The draw for the opening round of the 2024/25 English Football League (EFL) Cup also known as Carabao Cup was done on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
Teams in the Championship, League One, and League Two enter the tournament at this phase, except Burnley and Luton Town, who were relegated from the Premier League in the 2023/24 season.
Leeds United will trade tackles with Middlesbrough in one of the notable fixtures of the first round, while Sheffield United, who also tasted the bitter pill of relegation last season will square up against Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
English Premier League clubs will enter the tournament in the second round, with those playing in continental competitions joining the party in the third round.
Who Are The Defending Champions Of The English Football League Cup ?
Liverpool are the defending champions of the English Football League Cup, having defeated Chelsea 1-0 in the final last season, courtesy of a goal by Virgil Van Dijk.
The final was pulsating and intense, with both teams exuding brilliance and playing their hearts out.
Chelsea’s primary problem was their profligacy, with Liverpool taking full advantage in extra time.
The Reds had momentarily put themselves into the lead through a Van Dijk header, which sailed into the bottom corner of Chelsea’s post.
However, the goal was chalked off, after midfielder Endo Wataru was deemed to have interfered with play from an offside position, before the header by Virgil Van Dijk.
The Reds are the most successful team in the competition’s history, as they have won the trophy on 10 different occasions.
The tournament was founded in 1960 about 92 teams across the English football pyramid battle for glory.
Clubs that win the English Football League Cup qualify for the UEFA Conference League play-off round and this certainly is a motivation to many of the smaller teams in England.
Carabao Cup first-round games [Full fixtures]
Northern Section:
Salford City vs Doncaster Rovers
Rotherham United vs Crewe Alexandra
Carlisle United vs Stoke City
Leeds United vs Middlesbrough
Barrow United vs Port Vale
Burton Albion vs Blackpool
Tranmere Rovers vs Accrington Stanley
Fleetwood Town vs West Bromwich Albion
Shrewsbury Town vs Notts County
Lincoln City vs Harrogate
Derby County vs Chesterfield
Bolton Wanderers vs Mansfield Town
Preston North End vs Sunderland
Sheffield United vs Wrexham
Huddersfield Town vs Morecambe
Wigan Athletic vs Barnsley
Hull City vs Sheffield Wednesday
Stockport County vs Blackburn Rovers
Grimsby Town vs Bradford City
Southern Section:
Cambridge United vs Queens Park Rangers
Walsall vs Exeter City
Crawley Town vs Swindon Town
Oxford United vs Peterborough United
Norwich City vs Stevenage
Bromley vs AFC Wimbledon
Portsmouth vs Millwall
Northampton Town vs Wycombe Wanderers
Bristol City vs Coventry City
Cardiff City vs Bristol Rovers
Charlton Athletic vs Birmingham City
Watford vs MK Dons
Swansea City vs Gillingham
Plymouth Argyle vs Cheltenham
Leyton Orient vs Newport County
The 2024/25 English Football League Cup will commence on August 13, 2024, with the first round of matches and it will be on until March 16, 2024, when the final will be played.
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