Is the Carabao Cup a credible route to European football for Albion?
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Tony Bloom has recently stated that the aim of everyone at Brighton & Hove Albion is to secure qualification for European football once again. It’s not a surprise considering the almost £200 million investment in the playing squad this summer.
The challenge for the Seagulls to emulate their 2022/23 Premier League finish is that several of the other ‘big six’ in the top flight have strengthened too. After a dismal 2023/24, Chelsea finally appear to have got their act together under new boss, Enzo Maresca. With £1 billion spent on reshaping the Blues’ squad, Chelsea are almost dead certs for a top-six finish this time around.
Combine this with the impressive consistency of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in spite of their maiden UEFA Champions League campaign and the return to form and fitness of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United, it’s easy to see that European qualification via the league is by no means a gimme for new boss, Fabian Hurzeler.
Could a Carabao Cup triumph be more likely than a top-six finish?
That’s why the Carabao Cup could be Brighton’s best chance of playing continental football in 2025/26. The winner of this season’s Carabao Cup will be guaranteed a place in next season’s UEFA Conference League, providing they haven’t already qualified for Europe via their Premier League placing. With a top-six finish still possible but by no means certain for Albion, a deep run in the Carabao Cup could be a decent starting point.They’ve already reached the last 16 of the competition this season, knocking out Wolves 3-2 in the third round in mid-September. Brighton are currently priced at 18/1 with betFIRST Sport to win the tournament. Their lengthier odds compared with the likes of Newcastle (11/1) and Manchester United (11/1) pertain to their last 16 opponents – current Premier League leaders, Liverpool.
Albion’s recent home record against Liverpool is encouraging
Although Liverpool have made a fantastic start to the season under new boss, Arne Slot, the visit of the Reds to the Amex Stadium at the end of October should hold no fears for Albion. That’s because Brighton have won two of their last three home meetings with Liverpool. This included a resounding 3-0 home win in the league in January 2023, followed by a 2-1 FA Cup win just a fortnight later in the 2022/23 season.Furthermore, Liverpool may decide that the Carabao Cup isn’t at the top of their priority list. Pipping Manchester City and Arsenal to the Premier League title will be number-one priority, followed by a deep run in the Champions League. Slot may look to blood more of the Reds’ youngsters in their Carabao Cup campaign, which could play into the hands of Hurzeler and Brighton.
If Brighton can get through the Reds, they will be just two victories from the Carabao Cup final. With three Championship clubs still in the competition, there’s also the prospect of getting a second-tier side in the last eight if they can get past Liverpool.
If Fabian Hurzeler has any sense, he’ll be priming his first-choice starting XI for their last 16 tie at the end of the month. Realistically, Brighton’s best chance of a top-six finish this season relies on Aston Villa’s season falling off a cliff due to their Champions League exploits or Tottenham failing to find any consistency in the weeks ahead.