Crystal Palace will travel to Fulham in the Carabao Cup fourth round, following Wednesday’s draw. The all-Premier League London derby is one of the standout pairings from the full fourth-round draw. The tie is set to be played during the week commencing 26 October. Pierre Sage’s side now know their next assignment in the competition after progressing through the earlier rounds.
The trip across London adds another date to an already busy autumn schedule for Palace. They’re already balancing cup football with their Premier League commitments, a theme covered in our look at early domestic cup and league form. Full details of the draw were confirmed in the BBC Sport report published on Wednesday.
Crystal Palace Handed Fulham Away Tie in Carabao Cup Draw
Palace’s fourth-round opponents were confirmed once the third-round fixtures were completed, with Fulham drawn at home. It means Sage’s squad face a short trip across the capital rather than a longer away day. This gives the club’s travelling support an easier journey than some of the alternatives thrown up by the draw.
The pairing continues a run of domestic cup football for Palace this season and gives the club a chance to test their squad depth against fellow top-flight opposition. No further details on kick-off time or date have been confirmed beyond the general week of the fixture.
BBC Sport Confirms Complete Carabao Cup Fourth-Round Draw
BBC Sport confirmed the full set of fourth-round pairings after Wednesday’s draw followed the season’s remaining third-round matches. The complete list of ties is as follows:
- Fleetwood Town vs Arsenal
- Liverpool vs Chelsea
- Bradford vs Peterborough
- Fulham vs Crystal Palace
- Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
- Sunderland vs Brentford
- Everton vs Newcastle United
- Manchester City or Norwich City vs Brighton
League Two side Fleetwood Town reached the fourth round for the first time in their history, beating Sheffield United 1-0 on Wednesday night. They have been drawn at home to Premier League champions Arsenal, who beat Ipswich Town 4-2 on Tuesday to reach the fourth round.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso will return to Anfield to face his former club Liverpool in another notable tie from the draw. League One pair Bradford and Peterborough, who beat Leyton Orient and Barnsley respectively in the third round, will meet each other in the next stage.
Holders Manchester City will host Brighton at the Etihad Stadium, but only if they beat Norwich City in Thursday’s outstanding third-round fixture. That result was not yet known at the time of the draw. The identity of Brighton’s opponents remains conditional on Thursday’s match being played and won by City.
Pierre Sage Prepares Crystal Palace Squad for October Cup Trip
Sage now has a clear run of fixtures to plan around before the trip to Craven Cottage. The Carabao Cup tie arrives during a congested period that includes Premier League matches, so squad rotation is likely to remain a talking point through October.
Sage has already shown a willingness to rotate his group across competitions this season, giving fringe players minutes while managing the workload of his first-choice options. Supporters can review the Crystal Palace squad options available to the manager as he balances a demanding calendar.
No decisions on team selection for the Fulham tie have been made public. Any changes to personnel will depend on how Palace’s fixtures in the weeks before the match unfold. The draw gives Palace a fresh route into a competition they have targeted for silverware in recent seasons. Adding extra incentive for a squad that has shown encouraging form domestically this term.
Key Carabao Cup Dates and Upcoming Schedule for Palace
Crystal Palace’s trip to Fulham will take place during the week commencing 26 October. The exact date and kick-off time have not yet been confirmed by organisers. Further scheduling details, including any television selection, are expected to follow once broadcasters finalise their picks from the full round of fixtures.
The tie will also follow the completion of Thursday’s outstanding third-round match between Manchester City and Norwich City, determining Brighton’s fourth-round opponents. Once that result is known, the full picture of the fourth round will be complete.
In the meantime, Palace’s attention turns to their Premier League programme. The Carabao Cup trip to West London stands out as a notable fixture on an increasingly busy October calendar for Sage and his squad.
Comments.
Loading comments…