Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at Goodison Park

Fulham fans are chanting, "Alex Iwobi, he left coz you're *rubbish*."

Or words to that effect.

Middlesbrough have made a very average start with Anfernee Dijksteel trying to start an attack but overhitting his pass forward.

A few moments later and winger Morgan Rogers becomes the second Boro player to get a booking, dragging Jesse Debrah to the floor.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at Goodison Park

Image source, Getty Images

Jarrad Branthwaite as a bolter for England's Euros squad?

Hit the thumbs.

Jarrad Branthwaite with some good positioning for Everton to read the danger and make a crucial interception as Harrison Reed looked to be through for the visitors.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Vale Park

When the pre-match play list includes local favourite Robbie Williams and the Vale fans doing a very good live version of 'The Wonder Of You' by Elvis Presley, it can sometimes be hard to follow that.

Had Ethan Chislett's free-kick dipped a few inches lower then they might just have done that. But, instead, the dead-ball effort from Saturday's hat-trick hero floated just over.

It hasn't shut up the Vale fans though. They are in great voice. And so is the response fron the packed away end.

An early booking for Middlesbrough's Matt Clarke who holds on to a Vale player trying to scamper away from him.

Michael Salisbury doesn't hesitate to give the Boro man a yellow, and the hosts get a free-kick in a dangerous position which Ethan Chislett chips just over.

A quiet start at Goodison Park, with nothing to do for either keeper so far.

Michael Brown
Former Tottenham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The difference in a few weeks for Everton with the doom-and-gloom of the 10 point deduction.

There has been a great response from this side.

Image source, Getty Images

Port Vale's players ran out to Robbie Williams' Let Me Entertain You. He's a part owner and a famous fan of the Vale.

It's been a dull start from the hosts though, with Middlesbrough dominating possession and waiting for an opening.

Image source, Getty Images

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at Goodison Park

Former Everton winger Alex Iwobi was given a generous round of applause when his name was read out before kick-off.

Nice to see. He left Goodison Park and joined Fulham on deadline day in the summer.

And we're off in our two 19:45 GMT matches.

Everton, Fulham, Middlesbrough and Port Vale are 90 minutes, and possibly a penalty shootout, away from the EFL Cup semi-finals.

Vale Park is full. Middlesbrough are in the EFL Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2018-19.

Port Vale have never been this far into the competition.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea will have the shortest recovery time over Christmas, with 139.5 hours between their first Premier League kick-off (on Christmas Eve) and third kick-off (on 30 December), while Brighton have the most with 283.5 hours - double that of Chelsea.

Brighton play their pre-Christmas game on Thursday, three days before the Blues, and their final one on 2 January, three days after the Blues.

Fulham

Fulham had beaten both Nottingham Forest and West Ham 5-0 in back-to-back Premier League games before losing 3-0 at Newcastle on Saturday.

Boss Marco Silva knows what to expect against an in-form Everton under the lights at Goodison Park having managed the Toffees between 2018 and 2019.

“The games are always really tough to play at Goodison, I know really well what this means,” he added.

“The reaction from them since the point deduction just shows their resilience. The size of the club, you can see they all click together. The fans, the team, the staff; we know when these types of things happen to a club like Everton, they are always really strong.”

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, .

Will Faulks, Chelsea News, external

Chelsea's teamsheet on Saturday raised eyebrows, as it was revealed that Enzo Fernandez was not starting.

His form has dipped in recent weeks, but this was as much about rest as it was performance. Chelsea play tonight in the Carabao Cup quarter-final, and then again on Sunday - clearly, Mauricio Pochettino wants his countryman in peak condition.

It was an odd game to drop your best creative midfield passer, however. Sheffield United are bottom of the league and were guaranteed to sit deep on their visit to Stamford Bridge. If ever there was a game that needed a player of Enzo's profile, this was it.

But there are ways to unlock a structured defensive team other than a brilliant long pass or a threaded through ball. And in this case, it fell to Conor Gallagher to remind us of that. He will never have the subtlety of Enzo on the ball, but the way he won possession high up the pitch with well-timed tackles and clever interceptions was vital to getting his team into the final third before Sheffield United could find their defensive shape.

Gallagher made a season-high 11 ball recoveries on Saturday and his ability to turn defence into attack with a clever dash to nick a loose pass was essential on Saturday, and nobody else in the team currently provides it. It gets the crowd on their feet and moves his team up the pitch.

No wonder the rumours of a January sale have fans utterly bewildered.

Image source, Getty Images

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at Goodison Park

Not looking good for Arnaut Danjuma, is it?

The Dutchman played is all three previous rounds but is on the bench again today.

Signed on loan from Villarreal in the summer at the second attempt, Danjuma has barely had a look-in under Sean Dyche.

He last featured for the first team in the 3-0 loss to Manchester United here on 26 November and has not played a single minute in the four victories since.

It will be interesting to see what happens come January, whether he sticks it out until the end of the season or there is an escape clause to get game time elsewhere.

Image source, .

Image source, Getty Images

Matty Renton, The Magpie Channel TV, external

Lewis Miley - remember the name.

A superstar is born on Tyneside and I do not think Newcastle fans have been this excited for one of their own since the famous number nine, Alan Shearer. A big statement to make - but this is a big star.

The 17-year-old Geordie became Newcastle's youngest Premier League goalscorer at the weekend, opening the scoring in the 3-0 win over Fulham.

Calmness personified in front of goal and celebrating in front of the Gallowgate Stand where he used to watch his beloved side as a fan. Now, he is starring as a player.

An academy product, Miley has been at the club since he was seven and that makes it even sweeter. Opposition fans like to say it is the Saudi money that has turned the Toon around. However, currently it is a local lad making all the noise.

Eddie Howe spoke so highly of young Miley during pre season in America and turned down loan offers for the midfielder. That was a wise move now given the Sandro Tonali ban and injury crisis.

The baby-faced midfield maestro barely looks 17 but he plays like a seasoned pro. In recent weeks he has started away against Paris St-Germain away and at home to Manchester United, never putting a foot wrong. Brilliant decision making, ball control and timing are just a few of his key attributes.

There’s been comparisons this week to former England international Michael Carrick, who Newcastle let go from their academy. There is no chance of that happening with Lewis Miley. The richest club in the world will be sure to keep a hold of one of their prized assets.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Vale Park

There really is a buzz on the streets of Burslem tonight before Port Vale's big meeting with Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough.

Mostly from angry drivers trying to get parked as they flock to see Vale's first League Cup quarter-final in the competition's 64-season history.

They've now almost all squeezed in - and the place is rocking.

Boro have paid the League One outfit the false compliment of making five changes. Have Vale got the players to make them pay for that?

Glenn Murray
Former Brighton striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

This game is a priority for Mauricio Pochettino and that is regardless of the circumstances they are in.

He wants to win his first trophy in England for a personal perspective and he will also want to get some silverware as a Chelsea manager. He will believe he can go all the way in this competition.