Carabao Cup third round draw: Why Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool won’t play each other

With Champions League and Europa League sides kept apart in the Carabao Cup third-round draw, punters may favour backing non-European clubs to progress and expect more predictable ties; bookmakers could shorten odds on top-flight European entrants once drawn first, while the 24-team pool offers greater upset potential for value bets.

Carabao Cup third round draw to protect European participants

The draw for this season’s Carabao Cup third round will take place on Wednesday with a tweak to accommodate clubs still competing in European competition. The EFL has confirmed that teams involved in the Champions League or Europa League cannot be drawn against each other at this stage.

Which clubs are kept apart

The eight clubs affected are Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur. Keeping these sides separate ensures none of them face each other in round three.

Two-bowl draw format and sequence

Organisers will use two separate bowls: one containing the eight European participants and the other holding the remaining 24 clubs. The eight European teams will be drawn first, then the 24-team pot will be used to complete the ties.

Scheduling: matches spread over two weeks

Third-round matches will be played across a two-week window to avoid direct clashes with European fixtures and to ease fixture congestion. The staggered schedule gives managers a little more flexibility with squad rotation and travel plans.

Competitive and tactical implications

By preventing high-profile European clashes, the format reduces the chance of marquee early knockouts and can create easier paths for some seeded sides. Managers of European clubs may still rotate heavily, but avoiding domestic heavyweight pairings preserves top-level interest for later rounds.

What this means for fans and bettors

Fans can expect fewer blockbuster domestic pairings in round three, while bettors should note that European entrants will be drawn first—shortening favorites’ odds—whereas the larger 24-team pool offers greater scope for lower-ranked upsets and value wagers.

The draw for this season’s Carabao Cup third round will take place on Wednesday. It will be slightly different because there are eight teams competing in the Champions League and Europa League. The EFL has now confirmed that clubs participating in the Champions League or Europa League cannot meet each other in this round. The [...]Carabao Cup third round draw: Why Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool won’t play each other

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