The Carabao Cup is looking forward to another thrilling season! Yet it foresees a radical overhaul to make room for an ever increasing amount of teams at the highest level of football. The tournament begins with a preliminary round, including teams from the lowest leagues. As that competition grows, Premier League clubs will increasingly be a part of it. When the draw for the first round was released, it was full of intriguing matchups — none bigger than Birmingham hosting Sheffield United.
The Carabao Cup maintains a regionalized format until the third round, allowing teams from different areas to compete against each other in an organized manner. This season sees the introduction of a preliminary round to allow for the growing number of Premier League teams in European competition. Eleven clubs that are not playing in Europe will enter the competition at the second-round level. This new inclusion will surely increase the buzz during the first few rounds for sure!
Preliminary Round Matches
The first round of the Carabao Cup will be the week beginning August 4. This round includes several intriguing matches. Down south, Barnet will be welcoming Newport, offering the most intriguing match-up in this round as the two play-off candidates face off. In the top half, Oldham go to Accrington in a midweek match that has already piqued the interest of local supporters.
The preliminary round has been inserted very intentionally to allow for all teams, regardless of seeding, to have an opportunity to compete. With this action, he is responding to the growing phenomenon of ‘football clubs’ in senior professional football. This small change is emblematic of a new era of football in England, one in which more clubs are fighting for the right to be considered important and successful.
Round-One Highlights
The first round of judging is over. The opening round of the Carabao Cup gets underway in the week commencing August 11. The pick of the first round matches will be Birmingham City vs Sheffield United. This friendly meeting of titans underscores the competition within a competition between two powerhouse teams. It additionally provides each club an important opportunity to build momentum at the beginning of the season.
In perhaps the most high-profile tie, Bromley will welcome Ipswich Town to the south of the draw. Ipswich itself was relegated from the Premier League last year. Now, the Tigers are hungry to prove their muscle and win back their place in English football’s top tier.
Premier League Involvement
As the tournament progresses, nine Premier League sides participating in European competitions will join the fray in the third round. This time around, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City are new to the competition. Joining them are Chelsea, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest. Newcastle are the current holders of the Carabao Cup. They are chomping at the bit to retake their crown from fierce opponents.
Sky Sports will show all 35 of the Carabao Cup ties live. In doing so, fans can support their teams every step of the way throughout this exciting tournament.
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