The final week before Christmas saw four clubs emerge victorious in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, each moving a step closer to winning the first major piece of silverware of the 2024/25 season.
Liverpool and Arsenal enjoyed narrow wins over Southampton and Crystal Palace respectively, while Newcastle United were a little more comfortable when they saw off Brentford. Then Tottenham and Manchester United went head-to-head in north London to wrap things up 24 hours later.
With his help Fotmob player ratings, 90 minutes picks the best player from each of the four ties…
The best player on the field as Liverpool narrowly beat Southampton without a manager at St Mary’s there was no Mohamed Salah, no Trent Alexander-Arnold, not even goalscorer Darwin Nunez. Instead, Wataru Endo earned this honor for his consistent and impressive performance.
The Japan international started unusually in the back four due to injuries and Virgil van Dijk was rested. But he was outstanding, once misplacing a pass, winning all four of his tackles, all eight ground duels and three of five aerial duels.
For Dominic Solanke, this week’s tie marked his fourth and fifth goals against Manchester in the 18 months since the start of last season – just he loves to score against themno matter who he plays with.
The former of the pair had real poacher’s instincts, reacting quicker to a rebound and keeping his composure to deceive the keeper by finishing at the near post when the far post was the obvious choice. The second saw him cut in from the left and shoot low into the net from 18 yards.
After a ten-month ban for betting breaches and a return to football in August, it looks like Wednesday night’s performance against Brentford could be the catalyst for Sandro Tonali to justify his status as the most expensive Italian player in the history.
The Newcastle United midfielder scored twice in the first half at St James’ Park on his own, the first a drilled strike from distance and the second a calm volley from a corner. Goals aren’t usually his game, but Tonali had five shots in total and, in one night, matched his tally from the entire 2022/23 season with Milan. He clearly has the potential to be a real star in this Magpies team.
Imagine waiting a year and a day for a home goal, then three in less than half an hour. This is it what exactly happened to Gabriel Jesus this week.
The misfiring Brazilian hadn’t scored at the Emirates Stadium since December 17, 2023, when the Gunners hosted Crystal Palace, and it didn’t look like that would change after the visitors took a shock lead and Arsenal appeared notably meek.
Halftime changes changed everything. This, in turn, gave Jesus three chances and he took each one with the clinical confidence of a regular scorer.
