Reaction to Tuesday's EFL Cup matches as Fulham, Brentford and Cardiff book their place in the quarter-finals, and a Q&A with chief football writer Phil McNulty.

If this EFL Cup were taking place a year ago, it'd mean something quite different to Tottenham and Newcastle United, but that doesn't mean that it's not a meaningful one. The Magpies are the reigning champions of this tournament,

How to watch Carabao Cup for free. Live stream Newcastle United vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup for free.

Follow build-up, team news, scores & text updates as Wycombe Wanderers host Fulham, Grimsby Town face Brentford & Wrexham host Cardiff City.

Expect squad rotation from the hosts, who have a number of injury concerns. William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli will miss out after they had to be taken off in their recent win over Crystal Palace, and Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz were already absent.

Mikel Arteta squares up to Fabian Hurzeler in Wednesday night's EFL Cup fourth-round fixture in North London, which Arsenal enter on the back of a stellar seven-game winning run across all tournaments, conceding just one goal in that time.

The lack of VAR means decisions will fall squarely on the shoulders of the match officials placed in charge of the Carabao Cup tie. The EFL have announced that Sam Barrott will be in charge of the tie as the referee, with differing results for each team when he has been in charge.

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler started Tuesday's press conference by providing an update on team news. Midfielder James Milner has "suffered a small muscle issue" so is unavailable for the cup game against Arsenal. Kaoru Mitoma, Jol Veltman and Brajan Gruda "are getting closer" to a return but this game comes too soon for the injured trio.