The upcoming 2024-2025 Carabao Cup third round is generating plenty of excitement as 6 Premier League giants – Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur – join the tournament.
Note that the aforementioned clubs skipped the earlier rounds due to their European commitments, and their influx into the Carabao Cup third round adds to the buzz surrounding the competition.
The draw for the third round, which is spread over two weeks, is expected to deliver some electrifying matchups. Arsenal are set to host Bolton, Manchester United will face Barnsley, and Liverpool will take on West Ham.
With 32 teams vying for a place in the next round, fans can look forward to a thrilling and intense tournament as teams battle it out for progression.
The draw, which was confirmed late on a Wednesday night following the conclusion of the fourth-round fixtures, was conducted by football legends Les Ferdinand and Michael Dawson, with Mark Chapman as the presenter.
A new rule change for the third-round draw means that the matches will be different from usual. For instance, the third round will be split over two separate weeks, and six of the seven teams competing in Europe will not be eligible to face each other, adding an interesting twist to the matchups.
In terms of scheduling, Arsenal and Tottenham will be among the teams drawn first, while Chelsea’s participation will differ slightly due to the Conference League not commencing until October.
There are some intriguing clashes to look forward to, such as Arsenal vs. Bolton, Tottenham’s trip to Coventry, and Chelsea hosting Barrow.
The ties are slated to be played on the weeks commencing September 16 & 23, with a full list of fixtures scheduled for September 17 and others to be determined based on team availability to be played between September 16 and 23.
Below is the full 2024-2025 Carabao Cup Third Round Draw:
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