The 2024-25 EFL Cup season is about to begin, promising a fresh wave of excitement, fierce rivalries, and the thrill of the unpredictable. In this journey, fans can expect a thrilling match, rising stars, and an electrifying atmosphere. Whether you’re supporting a seasoned contender or cheering for an underdog, this season is set to be a rollercoaster ride from the first whistle to the showdown. Brace yourself for a season where every goal counts, and every match could make history!
The 2024-25 EFL Cup, also known as the Carabao Cup, is in its 65th season. The tournament embraces all Premier League and English Football League clubs, making it an inclusive event. This inclusivity fosters a sense of unity among the football community. The winner of the competition qualifies for the play-off round of the 2025-26 UEFA Conference League. The event will start on August 13, 2024, and conclude on March 16, 2025. Liverpool is the defending champion, and it will be exciting to see who will win the trophy this time. The tournament includes 92 clubs from the Premier League and the English Football League’s Championship, League One, and League Two. The EFL Cup, first held in 1960-61 as the Football League Cup, is one of England’s top-tier domestic competitions alongside the Premier Cup and FA Cup. While it is one of the four domestic trophies attainable by English league teams, it is considered to be of lower prestige than the league title or the FA Cup.
As stated above, this league cup is open to all 92 Premier League and English Football. League members. It is divided into seven rounds and organized so that 32 teams remain by the third round. The Cup is usually played on a knockout basis, with each team playing one match each round until the winner is determined. The winner of the League Cup is awarded a trophy and prize money. The EFL Cup is a prestigious tournament that provides an exciting platform for teams across the football leagues to showcase their talent and compete for silverware. With a history dating back decades, the competition has witnessed memorable moments and intense battles on the field. This tournament is eagerly anticipated by fans and players alike, and it continues to add to the legacy of football in the United Kingdom.
Teams
The 2024-25 EFL Cup will see a total of 92 clubs from the English Football League and Premier League compete. The top four English Football League divisions each have representation in the Cup. All 24 championship clubs and League One and Two clubs were represented in the first round. The Championship Clubs that placed 18th and 19th in the League and the Premier League Clubs that were not participating in the Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League, Luton Town and Burnley, were added to the competition in the next round. This process ensures that the EFL Cup is a true test of the best teams across the leagues.
In the first round, 70 clubs will participate, including 24 from EFL League Two, 24 from EFL League One, and 22 from the EFL Championship; for the second round, two clubs from the EFL Championship and 13 premier League Clubs who are not involved in the European Competition which consists of 50 clubs will enter. In the third round, it will be filtered into 32 clubs, with seven Premier League clubs involved in European competitions. In the fourth round, 16 clubs will participate, and eight clubs will be carried forward to the Quarter Finals, followed by the semi-final and final.
2024-25 EFL Cup key dates
First Round – August 12, 2024
Second Round – August 26, 2024
Third Round – September 16 and September 23, 2024
Fourth Round – October 28, 2024
Quarter-finals – December 16, 2024
Semi-finals – January 6, 2025, and February 3, 2025
Final – March 16, 2025
2024-25 First Round EFL Cup Draw
Southern Section | Northern Section |
Cambridge United v Queens Park Rangers | Salford City v Doncaster Rovers |
Walsall v Exeter City | Rotherham United v Crewe Alexandra |
Crawley Town v Swindon Town | Carlisle United v Stoke City |
Oxford United v Peterborough United | Leeds United v Middlesbrough |
Norwich City v Stevenage | Barrow v Port Vale |
Bromley v AFC Wimbledon | Burton Albion v Blackpool |
Portsmouth v Millwall | Tranmere Rovers v Accrington Stanley |
Northampton Town v Wycombe Wanderers | Fleetwood Town v West Bromwich Albion |
Bristol City v Coventry City | Shrewsbury Town v Notts County |
Cardiff City v Bristol Rovers | Lincoln City v Harrogate Town |
Charlton Athletic v Birmingham City | Derby County v Chesterfield |
Watford v MK Dons | Bolton Wanderers v Mansfield Town |
Swansea City v Gillingham | Preston North End v Sunderland |
Plymouth Argyle v Cheltenham Town | Sheffield United v Wrexham |
Leyton Orient v Newport County | Huddersfield Town v Morecambe |
Colchester United v Reading | Wigan Athletic v Barnsley |
– | Hull City v Sheffield Wednesday |
– | Stockport County v Blackburn Rovers |
– | Grimsby Town v Bradford City |
Where to Watch the 2024–25 EFL Cup?
Fans can watch the 2024-2025 EFL Cup on Sky Sports and Sky Sports+.
British fans can watch free live streams of 2024–25 Carabao Cup matches on ITVX from the semi-finals onwards.
US football enthusiasts can watch the Carabao Cup on DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and Paramount Plus via CBS Sports Network.
Canadian fans can watch the 2024-25 EFL Cup on DAZN.
Highlights of the EFL Cup will be shown on ITV4 and available on ITV Hubs
Prediction:
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. vs. Crawley Town F.C.
On August 28, 2024, Crawley Town is making a road trip to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the upcoming EFL Cup second round at the Amex Stadium (Brighton). Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. didn’t participate in any European competitions, but they were straightly entered into this competition in the second round. Their English Premier campaign has been a smooth journey, leading them to stand in second place with a record of two wins, with a goal for five and a goal against one. Brighton scored a solid offense during their performances against Manchester United and Everton by scoring two against United and three against Everton. Their defensive side is also quite impressive; in two games, they allowed only one point to the opponent.
In addition, before heading up to this English Premier League new season, they played four friendly matches and successfully won all four, portraying themselves as one successful team so far. Crawley Town head into this match with a great triumph in the Carabao Cup first round against Swindon by a margin of two points. This victory has boosted their confidence and they are ready to take on the challenge. Crawley Town also participates in Football League One, standing in the eighth position with a record of two wins and one loss. In all their competition this season, they won four of five games, scoring nine goals and 1.8 per game. When analyzing both team’s current form and performances, it’s clear that Brighton & Hove Albion will have a high edge in winning this upcoming game, but Crawley Town’s recent form suggests they could give a tough fight.
Blackburn Rovers F.C. vs. Blackpool F.C.
Following their victorious first-round triumph, Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool will face off in the Carabao Cup second round on August 28, 2024, at Ewood Park (Blackburn). Blackburn Rovers have had a solid start to this season under the management of John Eustace. They showed dominance and attacking prowess by winning three of their four matches and drawing one. Their campaign began with a 4-2 victory against Derby County, followed by a dominant 6-1 triumph against Stockport County in the first round of the EFL Cup. Their victory path took a break in the next match, ending their game with a 2-2 draw against Norwich City and a 2-1 win over Oxford United. With the start of a strong season, they were placed third in the championship table.
On the other hand, Blackpool has had a chaotic start to this season. After sacking Neil Critchley based on their disappointing results, they are currently under the interim management of Richard Keogh. Despite a 4-1 lead against Cambridge United, they could only manage a 4-4 draw, highlighting their defensive vulnerabilities. On their EFL Cup journey, they began with a triumph over Burton Albion; however, when we look at their league form, they have needed to be consistent with losses to Crawley Town and Stockport County. Looking at their tactical approaches, Blackburn Rovers will likely rely on an attacking approach with home advantage. At the same time, Blackpool will focus on their defense. Given their current form and home advantage, Blackburn Rovers are favorites to win this match.
Walsall F.C. vs. Huddersfield Town A.F.C.
Walsall is journeying home to host Huddersfield Town for the second round of the Carabao Cup showdown on August 28, 2024, at Bescot Stadium (Walsall). Both teams head into this matchup with phenomenal first-round victories, as Walsall faced Exeter and won the game by a margin of one point. In the first half, Exeter used the opportunity wisely and scored the game’s first goal. In the second half of the game, Jamie Jellis shot the first goal for Walsall in the 90+3”. Further in the game, moving forward to the penalties, Walsall’s solid offense helped them win their first Carabao Cup game. Simultaneously, Walsall is competing for Football League Two, and their consistent performance so far has made them stand third in the table with a record of two wins and one loss.
While Huddersfield performed in the Football League One, they won against Peterborough, Stevenage, and Shrewsbury. The most highlighted aspect of their performance was their solid defense; they conceded only one goal to the opponent. In the first-round game of the EFL Cup, they faced Morecambe, and they won the game with their impressive defense with a score of 3-0. Once the game started, allowing the opponent to score, Huddersfield opened their scoreboard in the 1st minute thanks to Jaheim Headley. Danny Ward and Callum Marshall shot another two goals from their end, and their solid defense in the second half made the opponent leave the field without scoring a single point. While looking at their H2H record, Huddersfield Town has the upper hand here, and their recent performance in the league, especially their solid defense, gives them a slight edge to win this match.
Watford F.C. vs. Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Watford is set to face Plymouth Argyle in the EFL second-round clash on August 28, 2024, at Vicarage Road (Watford). Watford currently holds the second position in the championship table with an impressive record of three consecutive wins. They kicked off the season with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Millwall, followed by a dominant 5-0 win against MK Dons in the EFL Cup first round. Their unbeaten streak continued with a 3-0 win against Stoke City and a 2-1 victory against Derby County, with Sissoko and Bayo scoring crucial goals. Plymouth, who finished fourth from the bottom in the EFL Championship last season, have had a challenging start, remaining winless in their first three matches. They began their campaign with a heavy 4-0 defeat to Sheffield but showed resilience in the EFL Cup first round with a 3-0 win over Cheltenham. However, their league performance has been inconsistent, with draws against Hull City and QPR.
Moussa Sissoko from Watford is the player to keep an eye on in the upcoming match, with an impressive record in English Premier League history – scoring 20 goals in 192 appearances. Plymouth’s Lewis Gibson, a 24-year-old center-back from Durham, will be focusing on maintaining the solidity of Plymouth Argyle’s defensive line. Plymouth will be without Adam Forshaw, who received two yellow cards in less than 30 minutes in the recent encounter against QPR, and Habib Issaka, who received a red card in stoppage time. On the other hand, Watford will have a full squad available. With Sissoko scoring in the last two games and their historical head-to-head record of 5 wins and 2 draws against Plymouth, Watford is favored to win this game.
