The third-round draw for this season’s Carabao Cup was completed after a compelling set of games was finished late on Wednesday evening.
After most of the Premier League clubs that were involved managed to get through to this stage, some were left perhaps wondering what could have been. The usual case of resting players, or experimenting with systems meant that some top-flight clubs have missed a chance of lifting a trophy in the New Year.
Carabao Cup upsets
The most high profile to bow out was Tottenham Hotspur, and even though it was against another Premier League side Fulham, they will see this as a chance they have let slip by them. In the rounds, other all Premier ties, Nottingham Forest would have favoured themselves against Burnley, but it was the newly promoted side that gained passage to the third round with a 1-0 win.
Other sides had to beat opposition from lower divisions after falling behind. Crystal Palace were 2-0 down at Plymouth Argyle before turning the game on its head to win 4-2. Big-spending Chelsea was a goal down at home to League Two AFC Wimbledon but in the end, had just enough to twist the game around and win 2-1. It was the same story at Doncaster Rovers, with Everton staging a late comeback to win by the same score.
As we progress into the next stage of the competition, often seen as the least important domestic trophy to win, largely as there is no European qualification for the winners, the draw put together some fascinating matchups. All teams are now involved, that is to say, the teams that are involved in European competitions this season are now entered.
Carabao Cup – Big games in draw
The most ‘glamorous’ tie is that of Newcastle United, runners-up last year, taking on treble winners Manchester City. This was the only silverware that City didn’t capture last season, so this one could well want to secure on their path to a potential clean sweep. There are xxx other all Premier clashes with Aston Villa drawn at home against Everton, Brentford will take on London rivals Arsenal, Chelsea will face Brighton, and Manchester United, the current holders, having a home tie against Crystal Palace.
The full draw is below with ties taking place the week commencing Monday 25 September.
- Aston Villa v Everton
- Blackburn Rovers v Cardiff City
- AFC Bournemouth v Stoke City
- Bradford City v Middlesbrough
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Chelsea v Brighton & Hove Albion
- Exeter City v Luton Town
- Fulham v Norwich City
- Ipswich Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Lincoln City v West Ham United
- Liverpool v Leicester City
- Manchester United v Crystal Palace
- Mansfield Town v Peterborough United
- Newcastle United v Manchester City
- Port Vale v Sutton United
- Salford City v Burnley