The EFL Cup quarterfinals lit up the football scene this week as teams across England fought for their place in the semifinals. On December 18, 2024, three exhilarating matches unfolded, showcasing the resilience and flair of some of the Premier League's top clubs.
First up, Liverpool made the trip to St. Mary's Stadium to face Southampton. The Reds looked to maintain their cup defense against struggling Saints. The match began tentatively due to torrential rain, which perhaps slowed the rhythm for both sides. Nevertheless, Liverpool broke the deadlock when Darwin Núñez found the net after a deflection from the Southampton defense diverted Trent Alexander-Arnold's through ball perfectly for him. The Uruguayan showed composure, slotting the ball past the keeper to put Liverpool up 1-0.
Minutes later, Harvey Elliott doubled the lead with his first goal of the season, firing home from close range after combining with Cody Gakpo. Although Liverpool seemed to have the game under control, Southampton's Cameron Archer reignited hope for the home side with his goal, slicing the deficit to just one. Despite relentless pressure from the Saints, including calls for a last-minute penalty, Liverpool managed to secure their 2-1 victory and advance to the semifinals.
Over at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal faced Crystal Palace in what turned out to be another thrilling encounter. Arsenal was caught off guard early on when Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta scored within the first five minutes, capitalizing on poor defending from Jakub Kiwior. But Arsenal, sitting comfortably third on the Premier League table, rallied back after halftime.
Gabriel Jesus delivered a sensational performance, netting a spectacular hat-trick. The Brazilian leveled the scoring with a graceful chip over the Palace keeper shortly after the break, and then soon after added to his tally, finishing emphatically from Bukayo Saka's setup. With his final goal, Jesus sealed the Gunners’ comeback and 3-2 win. Eddie Nketiah scored late for Palace, but it was merely consolation as Arsenal held on, securing their spot in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, the Magpies of Newcastle United continued their pursuit of silverware with a dominant display against Brentford. Sandro Tonali was the star here, finding the back of the net with two spectacular goals. He opened the scoring with a low strike from the edge of the area and soon after added another, volleying home from close range after catching Brentford off guard from a corner. Newcastle's Fabian Schär later added the third with an easy finish after persistent pressure on the Brentford defense.
Brentford managed to score late through Yoane Wissa, but it wasn't enough to alter their fate as Newcastle cruised through with a comprehensive 3-1 victory, moving ever closer to ending their long-standing trophy drought.
With the quarterfinal matches settled, the stage is set for the eagerly-anticipated semifinals, where Liverpool, Arsenal, and Newcastle will aim to continue their march toward lifting the EFL Cup. Fans can expect fierce competition as these clubs battle for glory and the chance to make history.
