Carabao Cup third round draw schedules English clubs around European fixtures
The English Football League has scheduled the Carabao Cup third round for mid-September to avoid clashes with European competitions, a move that protects the commercial and sporting priorities of the country’s top clubs.
The draw for the third round of the Carabao Cup has paired Liverpool with Tottenham, while defending champions Manchester City will host Norwich. The matches involving the nine Premier League clubs currently competing in European tournaments will take place during the weeks beginning 7 and 14 September.
This scheduling is a deliberate measure to prevent fixture congestion with the opening rounds of the Champions League and Europa League. For club executives and investors, protecting these European calendars is essential, as continental participation drives the bulk of broadcast revenues and global commercial valuations.
Manchester United are set to face Brighton, and Leeds could meet Chelsea, pending the outcome of Thursday’s match between Chelsea and Luton. The remaining Premier League sides in European competition, including Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Sunderland, have also been drawn against domestic opposition. Ipswich will host Arsenal, while Coventry takes on Aston Villa.
Fleetwood remains the only fourth-tier club still active in the tournament and will host Sheffield United. This highlights the rapid attrition of lower-league teams, which typically rely on deep cup runs for vital financial injections and broadcast exposure.
The final two spots in the third round will be confirmed on Thursday evening. Chelsea hosts Luton at 19:30 BST, and Fulham takes on AFC Wimbledon at 20:00 BST, with the winner of the latter potentially facing West Ham.
The completed draw also features fixtures such as Crystal Palace against Middlesbrough, Sunderland versus Hull, and Everton facing Wolves. Other notable pairings include Bournemouth hosting Lincoln, Millwall against Newcastle, and Reading taking on Brentford. Peterborough will play Barnsley, and Leyton Orient faces Bradford.
By clustering these domestic cup matches in mid-September, the English football authorities aim to balance domestic obligations with the economic imperatives of European football. This structured approach mitigates the risk of player fatigue, safeguarding the high-value assets that underpin club valuations.
