Scheduling snafu hits Everton in Carabao Cup

Merseyside rivals Everton and Liverpool have both been left in limbo regarding the dates of their respective Carabao Cup Third Round fixtures following a scheduling nightmare posed for the organizers after both sides were drawn at home.

As reported by the Telegraph, the two teams across Stanley Park cannot both play at home at the same time due to the logistical and security headache it will pose the authorities as well as the transport infrastructure.

Everton play Arsenal away on Sunday 23rd in the Premier League, and then host Fulham on Saturday 29th at home. For the Blues, the only date that makes sense for them to play Southampton in the Carabao Cup is on Wednesday 26th.

Liverpool play Chelsea in the Third Round at Anfield, and are happy for the game to be on either Tuesday 25th or Wednesday 26th, but the London side have a televised fixture against West Ham United on Sunday (like Everton), and want their game on Wednesday as well.

Talks are ongoing with competition officials and all the clubs involved, but it’s looking like either we’ll have an unprecedented Merseyside double on Wednesday, or else one of Chelsea or Everton are going to end up playing the Cup game on one day’s rest.