Liverpool and Crystal Palace have been drawn together in the fourth round of the 2025-26 Carabao Cup, setting the stage for a high-stakes midweek tie at Anfield later this month. The clash will take place on Wednesday, October 29, with kickoff scheduled for 7:45 pm GMT.
This cup meeting adds another chapter to what has already become an intriguing season-long rivalry between the two clubs. Liverpool advanced to this stage after overcoming Southampton in the third round, while Palace edged out Millwall on penalties to earn their spot.
The draw pitting these two sides together is not entirely surprising—after all, the two clubs have already met this season in the Premier League and in the Community Shield.
For Palace, the Carabao Cup tie offers a chance to build on what has been one of the most remarkable periods in recent club history. The previous campaign saw the Eagles win their first major trophy by capturing the FA Cup, and then go on to beat Liverpool in the Community Shield via penalties after a 2–2 draw at Wembley.
That victory over Liverpool in the traditional season opener has already heightened the stakes of this cup tie. Meanwhile, in league play just days ago, Palace delivered a stunning late finish to deny Liverpool their perfect start to the season, with Eddie Nketiah volleying home a 97th-minute winner in a 2–1 triumph.
Our Carabao Cup fourth round fixture details are confirmed ️ pic.twitter.com/KWENwZlVEq
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 29, 2025
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has not shied away from acknowledging the threat posed by Palace. In the aftermath of that league defeat, Slot conceded Palace “were the better side,” especially during the early phases of the game.
He also emphasized how Palace have presented consistent danger from set-pieces, counterattacks, and transitions. For Liverpool, the cup tie will represent an opportunity to retaliate—and to avoid the ignominy of back-to-back losses to the same opponent.
On the Palace side, manager Oliver Glasner sees the clash as a chance not only to protect their momentum but also to solidify their credentials across multiple fronts. While the Eagles are juggling league ambitions and a foray into the Conference League, they now have a shot at cup glory once more.
Glasner is keen to navigate the cup competitions intelligently, blending rotation and ambition as needed. Though he has not publicly set a target for the Carabao Cup, his recent comments suggest he expects his squad to compete on all available fronts.
As for the match itself, Liverpool will enjoy home advantage, but the Anfield stage has not always been kind to them this season. Their defense has shown vulnerabilities, especially against Palace in their two recent meetings.
Palace captain Marc Guéhi—who was previously linked with a move to Liverpool—could be one of the key figures in the tie, his performances increasingly scrutinized given the transfer speculation.
Liverpool, by comparison, will hope to find consistency and answers across their squad. The Reds have been forced into some rotations in cup contests recently, and questions about squad depth—especially in defense—loom following the ACL injury to young signing Giovanni Leoni.
From a narrative standpoint, the upcoming tie provides compelling subplots. The Community Shield win by Palace already gave them a psychological leg-up, and the more recent league triumph deepened that edge.
Now, Liverpool must seek redemption in front of their home crowd. For Palace, the chance to eliminate Liverpool—and in doing so advance further in a domestic cup—would be both a statement and vindication of their recent success.