Carabao Cup draw RESULT- Manchester United draw Bristol City and Arsenal face West Ham United

  • The draw for the quarter-finals of the League Cup was set for 4pm BST
  • But draw delayed until 5.45pm following 'minor technical glitch'
  • Seven Premier League teams including Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd feature
  • Championship side Bristol City are the only side from outside the top flight

  • Dan Ripley

    Host commentator

17:57
Well that took a little longer than I expected...

In fact it did roughly take the entire duration of a football match plus half-time.

I shudder at the thought of what could go wrong in the semi-final draw, but for now thanks for following and also thanks for keeping me company over a rather mind sapping two hours. Cheerio.

17:52
The live draw that never was...

One minute there was no news, next thing you know a 'pre-recorded draw has taken place' and Bristol City are drawn against Manchester United. Hmmm.

17:48
The draw for the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup

Chelsea v Bournemouth

Arsenal v West Ham United

Leicester City v Manchester City

Bristol City v Manchester United

The fixtures are to be played on the week commencing December 18.

17:46
Apparently practice for this draw went 'extremely well'

So what caused the real thing to go so drastically wrong? I haven't seen a collapse like this since... well... Tottenham last night.

17:42
It's over to you folks...

I need something to keep me going. I'm losing the will to live here. A few of your comments have raised a smile or two, especially Michael Fernandes from Abu Dhabi and his United v Bristol City theory.

Also I'm pleased that Nimbus2 has backed my predicted draw. Let's put it forward to EFL now, it might get passed quicker than it takes to get the actual draw done. 

17:30
Well, the waiting game goes on

So just for the sheer sake of it I'm going to try and predict the draw - feel free to add yours in the comments at the bottom of the page.

Closest match wins front row seats to the next Carabao Cup draw for the semi-finals - just remember to bring a change of clothes, a sleeping bag and a tooth brush.*

Ripley's prediction:
Bournemouth v Bristol City
Manchester City v Manchester United
Arsenal v West Ham United
Leicester City v Chelsea

*There is no prize or competition just for clarification.

17:20
When the League Cup Twitter feed reads like a typical British train service

And yes, that does mean the signal failure technical issue hasn't been fixed yet.

17:17
Time to get rid of this Carabao Cup nonsense - bring back Carling
Liverpool won the final edition of the League Cup under Carling sponsorship in 2012
17:11
Sticking to the format of this being a football match

I think we should be thinking of making tactical changes. There's been no breakthrough and there doesn't look like being one.

Looking at the bench there are credible options such as going back to the long serving Carling Cup, or even 90s favourite the Coca-Cola Cup.

We are going to have to try something... anything.

17:05
Could this be the first cup draw to take longer than an actual game?

I mean if this was a football match we would have just kicked off the second half. In terms of entertainment it would also be Liverpool v Manchester United at Anfield.

17:03
Anyone else prepared for one final joke from this 'so called' cup draw

You know when FIFA or UEFA look set to start a draw then perform a swerve by showing an opening ceremony... then a 20 minute highlights clip of the 'competition so far.'

*Shudders*

16:59
Hope being the key word. There's more bad news...

'Apologies from the EFL and Twitter. We are still working on the technical difficulties and will bring you the draw as soon as possible...'

Total shambles, folks.

16:57
T-minus three minutes until the draw

We hope...

16:53
Well at you we have an apology - for what it's worth

'The EFL and Twitter would like to apologise for the delay in the #CarabaoCup live stream. Normal service to be resumed within the hour.'

Normal service though? It's a one-off five minute job chaps. You had one job.

16:44

I mean how many times can you get a simple cup draw wrong in the same season?

At least twice in the form of the Carabao Cup - which in its previous guises always had smooth draws from what I recall.

Well all publicity is good publicity, right? Here are the previous gaffes from the first three rounds including a mix up of home and away sides, teams appearing twice and a stupid o'clock in the morning draw.

Read more here

The Carabao Cup draw for the quarter-final was delayed by an hour
16:26
I'm calling a cover up

I mean let's look at the evidence (we haven't got much else to do at the moment.)

The draw set features the trophy, the fish bowl to put the balls in, the two trays for the balls to be placed when drawn and of course the ba... wait, WHERE ARE THE BALLS?!

I bet Lonnie's got them in the back of his Opel again.*

 

 

*I make no apology for making another Mike Bassett reference.

The Carabao Cup and ball pot are seen on set prior to the draw
16:21
The Carabao Cup draw has been delayed until 5pm...

Due to a technical glitch apparently.... a 'minor technical glitch at Twitter HQ.'

What on earth would a major one be? Total farce.

16:14
Looks like we have found the problem...

Dawson and Tuffers seem a little... busy right now.

Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell get a selfie with the Carabao Cup before the quarter-final draw
16:11
I don't know what problems they are having at League Cup towers...

But while we wait, why not check out the best goals from the last-16 while the rest of us twiddle our thumbs.

16:09
Erm... the wait goes on...

Give it another couple of minutes and I'll make the draw myself. Manchester derby anyone?

16:05
So the draw is running late...

Typical. While you wait here are the numbers to look out for:

1. Bournemouth

2 Arsenal

3 Bristol City

4 Chelsea

5 Leicester City

6 Manchester City

7 Manchester United

8 West Ham United

16:00
A reminder of the teams involved with the draw starting soon

PREMIER LEAGUE: Arsenal, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Leicester City, Manchester City, Manchester United, West Ham United.

CHAMPIONSHIP: Bristol City.

15:52
So can you guess who is going to help make the League Cup draw?

If you hadn't already heard, you would be stuck for hours trying to guess the duo involved - they are not even footballers from past or present!

It's (of course) going to be 'A Question of Sport' team captains Phil Tufnell and Matt Dawson of cricket and rugby union fame respectively.

I'm sure they know their stuff but come on!

15:43
Here are the results from the last-16 of the competition

Click here for more fixtures, tables and results with our Match Zone

15:37
The Carabao Cup may be considered the lesser or the major trophies

But there's no denying it. Each year this competition serves up some outrageous drama which more than justifies its place on the English football calendar.

The big teams apparently don't take it seriously, but look at the names left in the hat as I welcome you to Sportsmail's live coverage of the quarter-final draw.

The Carabao Cup is down to its last eight teams ahead of the quarter-final draw

Following an eventful last-16, the Carabao Cup is down to its last eight teams as the majority of the Premier League's elite prepare for Thursday's 4pm quarter-final draw.

The likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United will all be in the hat along with fellow top flight outfits Bournemouth, Leicester City and West Ham United

Bristol City are the only side left representing teams from outside the top flight following the Championship side's 4-1 win over Crystal Palace, so follow the draw live as it happens.