Two third-round ties taking place in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night see Brighton & Hove Albion host Wolverhampton Wanderers at The Amex and Coventry City welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the CBS Arena. With both ties promising entertainment and potential upsets, here is a look at how the games might unfold.

Brighton's Injury Woes Present Opportunity for Bueno

Wolves enter the match with a record of just one point from their first four Premier League games, while Brighton, despite drawing with Ipswich Town on Saturday, remains unbeaten after four games. However, Brighton's injury woes might give Wolves a chance to cause an upset.

Gary O'Neil, Wolves' manager, has confirmed that defender Santi Bueno will start the game. Bueno has only one appearance for Wolves this season, in the second round of the Carabao Cup against Burnley, where he impressed alongside Craig Dawson. This presents a significant opportunity for Bueno, who will need to step up against a strong Brighton side.

While Brighton are likely to make a number of changes to their lineup for the Carabao Cup tie, Wolves' O'Neil has acknowledged the need to rotate players due to injuries. He has also indicated that the game is a chance for some fringe players to prove themselves.

Wolves' Chance to Respond After Newcastle Defeat

Wolves will be looking to respond after a tough weekend defeat to Newcastle United in the Premier League. The Black Country side were unlucky against Newcastle, conceding two long-range efforts from Fabian Schar and Harvey Barnes. However, they will be looking to bounce back in the Carabao Cup, with O'Neil stating that there will be wholesale changes for the Brighton match.

A Mix of Rotation for Brighton

While Brighton have a number of key players who are currently out injured, they are still expected to field a strong side against Wolves. Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has said that there will be a mix of rotation with players who featured against Ipswich, but that he will not make 11 changes. He has also spoken about his faith in the players who have yet to feature for the Seagulls this season, and how he sees the Carabao Cup as a chance for the team to win silverware.

The Potential for an Upset

While Brighton are clear favorites to win the match, Wolves have the potential to cause an upset, especially if they can take advantage of Brighton's injury woes. Wolves have a good track record in the Carabao Cup, having won the competition twice, most recently in 1980. Brighton, on the other hand, are still on the hunt for their first piece of major silverware. This game will be a test for both teams, and it will be interesting to see which team can emerge victorious.

VAR and the Carabao Cup

While the EFL Cup has the potential for upsets and thrilling matches, the question of VAR and its implementation remains a hot topic. The EFL Cup has taken a different approach to VAR compared to the FA Cup. While the FA Cup uses VAR wherever possible, the EFL Cup has a more situational approach. This means that VAR will only be activated if all host venues in the round have VAR capabilities.

This approach has come under criticism, with some arguing that it creates an unfair advantage for clubs that play in stadiums with VAR capabilities. However, the EFL has defended its approach, arguing that it is fairer to scrap VAR across the entire round if one ground cannot provide coverage.

Ultimately, the use of VAR in the EFL Cup is a complex issue with no easy answers. The EFL is constantly reviewing its policies, and it remains to be seen whether the approach to VAR will be changed in the future.

The Key Takeaways

The Carabao Cup match between Brighton and Wolves promises to be an exciting encounter. While Brighton are clear favorites, Wolves have the potential to cause an upset, especially if they can take advantage of Brighton's injury woes. The use of VAR in the EFL Cup remains a contentious issue, and it will be interesting to see how the EFL addresses this issue in the future.