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Carabao Cup: Things heat up as the Round of 16 takes place – Bournemouth leads the way with a win

By Ashley Anthony

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Junior Stanislas of AFC Bournemouth (19) celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with team mate Steve Cook during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between AFC Bournemouth and Norwich City at Vitality Stadium on October 30, 2018 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Junior Stanislas of AFC Bournemouth (19) celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with team mate Steve Cook during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between AFC Bournemouth and Norwich City at Vitality Stadium on October 30, 2018 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /
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The Carabao Cup’s temperature rises in the Round of 16. Play another four more games and before you know it, it’s the finals of the cup.

The firs night of action was a bit of an anticlimax. The cup on a whole is a bit of a deflating feeling,  following up on an European footballing week. Nevertheless, following Tuesday’s fixtures are some better encounters and a day that offers more Premier League clubs.

Bournemouth is the only Premier League team who played, but they took on a Championship side able to take on any Top Flight side on their day. That, and Norwich has only recently been relegated from the Premier League as well. The Cherries have a big a shot at taking the Carabao Cup this term.

That’s based on form and the possibility of weaker opponents – if the other top clubs fail to proceed to the quarterfinal rounds of the English League Cup. After Tuesday night’s unaccompanied Premier League team took to the pitch, some pretty interesting encounters are about to take place.

Wednesday night’s Round of 16 picks

Chelsea vs. Derby County
Arsenal vs. Blackpool
Middlesbrough vs. Crystal Palace
West Ham vs. Tottenham
Fulham vs. Manchester City

https://twitter.com/Carabao_Cup/status/1057387604767842305

The last set of fixtures doesn’t compare to a Champions League nights, yes. But could compete neck-and-neck with the Europa League, perhaps. Rating the battles from good to bad I would say;

The London derby could be brilliant at the London Stadium. West Ham takes on Tottenham in a god old fashion derby. West Ham stands a good chance knowing Spurs has struggled to take their cup competitions seriously. Almost out the Champions League and taking a full 90 minutes plus extra time, and even penalties against Watford. Could be the same outcome perhaps.

Next up we have Chelsea and their opponents for the night. A former Blues leading his first team as a manager to his adored Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It will be a special night indeed. If the travelling team can repeat the same highs of their previous Carabao Cup fixture, when they knocked out Jose and Man United – they will surely give Sarri a run for his money.

Manchester City comes up against Fulham in an encounter at the Etihad stadium. See this going one way – a heavy goal-rush, but a one-sided affair. Best scoring team in the Premier League takes on worst defence in the league – target practice,

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Middlesbrough’s good fortune let’s them welcome Roy’s men, Crystal Palace. The tie should have some good moments, but Middlesbrough has only scored one goal in their last two fixtures.

Arsenal should actually be whipping the floor with their opponents when they meet Blackpool inside the Emirates stadium. The luck of the home draw be with the Citizens and the Gunners.

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