EFL Carabao Cup 2025-26 – Third Round

The EFL Carabao Cup is getting more dramatic, with elite English clubs making it to the Third Round. With a few more rounds before the finals, fans are desperate to know the winner. This English Football League tournament is highly prestigious to the clubs that they fight till their last breath with determination. The third round will show us how teams will qualify for the next level. Tiebreaks, clean sheets, penalty kicks, and red cards will matter even more to the clubs. Moreover, the parallel English Premier League and European Competitions will frequently collide with Carabao Cup fixtures. It will keep the clubs even more active and in form. We have given a preview and predictions for key rivals for the upcoming Carabao Cup’s Third Round fixtures. Take a look at them and pick your side. This is where you get more Carabao Cup news.

Carabao Cup 2025-26 Second Round Recap

The Carabao Cup 2025-26’s second round finished, where teams that won qualified for the upcoming Third Round. Several notable outcomes occurred that were completely unexpected from clubs with low hopes. Similarly, clubs with high hopes utterly disappointed fans. Overall, the second round was nothing short of a surprise. Get more football commentary from Bettingpremier.

High Individual Scores

This Carabao Cup 2025 had some of the best individual performances ever. Jørgen Strand Larsen of the Wolves singlehandedly drove the team towards victory. He registered two goals back-to-back in two minutes. His lightning performance was worthy of a detailed breakdown. Similarly, Ollie Palmer came up with his crucial two-goal contribution, including a stoppage-time goal. With his decisive score, he dragged the team out of a tie. Jason Steele from Brighton made 10 saves and pushed the team towards victory over Oxford United. He also earned praise as a top performer. Liam Fraser, Zan Vipotnik, and Freddie Draper were honorable mentions who kept their teams’ spirits up.

Disappointments

Manchester United’s fall was the biggest disappointment of the week. After a draw, the Premier League giants were eliminated by a League Two side, Grimsby Town, in a penalty shootout. This rivalry saw everything go in Man United’s favor since the beginning. They maintained the rhythm since the kick-off. However, the Grimsby squad never seemed to flinch at all. They scored an extra goal in the penalty shootout, crushing Man United’s hopes for the Carabao Cup 2025-26. Another disappointment came from Leeds United. Despite being newly promoted to the EPL, they lost on penalties to the Sheffield side. Leeds United has failed to capitalize on opportunities multiple times. These surprise victories, ultimately, flipped the fans’ predispositions about the Premier League clubs. Eventually, it left a strong impact on higher-level clubs and fans’ expectations alike. Let’s see how the upcoming Carabao Cup’s Third Leg goes.

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Suspenseful Narratives

The EFL Cup 2025-26 second round thrilled us with suspenseful narratives and last-minute drama. As we saw already, the Grimsby Town squad pulled a suspenseful last-minute upset against Man United. The dramatic shootout lingered on the last penalty kick, which was decisive. Unfortunately for Manchester United, the final kick wasn’t successful, which created great disappointment on the faces of United fans. Wolves, on the other hand, secured a narrow win in dramatic final moments. Wolverhampton was about to lose, as they stayed with only one goal until the last 10 minutes. But luckily for Wolves, Jorgen Strand Larsen registered two consecutive goals, earning them a hard-earned victory.

EFL Cup Third Round: Important Matches & Predictions

Sheffield Wednesday vs Grimsby Town

Sheffield Wednesday F.C. and Grimsby Town F.C. will engage in the upcoming EFL Cup Third Round on September 16, 2025. This matchup will take place at Hillsborough at 07:45 p.m. BST.

Prediction

Sheffield Wednesday has been out of form for the past ten matches. They have captured only about three matches, four of which were losses and three were draws. But if we looked at Grimsby Town’s last ten matches, we can see their improvement. Grimsby Town has won 5 out of their last 10 fixture with two losses and three draws. It shows their reluctance to set back. They have scored about 1.8 goals per match and conceded about 1.4 goals per match, on average. At the same time, if we observed Sheffield’s statistics, they show significantly poor points in comparison. Particularly, they lack possession, pass accuracy, and shots on target. These concerns persist in the team, even in their most recent match. Moreover, Sheffield Wednesday’s inconsistent form is inadequate to compete against a solid team like Grimsby Town. Therefore, Grimsby Town will gain a clean sheet victory.

Brentford vs Aston Villa

Brentford F.C. and Aston Villa F.C. will have a serious Carabao Cup brawl on September 16, 2025. This English Carabao Cup Third Round will start at 08:00 p.m. BST at Gtech Community Stadium.

Prediction

Speaking of current form, Aston Villa’s away form is decent compared to Brentford’s home matches. Their recent form indicates a higher level of adaptability in away matches and a good amount of consistency. Another thing is that Brentford has a vulnerable defensive side that needs further push. They have shown fragility, especially at home, conceding an average of 1.92 goals per home match this season. Brentford have also failed to keep a clean sheet at home, highlighting their below-average attacking side. In contrast, Aston Villa has a strong scoring capability with players like Watkins, Asensio, and Rashford. It could take advantage of Brentford’s defensive fragility on the right occasions. Tactically, Unai Emery heads Aston Villa with his strategic prowess, setting up the team effectively. While Brentford has home advantage this time, Aston Villa’s superior form might easily overpower Brentford in this Carabao Cup match.

Swansea vs Nottingham Forest

Get ready to witness the Swansea F.C. vs Nottingham Forest F.C. clash in the EFL’s Third Round. This clash will happen at Swansea.com Stadium at 08:00 p.m. BST on September 23, 2025.

Prediction

Given both teams’ exceptional sides, this match will likely be a tight contest. Nottingham Forest has been performing very poorly in recent matches. Nottingham’s matches tend to end in a goalless draw or a defeat. Their recent form is beyond repair, with frequent goalless fixtures in the last 10 games. A team has never maintained such a poor scorecard in this Carabao Cup season. Conversely, Swansea has a home advantage this time, though the difference is minor. Swansea delivered a solid performance in the previous season. They also had more frequent goalless matches. But compared with Nottingham Forest, the difference is far better. Their defense also looks decent, and they have conceded several goals. Even though Nottingham is poor in offense, their midfield play rarely concedes a goal. If Swansea manages to break Nottingham’s defensive wall, their attacking efficiency might exploit Nottingham’s poor offense this time.

Lincoln City vs Chelsea

Sincil Bank Stadium will host the Lincoln City F.C. vs Chelsea F.C. match on September 23, 2025. This Carabao Cup fixture will begin at 07:45 p.m. BST; Don’t miss it.

Prediction

Chelsea’s current form looks more than promising. They maintain an 80% winning ratio with eight wins and two draws. Strikingly, they have never lost in their last 10 matches by winning or securing a draw. This shows how powerful both their offensive and defensive sides are. Notably, they have a higher scoring average with more than two goals per game. They have had four clean sheet victories against giants like PSG and Leverkusen. Their away form also looks equally as impressive as their home form in every aspect. Likewise, Lincoln City’s side has a reasonable win and loss record with average statistics. They have won in 6 and lost in 1, along with three draws in their last ten fixtures. Like Chelsea, they also possess a good amount of defense and offense. However, their average score is lower than Chelsea’s monstrous offense, making Chelsea the winner.

Wolves vs Everton

The Wolves, aka Wolverhampton F.C., will face Everton F.C. in the upcoming Carabao Cup Third Round. Enjoy this fixture on September 23, 2025, at 07:45 p.m. BST at Molineux Stadium.

Prediction

Wolverhampton is in a state of despair currently due to their underwhelming form. They have secured only two wins out of 10 last fixtures, 7 defeats, and a single draw. Even though they lost more times, their probability of registering a score is higher than Everton’s. But Everton has gained momentum in the last three matches. If they keep that sustained, they can easily edge out Wolves without heavy efforts. Offensively, both teams show the same level with not much difference. But in defense, the Wolves are pretty underperforming as they concede more goals. The midfielders are more proactive in the Everton side, constantly breaking down progression. This time, the Wolves get the home advantage. However, Everton won an EPL clash at that stadium. So, Wolves might have little to no benefit from having a hometown. Therefore, Everton has the slight edge to win.

Fulham vs Cambridge United

Prepare to witness the glorious English Carabao Cup clash between Fulham F.C. and Cambridge United F.C. on September 23, 2025. The match will occur at Craven Cottage in London, England, and the kick-off time is 7:45 PM BST.

Prediction

The clash between Fulham and Cambridge United will be a close contest, with Fulham having a slight edge. Fulham’s offense is legitimately threatening, with an average score of 1.6 goals per game in their last 10 games. They frequently bag above four scores if opponents are weaker in defense. Their defense is also not bad, having strongly defended teams like Manchester United. But they show some defensive errors, causing them to concede. Similarly, the Cambridge United side is somewhat satisfying. Although their defense looked sharp, they lack offensive consistency. However, with three clean sheet victories in the previous 10 matches, Cambridge United has a superior defense. These contrasting strengths are what make this match even more intriguing and unpredictable. If Fulham breaks Cambridge United’s defense, they can easily score. Being a tight contest, this Carabao Cup match leans in favor of Fulham, given their offensive power.

Liverpool vs Southampton

Prepare for the Liverpool F.C. vs Southampton F.C. Carabao Cup clash on September 23, 2025. The third Round of the Carabao Cup will begin at 08:00 p.m. BST at Anfield Stadium.

Prediction

Liverpool is an elite club with everything in the right place. Its defensive play, attacking flair, midfield play, and ball possession are all superior. The team maintains a strong trendline in winning and scoring, with an 80% winning ratio in their last 10 matches. They are also efficient on the defensive side, effectively breaking down opponents’ progression. Notably, their scoring capability is enough to break Southampton’s defense. Southampton, on the other hand, has barely managed to dominate teams in their last ten matches. They have won in only three games with five draws and two losses. However, they have a reasonable defensive side that efficiently manages the opponent’s scoring aggression. Overall, Liverpool has a perfect record in recent matches with a great current form. Besides having a potent team, Liverpool also has a home advantage. Hence, Liverpool will have no hardships beating Southampton.

Huddersfield vs Man City

The Huddersfield F.C. squad and Manchester City F.C. will face off in the upcoming Carabao Cup 2025 Third Round. This match will begin at 07:45 p.m. BST on September 23, 2025, at John Smith Stadium.

Prediction

Both Manchester City F.C. and Huddersfield F.C. carry the same force within themselves. Manchester boasts a 70% winning ratio with an exploding scoring potential consisting of players like Erling Haaland and Rodri. Their most recent clean sheet win against Manchester United says much about their offense and defense. Particularly, Erling Haaland is their single most valuable player, who significantly scored in the previous season. Offensively, their average score per game stands at 2.9 for their last ten fixtures. Overall, consistency is the significant factor that makes them the favorite to win this EFL Cup clash. Similarly, Huddersfield has some competitive stats that are equally intimidating as City’s. But they rarely ever score above the average threshold. Their wins conclude within three goals. They need to improve their set-piece execution and goal-line defense. Hence, Manchester City’s elite profile will enable them to take down Huddersfield.

Tottenham vs Doncaster

Tottenham Hotspur F.C. meets Doncaster F.C. in this Carabao Cup 2025’s Third Round fixture on September 24, 2025. This clash will be hosted at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at 07:45 p.m. BST.

Prediction

Tottenham Hotspur F.C. is a star team with numerous feats. But in recent matches, they seem to have lost their shine compared with Doncaster F.C. Considering the last ten matchups, Tottenham Hotspur has won only in 4 matches. They are more prone to draw or lose by a minor difference. Tottenham’s offense struggles to hand opponents’ defense if facing an elite club. Despite scoring many goals, their current form yields only inconsistent outcomes. Doncaster F.C., conversely, has a good ongoing momentum with a 70% winning rate in recent matches. They show a consistent trend in winning. Doncaster’s goal-line defense and wide coverage allow them to break down progression easily. They control the match’s tempo to their advantage by forcing errors on their opponents. Especially at away matches, Doncaster has been in good form. Hence, Doncaster will beat Tottenham Hotspur despite Tottenham’s home advantage in this Carabao Cup matchup.

Port Vale vs Arsenal

Port Vale F.C. and Arsenal F.C. will engage in the Carabao Cup’s Third Round matchup on September 24, 2025. This match will begin at 08:30 p.m. BEST at Vale Park.

Prediction

Arsenal has reported a higher win rate from its last ten matchups. It scores more consistently, and in worst cases, it ends up in a draw or a single-goal difference loss. Arsenal F.C. never seems to be out of form, having effectively scored. Historically, Arsenal has always dominated Port Vale, winning 12 out of 22 total matches with 6 draws and 4 losses. Although Port Vale has a home advantage, Arsenal’s away form is unshakable compared to Port Vale’s current form. Port Vale is currently suffering from a lack of cohesion and inconsistency. They rely heavily on key players like Laurent Tolaj for goals. This makes the squad one-dimensional, lacking the depth it should have. Additionally, Port Vale has a much lower-scoring profile than Arsenal. As a result, Arsenal will take over Port Vale in this Carabao Cup fixture.