Liverpool will kick off their Carabao Cup title defense with a home match against West Ham at Anfield next month. Meanwhile, League Two clubs AFC Wimbledon and Barrow will take on Newcastle and Chelsea, respectively, in the third round. The fixtures are scheduled to take place during the weeks commencing September 16 and September 23.
In the draw, two separate bowls were used due to the expanded Champions League and Europa League formats starting in the 2024/25 season. Bowl One included teams that competed in European competitions last season—Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham, and Manchester United. Bowl Two comprised the remaining 26 teams, preventing any clashes between European teams in this round.
The six European teams were drawn first to determine their home or away status before being placed into six matches, with the other ten ties drawn subsequently.
Manchester City will host Tom Cleverley’s high-flying Watford, Arsenal will face Bolton for the first time since 2012, and Manchester United will take on Barnsley for the first time in 15 years. Aston Villa and Tottenham will make away trips to League One Wycombe and Coventry in the Championship.
Among the standout matches are the fixtures involving AFC Wimbledon and Barrow against Newcastle and Chelsea, respectively.
Carabao Cup Third-Round Draw in Full:
- Liverpool vs. West Ham
- Man City vs. Watford
- Arsenal vs. Bolton
- Manchester United vs. Barnsley
- Wycombe vs. Aston Villa
- Coventry vs. Tottenham
- Walsall vs. Leicester
- Brentford vs. Leyton Orient
- Blackpool vs. Sheffield Wednesday
- Preston vs. Fulham
- Everton vs. Southampton
- QPR vs. Crystal Palace
- Stoke vs. Fleetwood
- Brighton vs. Wolves
- AFC Wimbledon vs. Newcastle
- Chelsea vs. Barrow
Key Dates for the Rest of the Tournament:
- Round Four: week commencing October 28
- Quarter-final: week commencing December 16
- Semi-final: week commencing January 6, 2025 (first leg) & February 3, 2025 (second leg)
- Final: Sunday, March 16, 2025
Credit: Sky Sports
