Varane retires, Rodri injury latest, Carabao Cup, Europa League

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Goodbye

Wednesday's live page has landed safely, so you can all now disembark and enjoy the rest of your day.

Make sure you head back to the BBC Sport website tonight for coverage of the Carabao Cup - BBC Radio 5 Live will also have live commentary from Anfield of Liverpool and West Ham's third-round tie - and the Europa League.

Here are some of the top football stories making the headlines today:

Who could Manchester City use to replace injured Rodri?

Man City confirm Rodri has injured knee ligament

Ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United defender Varane retires

Real Madrid confirm Mbappe has suffered thigh injury

A plane crash, fireworks disaster & car tragedy - how Twente shaped Ten Hag

From 'little doubts' to topping table - Adams on Torino move

See you again at the same time tomorrow!

When is Carabao Cup fourth-round draw?

With the final matches in the third round taking place tonight, and Newcastle and AFC Wimbledon's postponed match rearranged for Tuesday, 1 October, when do teams find out who they'll face in the fourth round?

Tonight is the answer to that question.

Once the Liverpool and West Ham game is wrapped up - either in 90 minutes or by a penalty shootout - the draw should take place around 22:00 BST.

Unlike the previous round when matches had to be staggered across two weeks to accommodate the Champions League and Europa League, the last-16 games will all take place the week commencing 28 October.

The Europa League new format

The Europa League now follows the same format as the Champions League with 36 teams starting in the league phase.

Teams which fail to qualify for the knockout rounds of the Champions League will not have access to the Europa League.

In the league phase all teams will play matches against eight different opponents.

After these eight games the top eight sides in the league will qualify automatically for the round of 16. The teams finishing in ninth to 24th place will compete in a two-legged knock-out phase play-off to secure their path to the last 16 of the competition.

Teams that finish 25th or lower will be eliminated from the Europa League.

Young Gunners set for a chance?

Arsenal v Bolton (Wed, 19:45 BST)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Wednesday's EFL Cup match against Bolton is a "great opportunity" for younger players to get minutes.

But the Gunners still see the League Cup as a competition they want to be competitive in.

He said: "We want to win the game. We have to start with the first game - we have to understand what is the best team we can put out."

Who are Qarabag?

Tottenham v Qarabag (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham face Qarabag on Thursday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the league phase of the Europa League - but who are Qarabag?

Qarabag currently sit top of the Azerbaijan Premier League after five games and remain undefeated.

They have lifted 11 league titles and won eight national cups.

They are also the first and only Azerbaijani club that have qualified for the group stage of the Champions League.

Man Utd draft in the youngsters

Man Utd v FC Twente (20:00 BST)

Simon Stone

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

There was some confusion earlier this month when Manchester United named their Europa League squad and Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho were both missing.

The reason is that club-trained players born on or after 1 January 2003, who have been with their employers for an uninterrupted period of a minimum of two years, are permitted to be added to a club's squad at any time via UEFA's 'B' list.

United have confirmed this morning seven youngsters have been added to their squad for tonight's encounter with FC Twente - and beyond - including Mainoo and Garnacho.

The seven are Louis Jackson, Toby Collyer, Dan Gore, Kobbie Mainoo, Sam Mather, Alejandro Garnacho and Ethan Wheatley.

People have to trust me over Rashford - Ten Hag

Man Utd v Twente (20:00 BST)

Simon Stone

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says he has to be "trusted" over his reasons for dropping Marcus Rashford to the bench for Saturday's 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.

Prior to the match Ten Hag said the England forward was returning to his best form after taking control of his career, scoring three times in two games.

But the Dutchman then unexpectedly left Rashford out in favour of Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo, with the 26-year-old replacing Joshua Zirkzee after an hour.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp claimed "there's obviously something that’s happened" for Ten Hag to leave Rashford out.

That theory was rejected as "crazy" after the game, with Ten Hag saying he was just rotating his squad, adding: "As a person you are not OK when you bring such speculation if you don't know what's going on."

Earlier this week on the Rest is Football podcast, host Gary Lineker and former England striker Alan Shearer also questioned Ten Hag's decision., external, external

Asked about the furore around Rashford, before Ten Hag’s side's opening Europa League game against his boyhood club FC Twente, he said on Tuesday: "I didn't understand the criticism. People are not entitled to bring speculation.

"If I give an explanation they have to trust my words. If they don't, that's not right."

Expanded schedule makes injuries 'unavoidable'

Man Utd v FC Twente (20:00 BST)

Simon Stone

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says the increased football schedule will overload players and make injuries "unavoidable".

Like the Champions League, the Europa League has also been expanded this season from 32 to 36 teams, resulting in two extra matches prior to the knockout stage.

"There are too many games. It's clear. Too many competitions," said Ten Hag.

"For the top players, they are overloaded and this is not good for football. It's maybe good for commercial but there is a limit.

"It's almost unavoidable that players get injured because of the overload from so many games."

Plane crash, fireworks disaster & car tragedy - how Twente shaped Ten Hag

Man Utd v FC Twente (20:00 BST)

Joe Rindl

BBC Sport

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag faces a club close to his heart in the Europa League on Wednesday, but also one where tragedies shaped his fledgling career.

At FC Twente a team-mate of Ten Hag's died in a plane crash. A year later another player was killed in a car accident.

When Ten Hag was captain a fatal fireworks disaster stunned the club's city.

These three moments have shaped United's upcoming opponents Twente. They also made Ten Hag into the man he is today.

Read Joe's full story here

I have to rotate - Ten Hag

Man Utd v FC Twente (20:00 BST)

Simon Stone

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

It was not entirely convincing in the context of talking about his reasons for leaving Marcus Rashford on the bench at Crystal Palace on Saturday but Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag underlined the issue facing every club competing in Europe this season.

With more games and more travel leading to tighter turnarounds and fewer clear weeks, the potential for injury is high and managers are having to pick their way through the schedule.

For United, last week it was the EFL Cup, this week and next it is the Europa League, then it is internationals - and on we go. If United got to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, they won't have a spare midweek until well into the spring.

If Chelsea get through their next EFL Cup game, they will have a quarter-final in the same week as their last UEFA Conference League game.

"As a club, you can’t change this, it’s more about the total industry, it’s about clubs, players and so many others who are there in the middle of football," he said.

"They have to work to improve the game and find the right balance.

"At the end of the day, it’s financial.

"We are professional, revenues have to come, but we have to balance this out."

'It’s about striking a balance' - Postecoglou

Tottenham v Qarabag (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou on styles of play: "There has always been dominate teams who are more possession heavy and others who require less of the ball but it’s about striking a balance of what can be successive at any given time.

"The best teams have a period of playing a certain way and other teams try and follow it. There has always been circles of certain playing styles, and then someone comes up and changes things."

'Dark arts' all part of the game - Postecoglou

Tottenham v Qarabag (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou on the 'dark arts' in football: "You’re making it sound like it’s good versus evil. I think it’s all part of the game. I’ve seen it be a very effective tool in football and I’ve always said we have to be more disciplined.

"The role of the manager is to win games. Some do it from trying to disrupt and others do it by dominating the ball. The way I do it is because I’m comfortable in my approach."

'Players may take matters into their own hands' -

Tottenham v Qarabag (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou on the football calendar: "There is a dangerous expectation around players. Players don't get a break because of the calendar at international and European level. We won't have the best players playing in these competitions and more players will be at risk of breaking

"Players may take matters into their own hands. They are the ones most affected to be honest. You’ll understand if they come together as a collective and started talking.

"As managers and clubs, we have to be mindful and use our squads."

AFC Wimbledon match against Accrington Stanley postponed

AFC Wimbledon's League Two match against Accrington Stanley on Saturday has been postponed because of flooding at the London club's stadium.

The EFL came to the decision after an alternative ground for the fixture could not be found.

Heavy rain caused flooding of the River Wandle that led to the Cherry Red Records Stadium suffering pitch damage on Sunday night.

The club have announced that tickets will remain valid for whenever the fixture is rescheduled.

Tuesday's EFL Cup tie against Newcastle United was also postponed and rescheduled for 1 October at St James' Park.

'I love Rodrigo and as a brother we move on together' - Son

Tottenham v Qarabag (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min on his relationship with team-mate Rodrigo Bentancur, after the Uruguay midfielderwas charged by the FA over comments he made about the South Korean forward: "I love Rodrigo, we have a lot of good memories. He apologised straight afterwards because he sent me a long message that came from the heart.

"We are all human, we make mistakes and we learn from it. I love Rodrigo and as a brother we move on together. We just have to wait and see what happens."

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