Liverpool are slated to welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield for their third‑round encounter in the Carabao Cup, while Manchester United will travel to Brighton in what could become one of up to six all‑Premier League match‑ups at this stage of the competition. This will be Spurs' second visit to the Merseyside stadium in the space of three campaigns. The last time they met in the cup, Tottenham were knocked out by Liverpool with a 4‑1 aggregate defeat in the semi‑finals of the 2024/25 edition.
In other fixtures, Sunderland have been drawn against newly promoted Hull City on home soil, and fellow newcomers to the top flight, Ipswich Town, will take on Arsenal away from the Emirates. The defending champions, Manchester City, will host Norwich City at the Etihad Stadium. City have a perfect record against the Canaries at home, having never been beaten in five meetings dating back to 2013.
Midlands rivalry will be on display when Coventry City host Aston Villa, while a London derby is also guaranteed as West Ham United will host Fulham at the London Stadium. Chelsea will be pitted against historic rivals Leeds United, and Newcastle United will embark on a lengthy journey to face Millwall after edging past fellow Championship side West Bromwich Albion in the previous round. Fans can stream the Carabao Cup without a long‑term contract by downloading the Sky Sports app or accessing the service via WhatsApp.
Everton, who were eliminated by Wolverhampton Wanderers in last season's tournament, will look for redemption at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, while Brentford travel to League One outfit Reading and Bournemouth welcome Lincoln City to the Vitality Stadium. The third‑round ties are scheduled for the weeks commencing 7 September and 14 September. Subsequent rounds will follow on the week of 26 October (fourth round), the week of 14 December (fifth round), the first leg of the semi‑finals in the week of 11 January, the second leg in the week of 1 February, and the final is set for Sunday 21 March. Sky Sports subscribers can watch the matches live on Sky Sports+, with additional streaming options available via the Sky Sports app and website.
The nine Premier League clubs that are also competing in European competitions – Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Sunderland and Crystal Palace – will all enter the cup at this third‑round stage. For those looking for extra excitement, the Super 6 game offers a chance to win a £1 million prize pool, with free entry available to all participants. The Carabao Cup continues to provide a blend of high‑stakes clashes, surprise upsets, and opportunities for lower‑division sides to test themselves against the elite, making the early rounds a compelling showcase of English football's depth and drama.