FOOTBALL fans will be able to watch the Carabao Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Newcastle for FREE tonight.
Two channels will battle it out for ratings in a major broadcasting change.
The Carabao Cup is typically shown on Sky Sports – which costs at least £20 per-month.
However, ITV has agreed to show two of the four semi-final games this season.
The free-to-air network will show the first leg of Arsenal vs Newcastle and the second leg of Liverpool vs Tottenham – which takes place on February 6.
Sky Sports will continue to broadcast all four matches.
The final is also set to be shown live on ITV as well as Sky, making it free to view for British audiences.
ITV’s agreement with the EFL and Sky also includes 10 Championship matches each full season.
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport said: “This deal brings viewers free to air coverage of top level knockout football over the coming years, as well as standout matches from the EFL, adding regular live matches to our highlights shows.
“We’re looking forward to bringing fans some superb action and insight from this new, fuller EFL package across the next few seasons.”
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Mark Pougatch is in line to front ITV’s coverage alongside Arsenal legend Ian Wright and former Newcastle star Les Ferdinand.
Sam Matterface and Lee Dixon will be on commentary for the semi-final clash.
Arsenal approach tonight’s match with a series of illness and injury doubts.
Bukayo Saka remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, with his replacement, Ethan Nwaneri, also unavailable due to a muscle injury.
Meanwhile, Kai Havertz could return after missing back-to-back games through illness.
As for Newcastle, Fabian Schar and Bruno Guimaraes will not feature due to their respective suspensions.
EDDIE HOWE has got “the richest club in the world” fighting for honours regularly again despite not being able to blow the big Saudi bucks.
The 47-year-old achieved legendary status at Bournemouth by guiding the then-skint Cherries all the way from League Two into the Premier League promised land.
Now he is potentially on the verge of writing his name into Newcastle’s history books if he can end their 70-year wait for a major trophy.
Howe came mightily close two years ago when he and the Magpies suffered heartbreak in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United.
Qualifying for the Champions League with a fourth-placed finish softened that blow, and now he is eyeing more than just another Wembley outing as he takes Toon to Arsenal for the first-leg of the Carabao Cup semis.
Of course, it has been nothing like those early days at Bournemouth for Howe since he took charge in November 2021 just weeks after their Saudi takeover.
There was a big outlay that January transfer window in order to assure the club’s Premier League status, but despite reaching the Champions League, PSR rules have delayed their path straight to football’s top table.
Though, despite the purse strings being tightened and even being forced to sell young starlets against his wishes, Howe still has Newcastle punching with the big boys for silverware.
The question is though – how has he done it and how far can he go?
