Why aren’t Chelsea and Liverpool on TV tonight?
The Carabao Cup finalists from 2022, Chelsea and Liverpool, have taken different approaches to the fourth round of this year’s competition.
While Mauricio Pochettino, already under pressure after three underwhelming months in west London, has underscored the significance of England’s secondary cup, Jurgen Klopp doesn’t even attend the competition’s press conferences, sending assistant Pep Lijnders in his place.
Despite the contrasting stances, both clubs have been given the same cold shoulder by the Carabao Cup’s domestic broadcasters. Here’s why neither Chelsea nor Liverpool will have their fourth-round ties on TV.
Essentially, Chelsea and Liverpool’s fixtures were not deemed to be enticing enough for a national audience. The Blues host Championship side Blackburn Rovers while Liverpool travel to fellow Premier League outfit Bournemouth.
The powers that be at the nation’s broadcasters are rarely tempted by the potential of a cup upset, invariably opting for all-Premier League clashes between the biggest fanbases involved. It may ensure that any cup magic is saved for spectators in the stadium but it also directs as many eyeballs as possible to their channels. Greed beats glory every time in modern football.
In place of Chelsea or Liverpool on the box, Sky Sports viewers will have the option of a lesser London derby between West Ham United and Arsenal at 19:30 GMT or the late offering of Manchester United’s clash with Newcastle United at 20:15 GMT.
|
Fixture |
Venue |
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) |
Channel/llive stream (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
West Ham vs Arsenal |
London Stadium |
01/11/23 – 19:30 |
Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Ultra HDR |
|
Man Utd vs Newcastle |
Old Trafford |
01/11/23 – 20:15 |
Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Ultra HDR |
David Moyes expects former West Ham captain Declan Rice to be „welcomed back with open arms“ when he returns to the London Stadium with Arsenal on Wednesday. Whether Mikel Arteta will start his star midfielder remains to be seen but the mere presence of Rice will serve as a reminder of what West Ham are missing this season.
The Hammers limp into the contest on the back of three consecutive defeats across all competitions. Moyes‘ side have not lost four on the spin since the start of May 2022, with losses to Arsenal and Chelsea compounding their exit from the Europa League semi-finals that year.
Moyes‘ former employers Manchester United are not in the best of spirits either. Erik ten Hag may blindly insist that his side are ‚on the way up‘ but a chastening derby defeat at home to Manchester City last Sunday will still sting.
Newcastle were beaten by United in the final of last year’s League Cup at Wembley but Eddie Howe has been keen to downplay any talk of revenge.
If you are intent on getting live updates on Liverpool’s trip to the south coast, TalkSport Radio UK is providing a dedicated audio show. The same luxury has not been afforded to Chelsea and Blackburn fans.
Interested parties in Canada can watch both matches on DAZN while those south of the border in the United States can tune in via ESPN+.
Liverpool are on the road again this weekend with a trip to Luton Town’s mythical Kenilworth Road. If you are not one of the lucky fans skipping through the living room of the terraced houses that make up the away entrance, the game will be live on Sky Sports.
Kick off for Liverpool’s first visit to Kenilworth Road since 2008 – when the visitors were held to a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup – is at 16:30 GMT on Sunday 5 November. Fans can watch from afar via Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League or Sky Sports Ultra HDR.
Chelsea’s next match is also available on the broadcasting behemoth. It’s a poignant appointment for Pochettino as he leads the Blues to Tottenham Hotspur’s home ground on Monday night. The Argentine was in charge of Spurs when they made the protracted move to the high-spec Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2019. Pochettino only took charge of 16 matches in the glistening bowl, failing to win half of them, before he parted ways with Spurs.
Pochettino’s return will be beamed across the country on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League or Sky Sports Ultra HDR at 20:00 GMT on Monday 6 November.