Carabao Cup second round statspack

The EFL Cup returns this week with the 13 Premier League clubs not competing in UEFA competition all entering the tournament at the second round stage.

Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle United: Wednesday 8pm

This will be the fifth League Cup tie between the pair with Newcastle victorious in the first two, in 1974 and 2011, while Forest have prevailed in the last two, doing so in second round ties in both 2017 and a year later.

Their three clashes in this competition in the 21st century have produced 16 goals, a goal every 21 minutes on average (two of them went to extra time).

Across all competitions, both teams have scored in eight of their last nine meetings.

Following 2-1 and then 3-2 victories in the Premier League at the City Ground, the Toon Army are seeking three successive wins by the River Trent for the first time in 102 years.

West Ham United vs Bournemouth: Wednesday 7:45pm

This'll be just the second League Cup tie between the pair, with West Ham winning the first 2-0 at the Boleyn Ground in 1999, thanks to goals from Marc Keller and a 21 year old Frank Lampard.

In more recent times, the Hammers are unbeaten in six clashes with the Cherries, with Bournemouth claiming victory in only one of six visits to the London Stadium.

The Irons have not fallen at this early stage of the EFL Cup for a decade, while the Cherries have won nine of their last ten second round ties, never exiting in in round two as a Premier League outfit.

Birmingham City vs Fulham: Tuesday 8pm

Fulham have won each of their last five meetings with Birmingham, scoring ten times across two Championship fixtures the last time they met, as many victories as they'd enjoyed in 16 encounters beforehand.

Both previous League Cup ties between the pair have seen the Cottagers leave St Andrew's in the hat for the next round, 1-0 winners in 2004 and 2-0 victors in 2021, with Antonee Robinson amongst the scorers in the latter.

The Blues haven't progressed beyond this round of the League Cup in any of the last eight seasons, while the Whites were semi-finalists last year, their best-ever run in the competition.

Everton vs Doncaster Rovers: Tuesday 7:45pm

These two clubs met in the same round of the same competition 12 months ago, with Everton fighting back from a goal down to win 2-1 at the Eco-Power Stadium, thanks to second half goals from Beto and then Arnaut Danjuma.

That though was their first encounter since 1985, with Rovers winless in five previous visits to Goodison, most-notably smashed 8-0 in an FA Cup tie on Mersyside in 1939, which remains the club's joint-heaviest defeat of all-time.

Victory for Donny would see them reach round three for the first time in seven seasons, while the Toffees haven't gone out in round two since 2001.

Across both the FA and EFL Cups, the Blues are unbeaten in seven ties at Goodison against lower-league opposition, dating back to 2016.

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Crawley Town: Tuesday 7:45pm

Despite being located little over 20 miles apart, these two clubs have only ever met once before, with Brighton cruising to a 5-0 FA Cup victory at the Goldstone Ground in January 1992.

The Seagulls have lost seven of their last 12 Carabao Cup ties, only previously getting beyond round four all the way back in 1979.

Visitors Crawley Town are aiming to get through to round three for just the third time in 12 seasons.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Burnley: Wednesday 7:30pm

The last 12 meetings between these two have produced a miserly 20 goals, an average of a goal every 54 minutes, so perhaps don't expect a thriller!

This'll be the fourth League Cup tie between the pair, with Wolves advancing in 1979 and 2003, before Burnley prevailed in a penalty shootout at this stage two decades ago.

The Clarets have won only one of their last six visits to Molineux, failing to score in 13 of their 19 fixtures there since 1986.

Leicester City vs Tranmere Rovers: Tuesday 7:45pm

This will be a rematch of the League Cup Final from 2000, that Leicester won 2-1 at the Old Wembley, with Tranmere one of only six non-top division teams to reach the final since 1991.

The pair met slightly more recently, in the same round of the same competition 12 months ago, with the Foxes 2-0 winners at Prenton Park; Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy on target in Birkenhead.

The Super White Army are aiming to reach round three for the first time since 2014, while, coincidentally, Leicester haven't crashed out at this early stage since 2014.

Crystal Palace vs Norwich City: Tuesday 8pm

Crystal Palace are unbeaten in seven meetings with Norwich, winning each of the last three at Selhurst Park, with Norwich winless in 17 trips to South London overall, dating back to 1996.

Across all competitions, this'll be their 117th clash, first doing so in 1914, but will be the first time they'll ever have met in the League Cup.

Since being semi-finalists in 2011/12, the Eagles have won only 11 of 23 EFL Cup ties, getting no further than round four, knocked out by lower-league opposition in seven of the last 12 seasons.

Colchester United vs Brentford: Wednedsay 7:45pm

These two clubs met at the same venue in the same round two years ago, with Brentford 2-0 winners that night, with Keane Lewis-Potter and Mads Bech Sørensen the scorers.

Overall, the Bees have claimed victory in nine of their last 16 clashes with Colchester.

Since gaining promotion to the Premier League, Brentford's record in cup competitions is very underwhelming, winning only six of 13 ties, ignominiously dumped out on penalties by Gillingham, bottom of League Two at the time, two years ago, needing a shootout to overcome another four-tier side Newport in this round 12 months ago.

Cardiff City vs Southampton: Wednesday 7:45pm

Both previous League Cup ties between these two have seen Southampton progress, advancing 3-2 in 1964 and then 5-1 over two legs in 1995.

Since the latter, Cardiff have won seven of their eight meetings in South Wales, prevailing 2-1 in a Championship clash as recently as April, with the Saints' sole success in Cardiff since '95 coming on Boxing Day 2013.

The Bluebirds are aiming to get through to round three in successive seasons for the first time since 2010,

Meanwhile, following a first round exit in Gillingham 12 months ago, Southampton are looking to avoid back-to-back eliminations in round two, or earlier, for the first time since they were a League One side in 2011.

AFC Wimbledon vs Ipswich Town: Wednesday 7:45pm

These two clashed in a third round FA Cup tie at the Cherry Red Records Stadium as recently as January, with Ipswich leaving South-west London 3-1 winners; Axel Tuanzebe and Jack Taylor amongst the goals.

Since Wimbledon were reformed as a Phoenix club, they've won only one of seven encounters with the Tractor Boys although, including the old club, Ipswich failed to win any of their first six visits to Plough Lane, before claiming victory in both of the last two.

This will be AFC Wimbledon's seventh cup tie against Premier League opposition since reformation, their sole victory coming over West Ham in the FA Cup in 2019, narrowly beaten 2-1 at Stamford Bridge this time last year, famously taking the lead through James Tilley's penalty.

Victory for Ipswich would see them reach round three in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2003.