Liverpool are slated to welcome Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield for the third‑round encounter of the Carabao Cup, while Manchester United will travel to Brighton in what could become one of up to six all‑Premier League fixtures at this stage. This will be Spurs' second trip to Anfield in the space of three seasons. Their most recent meeting in the competition came in the semi‑finals of the 2024/25 edition, where Liverpool emerged victorious with a 4‑1 aggregate scoreline.
In other match‑ups, Sunderland are set to host newly promoted Hull City, and fellow Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town will take on Arsenal at the Emirates. The defending champions, Manchester City, will enjoy a home tie against Championship side 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 drama will unfold as Coventry City face Aston Villa in a regional clash, while West Ham United will host Fulham, guaranteeing at least one London‑derby in the round.
Chelsea will be drawn against historic rivals Leeds United, and Newcastle United will embark on a lengthy journey to Millwall after edging past fellow Championship side West Bromwich Albion. Everton, who were eliminated by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the previous season's Carabao Cup, will have a chance to exact revenge when they meet the Hill Dickinson Stadium side. Brentford will travel to League One outfit Reading, and Bournemouth will host Lincoln City. All of these fixtures are scheduled for the weeks commencing 7 September and 14 September.
The competition will then progress to the fourth round in the week of 26 October, followed by the fifth round in the week of 14 December. The semi‑final first leg is set for the week of 11 January, with the return leg in the week of 1 February, and the final will be contested on Sunday, 21 March.
Fans with a Sky Sports subscription can watch the matches live on Sky Sports+, with additional streaming options available through the Sky Sports app and website. The tournament also offers a free‑to‑play Super 6 game where participants can compete for a share of a £1 million prize pool.
The nine Premier League clubs currently involved in European competition – Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Sunderland and Crystal Palace – all enter the Carabao Cup at this third‑round stage, adding further intrigue to an already packed football calendar. The Carabao Cup, officially known as the EFL Cup, provides an opportunity for clubs to rotate squads, give younger players valuable experience, and potentially secure silverware early in the season. For Liverpool, a win over Tottenham would not only advance them to the next round but also serve as a morale boost ahead of their Premier League campaign. Tottenham, on the other hand, will be looking to overturn the disappointment of their recent semi‑final loss and prove that they can still compete for trophies.
Meanwhile, the Manchester United versus Brighton fixture promises a clash between a traditional heavyweight and a rising side that has shown resilience in recent seasons. Brighton's tactical flexibility and United's depth could produce an exciting, tightly contested match.
The regional derbies, such as Coventry versus Aston Villa and West Ham versus Fulham, are likely to generate local passion and high attendance, reflecting the competition's ability to bring together communities across the country. Overall, the third round of the Carabao Cup sets the stage for a series of compelling narratives, from historic rivalries to the emergence of newly promoted clubs testing themselves against top‑flight opposition.
As the fixtures unfold, supporters will be keen to see which teams can navigate the knockout format and keep their cup dreams alive.