a matter of EFL Cup is not enough to celebrate. When a team reaches the caliber of Arsenal and Liverpool, this is a tournament where it leads to: “What now?” more than anything.
6.Southampton
Now without a coach, following a 5-0 loss to Tottenham and the move of Russell Martin, the Saints’ priority will be to stay in the Premier League. They are bottom of the league but only nine points away from safety. It’s a big margin, but also one that can be reversed. Compared to Liverpool, the Saints probably don’t have to worry too much about staying in this competition for longer and can continue to figure out who their new coach will be.
5. Crystal Palace
This is where we start to get to teams that want to win this tournament. Palace have had a poor start to the season under Oliver Glasner, but now they are unbeaten in their last five games they are moving closer to expectations. As a team that could have fallen outside the contenders for a European spot, and now away from the relegation zone, Crystal Palace will want to keep their EFL CUp going for as long as possible.
4.Manchester United
With Ruben Amorim now having a new manager at the helm, winning the EFL Cup would be a sign that United have made the right decision in their direction, but they are already hearing those signals. With a big Manchester derby win, a rise in the Europa League and improved Premier League form, the focus is likely to be on Europe. This team is unlikely to make the top four given the way their season has started, so that will be their best route to Champions League football next season.
3. Brentford
Brentord are a difficult team to judge and are probably happy to have reached this stage, but with their only league titles in Leagues One and Two – most recently in 2009, and Thomas Frank being linked to roles every time he takes a top management position it opens , this might be Brenford’s best chance at major honors in the near future. Things can change quickly in English football Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo are in top formso what better time than now to secure the biggest trophy in club history?
2. Tottenham
In his second season in charge of a club, Ange Postecoglou is winning trophies. Keeping that streak going is something that has been well proven and pointed out when Tottenham were going through tough times, but this is also one of the tougher challenges of his managerial career. Spurs’ last major trophy came in this competition in 2007–08so it would make sense to triumph in the EFL Cup to break the trophy drought and herald their return to the top tier of English football.
1. Newcastle United
After being bought by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), Newcastle United are set to return to the top flight of English football. In a way, they have shown their potential by returning to the Champions League, but after crashing out and failing to make it to European football in successive seasons, things feel hollow for the club. Their last trophy was the 1955 FA Cup and although they have come close several times, the Magpies are yet to do so. If they don’t get a trophy soon, it looks like there could be an overhaul at St. James’ Park. Again.