CARABAO CUP THIRD ROUND DRAW: Man United handed favourable home tie as European teams enter competition

Manchester United have been handed what seems like a comfortable Carabao Cup third round clash on paper, to be played out at Old Trafford. 

Arsenal, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester City have also been handed favourable ties, with the Premier League‘s European qualifiers all drawn with Football League sides. 

Liverpool, meanwhile, will take on West Ham, who struck late on Wednesday evening to beat Bournemouth and put their name in the hat for the draw. 

Chelsea though have a very straight forward tie on their hands, after being drawn with League Two’s Barrow, who are in the third round for the first time in their history, and will be dreaming of a fairy tale upset. 

The Carabao Cup third round draw took on a new complexion on Wednesday night, with the six teams who had made it into the Champions League and Europa League drawn prior to the main draw to determine whether they would be home or away. 

Manchester City will welcome Watford to the Etihad in their third round encounter

Arsenal will play Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates in the third round, with the Gunners looking to win a first major trophy since 2020

Those six sides were then drawn first, with Manchester United taking on Barnsley at Old Trafford in what looks to be a relatively easy tie for Erik ten Hag and Co. 

Arsenal got Bolton at home, with Aston Villa travelling to Wycombe, Spurs visiting Coventry City, and Man City welcoming Watford to the Etihad. 

Elsewhere there was an all Premier League clash to be played at Goodison Park, when Everton host Southampton, while Brighton host Wolves. 

Newcastle will travel to London to take on AFC Wimbledon, who knocked out Ipswich in dramatic fashion on penalties on Wednesday night.

Eberechi Eze returns to his former club QPR with Crystal Palace, Leicester travel to nearby Walsall, Fulham are away at Preston North End, and it’s another derby in the capital between Brentford and Leyton Orient in west London. 

Away from the Premier League, Blackpool take on Sheffield Wednesday, and Stoke will host Fleetwood Town, to round out the ties. 

Reigning champions Liverpool will take on West Ham at Anfield as they enter the competition

Enzo Maresca’s first Carabao Cup tie as Chelsea boss will come against League Two Barrow

Liverpool enter the third round as the holders after beating Chelsea in extra time at Wembley last term, while Ten Hag will get his campaign underway at home to League One Barnsely in a bid to win back his first ever trophy in England. 

His side beat Newcastle in 2023 for the Dutchman’s maiden honours at the Red Devils, before adding the FA Cup against Man City three months ago.