Liverpool will welcome Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield for their third‑round Carabao Cup clash, while Manchester United travel to Brighton in what could become one of up to six all‑Premier League fixtures at this stage of the tournament. This will be Spurs' second visit to Anfield in the space of three seasons. The last time they met in the competition was in the 2024/25 semi‑final, where Liverpool emerged victorious with a 4‑1 aggregate win. In other matches, Sunderland are set to host newly promoted Hull City, and fellow Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town will take on Arsenal.
The defending champions, Manchester City, will enjoy home advantage against Championship side Norwich City at the Etihad Stadium, a venue where City have remained unbeaten against the Canaries in five successive meetings dating back to 2013. Midlands rivalry will be on display as Coventry City face Aston Villa, while a London derby is also guaranteed when West Ham United host Fulham.
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. For fans who prefer streaming, the Carabao Cup can be watched without a long‑term contract via the Sky Sports app, and updates are also available through Sky Sports on WhatsApp.
Everton, who were eliminated by Wolverhampton Wanderers in last season's competition, will have a chance for redemption when they travel to the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Brentford will visit League One outfit Reading, while Bournemouth will host Lincoln City. All of these fixtures are scheduled for the weeks beginning 7 September and 14 September. The competition will then progress to the fourth round in the week of 26 October, the fifth round in the week of 14 December, the semi‑final first leg in the week of 11 January, the semi‑final second leg in the week of 1 February, and culminate with the final on Sunday 21 March.
Sky Sports subscribers can view the matches on Sky Sports+, and the games are also accessible via the Sky Sports website and mobile app. 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 cup at the third‑round stage.
In addition to the on‑field action, fans can take part in the Super 6 competition for a chance to win a £1 million prize, with entry available free of charge. Overall, the third round promises a blend of high‑profile Premier League clashes and intriguing match‑ups involving lower‑league sides, offering plenty of drama and the possibility of upsets as clubs vie for a place in the latter stages of England's premier knockout cup competition.