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 in this stage of the competition. This will be Spurs' second visit to the Merseyside stadium in the space of three seasons. Their most recent meeting in the tournament came in the 2024/25 semi‑final, where Liverpool dispatched the London side 4‑1 on aggregate, ending Tottenham's hopes of progressing to the final.
In other fixtures, Sunderland will host newly promoted Hull City at the Stadium of Light, creating a classic north‑east showdown. Meanwhile, fellow promotion‑winning side Ipswich Town will take on Arsenal, offering the Gunners a chance to assert their dominance against a club eager to prove its top‑flight credentials. Defending champions Manchester City will enjoy home advantage at the Etihad Stadium when they face Norwich City, a Championship outfit they have historically dominated at home.
The Reds have yet to suffer defeat against the Canaries at the Etihad since 2013, having recorded five consecutive victories in that period. Midlands pride will be on display as Coventry City travel to Villa Park to clash with Aston Villa, setting up a regional rivalry that promises a hard‑fought contest.
London will also feature its own derby, with West Ham United hosting Fulham at the London Stadium, ensuring at least one cross‑London tie in the round. Chelsea will be drawn against historic adversaries Leeds United, reviving a rivalry that stretches back decades.
In the north‑east, Newcastle United will embark on a long journey to Millwall after edging past fellow Championship side West Bromwich Albion in the previous round. Fans looking to stream the Carabao Cup without a long‑term contract can do so via the Sky Sports app, which also offers live coverage on Sky Sports+ and the Sky Sports website.
For those who prefer messaging platforms, Sky Sports is also available on WhatsApp. Everton, who were eliminated by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the previous season's Carabao Cup, will seek redemption when they host Wolves at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Brentford will travel to Reading, a League One club, while Bournemouth will welcome Lincoln City to the Vitality Stadium, adding lower‑league intrigue to the draw. The third‑round fixtures are scheduled across two weeks, with matches taking place in the weeks commencing 7 September and 14 September.
Subsequent rounds are set for 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 on Sunday 21 March. Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action live on Sky Sports+, while non‑subscribers may still access the games through the Sky Sports app or website, often with a free trial period available.
The nine Premier League clubs currently competing in European competitions—Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Sunderland and Crystal Palace—will all enter the tournament at the third‑round stage, joining the rest of the English top‑flight in the quest for the trophy. For those looking for a bit of extra excitement, the Sky Sports Super 6 competition offers a chance to win a £1 million prize pool, with free entry available to all viewers. This added incentive aims to boost engagement as fans follow the cup's unpredictable journey from the early rounds to the climactic final.