Draw results for the 3rd round of the English League Cup: The giants take the field

The draw for the 3rd round of the 2025/26 Carabao Cup has officially taken place, producing some notable matchups, with the Premier League heavyweights ready to kick off.

Former champions Manchester United suffered a shocking exit in the 2nd round after losing to Grimsby Town (League Two) on penalties. Meanwhile, top clubs like Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, and Chelsea have benefited from the draw and have a strong chance to advance further.

Defending champions Newcastle United will start their title defense by hosting Bradford City (League One) at St James’ Park. This is considered a favorable opportunity for coach Eddie Howe’s squad to progress, given the significant difference in quality between the two teams.

The draw has handed relatively easy opponents to the "Big Six". Arsenal will visit Port Vale, while Manchester City only need to face Huddersfield Town and Liverpool will welcome Southampton at Anfield.

Chelsea will travel to Lincoln City, and Tottenham will meet Doncaster Rovers, while Brighton faces Barnsley — all matches where the Premier League sides are heavily favored.

Additionally, the 3rd round of the Carabao Cup features several balanced and exciting ties: Brentford will play Aston Villa in what is considered the most evenly matched game this round, as both clubs compete in the Premier League, while Wolves will face Everton in another high-profile Premier League derby.

Crystal Palace will take on Millwall in a tense London derby, and Sheffield Wednesday will host Grimsby Town, the team that caused an upset by eliminating Manchester United. Other fixtures include Swansea City vs Nottingham Forest, Burnley vs Cardiff City, Wrexham vs Reading, Wigan Athletic vs Wycombe Wanderers, and Fulham vs Cambridge United.

The 3rd round matches of the Carabao Cup will be played over two weeks, from September 15 to September 22, close to the Champions League and Europa League fixtures, meaning many clubs are expected to rotate their squads to manage player fitness. In this round, the big clubs will likely continue to field experimental lineups while giving playing time to younger players.