Schedule

Carabao Cup 2024-25

EFL Cup. Image Source: Getty Image

The EFL Cup (English Football League Cup), also called the Carabao Cup, is an annual knockout tournament in England’s domestic football circuit. It is played by teams from the top four levels of English league football, i.e., the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two. This year, all 92 sides are participating in the Carabao Cup.

Carabao Cup History and Records

The Carabao Cup was originally conceived by Stanley Rous as a consolation award for teams losing the FA Cup. However, it was actually implemented by Football League Secretary Alan Hardaker. The tournament was intended to compensate clubs for the revenue lost when they were knocked out of the FA Cup.


The first winners of the Carabao Cup were Aston Villa, defeating Rotterham United 3-2 in a two-legged final. Liverpool have the most number of Carabao Cups (10), followed by Manchester City (8) and Manchester United (6). Chelsea and Aston Villa make up the top five winners’ list with five trophies each.


Here is a list of all the Carabao Cups and their winners.


YearChampionManager
23/24Liverpool FCJürgen Klopp
22/23Manchester UnitedErik ten Hag
21/22Liverpool FCJürgen Klopp
20/21Manchester CityPep Guardiola
19/20Manchester CityPep Guardiola
18/19Manchester CityPep Guardiola
17/18Manchester CityPep Guardiola
16/17Manchester UnitedJosé Mourinho
15/16Manchester CityManuel Pellegrini
14/15Chelsea FCJosé Mourinho
13/14Manchester CityManuel Pellegrini
12/13Swansea CityMichael Laudrup
11/12Liverpool FCKenny Dalglish
10/11Birmingham CityAlex McLeish
09/10Manchester UnitedAlex Ferguson
08/09Manchester UnitedAlex Ferguson
07/08Tottenham HotspurJuande Ramos
06/07Chelsea FCJosé Mourinho
05/06Manchester UnitedAlex Ferguson
04/05Chelsea FCJosé Mourinho
03/04Middlesbrough FCSteve McClaren
02/03Liverpool FCGérard Houllier
01/02Blackburn RoversGraeme Souness
00/01Liverpool FCGérard Houllier
99/00Leicester CityMartin O'Neill
98/99Tottenham HotspurGeorge Graham
97/98Chelsea FCGianluca Vialli
96/97Leicester CityMartin O'Neill
95/96Aston VillaBrian Little
94/95Liverpool FCRoy Evans
93/94Aston VillaRon Atkinson
92/93Arsenal FCGeorge Graham
91/92Manchester UnitedAlex Ferguson
90/91Sheffield WednesdayRon Atkinson
89/90Nottingham ForestBrian Clough
88/89Nottingham ForestBrian Clough
87/88Luton TownRay Harford
86/87Arsenal FCGeorge Graham
85/86Oxford UnitedMaurice Evans
84/85Norwich CityKen Brown
83/84Liverpool FCJoe Fagan
82/83Liverpool FCBob Paisley
81/82Liverpool FCBob Paisley
80/81Liverpool FCBob Paisley
79/80Wolverhampton WanderersJohn Barnwell
78/79Nottingham ForestBrian Clough
77/78Nottingham ForestBrian Clough
76/77Aston VillaRon Saunders
75/76Manchester CityTony Book
74/75Aston VillaRon Saunders
73/74Wolverhampton WanderersBill McGarry
72/73Tottenham HotspurBill Nicholson
71/72Stoke CityTony Waddington
70/71Tottenham HotspurBill Nicholson
69/70Manchester CityJoe Mercer
68/69Swindon TownDanny Williams
67/68Leeds UnitedDon Revie
66/67Queens Park RangersAlec Stock
65/66West Bromwich Albion 
64/65Chelsea FC 
63/64Leicester CityMatt Gillies
62/63Birmingham CityGil Merrick
61/62Norwich CityWillie Reid
60/61Aston VillaJoe Mercer


Ian Rush, with 49 goals in 80 games, is the highest goalscorer in the history of the Carabao Cup. Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Brian Clough are the managers with the most Carabao Cups with four each.


Carabao Cup 2024-25 Host

The 2024-25 edition of the Carabao Cup is its 65th edition of the tournament. Like every season, England will host the tournament and all matches will be held in the country.


Carabao Cup 2024-25 Format

The Carabao Cup 2024-25 will have 92 sides from the top four divisions of English Football. 22 of the 24 Championship clubs and all League One and League Two clubs will participate in the first round. In the next round, the remaining Championship clubs (i.e., the ones which finished 18th and 19th in the 2023-24 Premier League season) and the Premier League sides that are not playing European football (i.e., the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or the UEFA Conference League) will entyer.


Here is the entire format of the Carabao Cup 2024-25 in tabular form:                                                                                                          

 Clubs entering in this roundClubs advancing from previous roundNumber of gamesMain date
First round
(70 clubs)
·        24 clubs from EFL League Two ·        24 clubs from EFL League One ·        22 clubs from EFL Championship·        N/A3513 August 2024
Second round
(50 clubs)
·        2 clubs from EFL Championship ·        13 Premier League clubs (not involved in European competitions)·        35 winners from first round2527 August 2024
Third round
(32 clubs)
·        7 Premier League clubs (involved in European competitions)·        25 winners from second round1617 September 2024
24 September 2024
Fourth round
(16 clubs)
·        16 winners from third round830 October 2024
Quarter-finals
(8 clubs)
·        8 winners from fourth round418 December 2024
Semi-finals
(4 clubs)
·        4 winners from quarter-finals4 (two-legged)6 January 2025
3 February 2025
Final
(2 clubs)
·        2 winners from semi-finals116 March 2025


Carabao Cup 2024-25 Schedule

Here is the detailed schedule of the Carabao Cup 2024-25.


First Round Fixtures

North Section

DateFixture
13 August 2024Carlisle United vs. Stoke City
13 August 2024Stockport County vs. Blackburn Rovers
13 August 2024Barrow vs. Port Vale
13 August 2024Bolton Wanderers vs. Mansfield Town
13 August 2024Burton Albion vs. Blackpool
13 August 2024Derby County vs. Chesterfield
13 August 2024Fleetwood Town vs. West Brom
13 August 2024Grimsby Town vs. Bradford City
13 August 2024Huddersfield Town vs. Morecambe
13 August 2024Lincoln City vs. Harrogate Town
13 August 2024Preston North End vs. Sunderland
13 August 2024Rotherham United vs. Crewe Alexandra
13 August 2024Salford City vs. Doncaster Rovers
13 August 2024Shrewsbury Town vs. Notts County
13 August 2024Tranmere Rovers vs. Accrington Stanley
13 August 2024Wigan Athletic vs. Barnsley
13 August 2024Sheffield United vs. Wrexham
14 August 2024Hull City vs. Sheffield Wednesday
14 August 2024Leeds United  vs. Middlesbrough


South Section

DateFixture
13 August 2024Leyton Orient vs. Newport County
13 August 2024Bristol City vs. Coventry City
13 August 2024Bromley vs. AFC Wimbledon
13 August 2024Cambridge United vs. QPR
13 August 2024Cardiff City vs. Bristol Rovers
13 August 2024Charlton Athletic vs. Birmingham City
13 August 2024Colchester United vs. Reading
13 August 2024Crawley Town vs. Swindon Town
13 August 2024Northampton Town vs. Wycombe Wanderers
13 August 2024Norwich City vs. Stevenage
13 August 2024Oxford United vs. Peterborough United
13 August 2024Portsmouth vs. Millwall
13 August 2024Swansea City vs. Gillingham
13 August 2024Walsall vs. Exeter City
13 August 2024Watford vs. MK Dons
14 August 2024Plymouth Argyle  vs. Cheltenham Town


Second Round fixtures

North Section:

DateFixture
Aug 27Middlesbrough vs. Stoke City
Aug 27Barnsley vs. Sheffield United
Aug 27Barrow vs. Derby County
Aug 27Blackburn Rovers  vs. Blackpool
Aug 27Everton vs. Doncaster Rovers
Aug 27Fleetwood Town vs. Rotherham United
Aug 27Grimsby Town vs. Sheffield Wednesday
Aug 27Harrogate Town vs. Preston
Aug 27Leicester City vs. Tranmere Rovers
Aug 27Shrewsbury Town vs. Bolton
Aug 27Walsall vs. Huddersfield Town
Aug 28Wolves vs. Burnley
Aug 28Nottingham Forest vs. Newcastle United *


South Section:

DateFixture
Aug 27Brighton vs. Crawley Town
Aug 27Coventry City vs. Oxford United
Aug 27Millwall vs. Leyton Orient
Aug 27QPR vs. Luton Town
Aug 27Watford vs. Plymouth Argyle
Aug 27Birmingham City vs. Fulham
Aug 27Crystal Palace  vs. Norwich City
Aug 28Wimbledon  vs. Ipswich Town
Aug 28Cardiff City vs. Southampton
Aug 28Colchester United  vs. Brentford
Aug 28Swansea City vs. Wycombe Wanderers
Aug 28West Ham  vs. Bournemouth


Third Round fixtures:

DateFixture
Sep 17Stoke City vs. Fleetwood Town
Sep 17Blackpool vs. Sheffield Wednesday
Sep 17Brentford vs. Leyton Orient
Sep 17Everton vs. Southampton 
Sep 17Preston North End vs. Fulham
Sep 17QPR vs. Crystal Palace
Sep 17Manchester United vs. Barnsley
Sep 18Brighton vs. Wolves
Sep 18Coventry City vs. Tottenham
Sep 24Chelsea vs. Barrow
Sep 24Manchester City vs. Watford
Sep 24Walsall vs. Leicester City
Sep 24Wycombe Wanderers vs. Aston Villa
Sep 25Arsenal vs. Bolton Wanderers
Sep 25Liverpool vs. West Ham
Oct 1Newcastle United vs. Wimbledon


Fourth Round fixtures:

DateFixture
Oct 29Southampton vs. Stoke City
Oct 29Brentford vs. Sheffield Wednesday
Oct 30Brighton vs. Liverpool
Oct 30Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace
Oct 30Manchester United vs. Leicester City
Oct 30Newcastle United vs. Chelsea
Oct 30Preston vs. Arsenal
Oct 30Tottenham vs. Manchester City


Quarter Final fixtures:

DateFixture
Dec 18Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace
Dec 18Newcastle vs. Brentford
Dec 18Southampton vs. Liverpool
Dec 19Tottenham vs. Man Utd


Semi Final fixtures:

First Leg:

DateFixture
Jan 7Arsenal vs. Newcastle
Jan 8Tottenham vs. Liverpool


Second Leg:

DateFixture
Feb 5Newcastle vs. Arsenal
Feb 6Liverpool vs. Tottenham


Final

Game:Newcastle vs Liverpool
Date:March 16, 2025
Venue:Wembley Stadium, London


Carabao Cup 2024 Teams and Groups

All 92 teams from the top four divisions of English football are participating in the Carabao Cup 2024-25.  These include teams from the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two.


Carabao Cup 2024-25 Sponsors and Partners

Carabao Energy Drink has been the title sponsors of the tournament (originally called EFL Cup) since 2017.

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