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Saturday, January 11, 2025

The 4 best players in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup


In the final week before Christmas, four clubs emerged victorious in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, each going one step closer to lifting the first major trophy of the 2024/25 season.

Liverpool and Arsenal enjoyed narrow wins over Southampton and Crystal Palace respectively, while Newcastle United were slightly more comfortable against Brentford. Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United clashed in north London to wrap things up 24 hours later.

With the help of Fotmob player ratings, 90 minutes pick the best player from each of the four qualifiers…

Wataru Endo

Wataru Endo was a rock for Liverpool / Michael Steele / GettyImages

The best player on the pitch com Liverpool narrowly beat Southampton, without a manager at St Mary’s there was no Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, or even goalscorer Darwin Nunez. Instead, Wataru Endo took that honor for his solid and active display.

The Japan international started unusually in the back four due to injuries and Virgil van Dijk being rested. But he was excellent, barely misplacing a pass, winning all four tackles, eight ground duels and three out of five aerial duels.

Fotmob rating: 8.0/10

Dominic Solanke

Dominic Solanke has Man Utd number / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages

For Dominic Solanke, this week’s equalizer marked his fourth and fifth goals against Manchester in the 18 months since the start of last season; he loves scoring against themno matter who you play for.

The first of the pair was of a true poacher’s instincts, reacting quicker to a rebound and keeping his composure to fool the keeper by finishing at the near post when the far post was the obvious option. The second saw him cut inside from the left and fire low into the net from 18 yards.

Fotmob rating: 8.9/10

Sandro Tonali

Sandro Tonali scored twice for Newcastle / Michael Regan / GettyImages

After being banned for ten months for betting breaches and returning to football in August, it looks like Wednesday night’s performance against Brentford may have been the catalyst for Sandro Tonali to justify his status as Italy’s most dear of history

The Newcastle United midfielder scored twice in the first half at St James’ Park alone, the first with a strike from distance and the second with a calmly converted volley from a corner. Goals aren’t usually his game, but Tonali hit five shots in total and in one night equaled his tally for the entire 2022/23 season with AC Milan. He clearly has the potential to be a real star in this Magpies team.

Fotmob rating: 9.0/10

Gabriel Jesus

Gabriel Jesus unexpectedly scored a hat-trick / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

Imagine waiting a year and a day for a home goal, then three come in less than half an hour. That’s it exactly what happened to Gabriel Jesus this week

The struggling Brazilian hadn’t scored at the Emirates Stadium since December 17, 2023, when the Gunners hosted Crystal Palace, and that didn’t look set to change after the visitors took a surprise lead and Arsenal looked particularly tame .

Half-time substitutions changed everything. This in turn presented Jesus with three chances and he took each one with the clinical confidence of someone who regularly scores.

Fotmob rating: 9.6/10

READ THE LATEST CARABAO CUP NEWS, PREDICTIONS AND SCORES HERE



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