Carabao Cup: Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle ahead with a brace from Tonali

December 18 – 11.13pm – LONDON

Sandro Tonali sensational. With his first English double, the blue drags Newcastle into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, where captain Jorginho’s Arsenal and Liverpool who reunite with Federico Chiesa after two and a half months of stoppage also go. Tottenham-Manchester United (Thursday at 9pm Italian time) and the semi-final draws (first leg 8 January, return leg 5 February).

Newcastle-Brentford 3-1

—

Welcome to the Sandro Tonali Show. The over 50,000 people at St. James’ Park, those who never abandoned the blue even in the darkest days of the betting ban, enjoy it all, applauding their “Master” for his first career double with Newcastle, his first goals since returning to the field at the end of August. The two wonderful centers of the former AC Milan player are the ones on which the Magpies build the victory over Brentford, never in the match, which is worth the semi-final of the Carabao Cup, a competition that Tonali and his teammates dream of winning. Sandro, who had scored for Italy in the Nations League in Belgium on 14 November, opened his show in the 9th minute, hitting the mark with a right-footed pool shot from outside the area. The second goal in the 43rd minute is even more of a feat, a right-footed volley from the spot that comes in first from Gordon’s corner. The goals (first Schär in the second half and then Wissa for the guests) are the most striking part of a superlative performance, which adds to those that Tonali has been putting together lately for Newcastle, especially since Eddie Howe changed his position by playing him center and no longer on the right in the three-man midfield.

The result is that the team’s performances have improved, such as Tonali’s understanding with Bruno Guimarães, the Brazilian captain who, along with Joelinton, is one of those who was closest to him during the disqualification and with whom he now often exchanges positions . Tonal at this level, at the heart of the game and capable of making the difference as a leader in the middle of the pitch, he is the player that Newcastle were convinced they had signed from Milan in the summer of 2023, the one they have been waiting for since he returned. His surge in performance is another reason why the Magpies have no intention of selling him. “I have no intention of losing Sandro, who is a vital part of what we want to do – Howe recently recalled -. Our investment in him is long-term and we are very satisfied with what he is doing.” After this first English double it is even more true.

Southampton-Liverpool 1-2

—

Welcome back Federico. Chiesa plays a match with Liverpool for the first time since 25 September and helps the Reds win, by beating Southampton 2-1, the 20th League Cup semi-final in their history, a record. When the blue comes onto the pitch, replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold at the start of the second half, Slot’s team is already ahead 2-0 thanks to Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott at the home of the bottom of the Premier League, who in the second half shortens and tries to turn the match around. Chiesa knows that from here on out he must make the most of every minute available to show Slot that he can lend a hand in attack, especially now that the calendar is becoming increasingly packed, with the usual overtime that the Premier puts in during the holidays and the arrival of the FA Cup among the commitments. Chiesa also had the chance to close out the game at the end, a nice left-footed shot into the area intercepted by defender Harwood-Bellis when he had already passed goalkeeper McCarthy, but this time he had to settle. However, Liverpool are not satisfied and continue to fly: for the Reds, victory number 20 in 24 games with Slot at the helm.

Are you a direct DAZN customer? For you Gazzetta Digital Edition at no additional cost.

Arsenal-Crystal Palace 3-2

—

At Arsenal they believe in Jesus. It was the Brazilian number 9 who with a hat-trick took the Gunners to the semi-final of the Carabao Cup, overturning in the second half the initial advantage that the combative Palace had obtained after just 4′ with Mateta, taking advantage of a sensational error by Kiwior. Arteta, who chooses Jorginho as captain, perhaps exaggerates with the substitutions and Arsenal, despite controlling after the goal conceded, is unable to produce much: at the start of the second half the coach stabilizes the defense with Saliba and inserts Ødegaard in place of the dull young talent Nwaneri and the results can be seen immediately. Jesus equalized in the 54th minute, getting rid of Chalobah without too many compliments, then did a second and a third in the 73rd and 81st minutes with suggestions from substitutes Saka and Ødegaard. The hat-trick is a sensational boost of confidence for the 27-year-old striker, who so far had only scored in the previous round of the Carabao Cup against Preston. Former Nketiah’s 3-2 in the 85th minute, in addition to making the final more lively, serves to remind the Gunners that the skids of the last few games (two draws in a row in the Premier League) mean defects that need to be corrected. Palace believed in the cup so much that they fielded the starters: in addition to elimination, they suffered their first defeat after 5 games.