Wednesday's EFL Cup predictions including Liverpool vs. Chelsea, Man City vs. Brighton

By Matt Law | 28 Oct 2026 00:15, Last updated: 28 Oct 2026 00:15

Today's EFL Cup predictions see Liverpool's clash with Chelsea astatine Anfield, and a contention betwixt Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Man City vs. Brighton (Wednesday, 7.30pm)

Two teams bidding to rapidly bounce backmost from Premier League disappointment astatine the play quadrate disconnected successful the EFL Cup 4th circular connected Wednesday night, arsenic holders Manchester City play big to Brighton & Hove Albion.

This Etihad Stadium brushwood is the archetypal of a quickfire double-header betwixt the 2 clubs, who volition fastener horns again successful the Premier League conscionable 3 days later.

We say: Manchester City 3-2 Brighton & Hove Albion

A compelling, end-to-end cupful necktie should beryllium successful store astatine the Etihad betwixt the lone 2 Premier League sides to breach the 20-goal milestone already this season.

Man City's persistent antiaircraft vulnerabilities volition connection plentifulness of encouragement to Brighton, but with some managers expected to shuffle their packs, we are backing the hosts to outgun the Seagulls and borderline a high-scoring matter to advancement to circular five.

> Click present to work our afloat preview for Man City vs. Brighton, including squad quality and predicted lineups

Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa (Wednesday, 7.45pm)

Bournemouth play big to Aston Villa successful the EFL Cup 4th circular connected Wednesday evening, with the brace having toppled the 2 Manchester clubs implicit the weekend.

The Cherries and Villans present beryllium successful 13th and ninth presumption successful the Premier League table respectively.

We say: Bournemouth 2-3 Aston Villa

With dense squad rotation expected, this is simply a hard lucifer to predict. However, if some teams spell connected the offensive, that could suit an Aston Villa outfit with superior squad depth, leaving america to backmost the visitors to travel done successful a five-goal thriller.

> Click present to work our afloat preview for Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa, including squad quality and predicted lineups

Sunderland vs. Brentford (Wednesday, 7.45pm)

Sunderland volition enactment their Premier League endurance ngo to erstwhile broadside erstwhile they invited Brentford to the Stadium of Light for an EFL Cup fourth-round necktie connected Wednesday night.

The Black Cats and the Bees conscionable conscionable implicit 7 weeks aft playing retired a 1-1 top-flight gully astatine the Gtech Community Stadium.

We say: Sunderland 0-2 Brentford

With some managers highly apt to heavy shuffle their packs successful the North East, the playing tract could good beryllium levelled successful an EFL Cup necktie that ranks precise otherwise connected each club's precedence database this season.

While a weary Sunderland outfit are presently balancing a Premier League relegation scrap with European commitments, a thriving Brentford broadside are taking this contention earnestly and should yet tract a beardown capable squad to navigate their mode past an out-of-sorts Black Cats broadside to unafraid their transition into circular five.

> Click present to work our afloat preview for Sunderland vs. Brentford, including squad quality and predicted lineups

Fulham vs. Crystal Palace (Wednesday, 7.45pm)

Two bottom-half Premier League teams displacement their absorption to the EFL Cup 4th circular connected Wednesday night, arsenic Fulham invited Crystal Palace to Craven Cottage.

While the unit has been lifted from Alvaro Arbeloa’s shoulders successful caller weeks, determination look to beryllium increasing concerns implicit Pierre Sage’s aboriginal astatine Selhurst Park.

We say: Fulham 1-1 Crystal Palace (Fulham to triumph connected penalties) 

While some teams person endured challenging campaigns frankincense far, Fulham look to beryllium turning a country conscionable arsenic a defensively-frail Crystal Palace broadside caput successful the other direction.

A closely-contested conflict successful the superior whitethorn extremity each quadrate aft 90 minutes, but we are backing the Cottagers to clasp their nervus connected penalties and advancement to circular five.

> Click present to work our afloat preview for Fulham vs. Crystal Palace, including squad quality and predicted lineups

Liverpool vs. Chelsea (Wednesday, 8pm)

Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield for the 3rd clip arsenic a manager and the archetypal successful complaint of Chelsea connected Wednesday, erstwhile the Blues look Liverpool successful the 4th circular of the EFL Cup.

The London broadside person defeated Luton Town and Leeds United to advancement this far, portion Andoni Iraola's men bushed Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 successful the erstwhile circular and present purpose to scope the competition's quarter-finals.

We say: Liverpool 3-2 Chelsea

The expected rotation and some teams' antiaircraft absentees could nutrient an unfastened contention betwixt 2 lineups containing respective players keen to impress.

Chelsea person capable idiosyncratic endowment to threaten, but Liverpool's caller comeback victories suggest that the hosts are amended equipped to prevail if the necktie becomes chaotic.

> Click present to work our afloat preview for Liverpool vs. Chelsea, including squad quality and predicted lineups