Everything You Need to Know About the League Cup: Draw, Games & More
The Carabao Cup, also known as the League Cup, is one of England’s most exciting knockout competitions, featuring teams from the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL). With 92 teams from across the English football pyramid, it offers a chance for clubs to secure silverware and European qualification. The tournament is a standout feature of the UK football calendar.
Competition Format
The Carabao Cup kicks off each season in early August and involves teams from the Premier League (20), Championship (24), League One (24), and League Two (24). The tournament follows a traditional knockout format, with single-leg ties deciding matches, except for the semi-finals, which are played over two legs. Lower-league teams often meet Premier League sides early on, making for unpredictable and exciting clashes. The competition culminates with a grand final at Wembley Stadium.
Carabao Cup 2024-25 Results (So Far)
Here are the results and upcoming fixtures for the 2024-25 Carabao Cup:
September 17 Results:
- Stoke City 1-1 Fleetwood Town (Stoke City won 2-1 on penalties) – Sky Sports+
- Blackpool 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday – Sky Sports+
- Brentford 3-1 Leyton Orient – Sky Sports+
- Everton 1-1 Southampton (Everton won 6-5 on penalties) – Sky Sports+
- Preston North End 1-1 Fulham (Preston won 16-15 on penalties) – Sky Sports+
- QPR 1-2 Crystal Palace – Sky Sports+
- Manchester United 7-0 Barnsley – Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football
September 18 Results:
- Brighton 3-2 Wolves – Sky Sports+ / Paramount+
- Coventry City 1-2 Tottenham – Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Paramount+
Upcoming Fixtures:
September 24:
- Wimbledon vs Newcastle United – Sky Sports+ / Paramount+
- Chelsea vs Barrow – Sky Sports+ / Paramount+
- Manchester City vs Watford – Sky Sports+ / Paramount+
- Walsall vs Leicester City – Sky Sports+ / Paramount+
- Wycombe Wanderers vs Aston Villa – Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Paramount+
September 25:
- Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers – Sky Sports+ / Paramount+
- Liverpool vs West Ham – Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Paramount+
The Carabao Cup presents an early chance for clubs to lift silverware, and the added incentive of European qualification ensures that even top-tier teams approach the tournament with seriousness. Whether it’s Premier League giants or lower-league sides looking to make their mark, the Carabao Cup is always full of drama and excitement.