The 2024/25 Carabao Cup third round is set to bring excitement to football fans as Premier League giants Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea join the competition.
After skipping the earlier rounds due to their European commitments, these teams now enter the fray alongside 29 others.
The draw, split over two weeks, promises thrilling matchups, including Arsenal hosting Bolton, Manchester United facing Barnsley, and Liverpool taking on West Ham. With 32 teams competing for a spot in the next round, fans can expect high-stakes action as the tournament heats up.
The draw was confirmed late Wednesday night following the conclusion of the fourth round fixtures. It was conducted by Les Ferdinand and Michael Dawson, with Mark Chapman as the presenter.
A new rule change has introduced some differences to the usual draw process. “The third round draw will have some differences to usual, it means that the third round will be split over two separate weeks with six of the seven teams competing in Europe not being eligible to face each other,” explains the English Football League.
As a result, Arsenal and Tottenham will be in the group drawn first, while Chelsea’s participation in the Conference League, which starts in October, means they will be treated slightly differently.
The draw has thrown up some interesting games, including Chelsea hosting Barrow, Tottenham traveling to Coventry, and Arsenal taking on Bolton. The ties will be played on the weeks commencing September 16 and 23.
Here is the full list of fixtures scheduled for September 17, with others to be decided and played between September 16 and 23 based on team availability:
Tie 16: Chelsea vs Barrow
Tie 15: AFC Wimbledon vs Newcastle
Tie 14: Brighton vs Wolves
Tie 13: Stoke vs Fleetwood
Tie 12: QPR vs Crystal Palace
Tie 11: Everton vs Southampton
Tie 10: Preston vs Fulham
Tie 9: Blackpool vs Sheffs Wednesday
Tie 8: Brentford vs Leyton Orient
Tie 7: Walsall vs Leicester
Tie 6: Coventry vs Tottenham
Tie 5: Wycombe vs Aston Villa
Tie 4: Manchester United vs Barnsley
Tie 3: Arsenal vs Bolton
Tie 2: Man City vs Watford
Tie 1: Liverpool vs West Ham
The Carabao Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an annual knockout tournament in men’s domestic football in England.
