Liverpool will host Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in the Carabao Cup third round, according to the draw conducted on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, creating an early all-Premier League contest in one of the competition’s most anticipated ties.
The Liverpool Tottenham Carabao Cup draw also handed Manchester United a home meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion, while holders Manchester City will welcome Norwich City.
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Arsenal will travel to Ipswich Town, and Aston Villa face an away trip to Coventry City.
Liverpool’s meeting with Tottenham stands out because both sides will begin their Carabao Cup campaigns against fellow Premier League opposition.
The Anfield encounter gives the two clubs little room for error in a competition that offers a relatively direct route to silverware.
Manchester City, who lifted the trophy after beating Arsenal 2-0 in the 2025/26 final at Wembley, begin their defence against Norwich.
The victory gave Manchester City another major domestic honour and set up a new challenge for the holders as they attempt to retain the trophy.
Manchester United will face Brighton, while Arsenal’s trip to Ipswich presents another intriguing meeting between established Premier League opposition and a club that has returned to the top flight.
Aston Villa have also been handed a difficult away assignment against Coventry, while Newcastle United will travel to Millwall. Everton will host Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Bournemouth drawn at home against Lincoln City.
There is also a notable opportunity for Fleetwood Town, the only fourth-tier club remaining in the competition.
Fleetwood will welcome Sheffield United in a tie that gives the League Two side a chance to produce one of the round’s biggest upsets.
Crystal Palace will host Middlesbrough, Leyton Orient will meet Bradford City, Reading will welcome Brentford, and Peterborough United will face Barnsley.
The final two fixtures depend on Thursday’s remaining second-round matches. Chelsea will host Luton Town, while Fulham will face AFC Wimbledon, with the winners completing the third-round draw against Leeds United and West Ham United respectively.
The EFL has scheduled the third-round fixtures across the weeks beginning September 7 and September 14.
The arrangement reflects the increasingly demanding European calendar and is designed to reduce clashes with UEFA competition matches.
Nine Premier League clubs competing in European football this season enter the Carabao Cup at the third-round stage.
The group comprises Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Brighton, Sunderland and Crystal Palace.
The revised entry structure means the competition’s third round brings together 32 teams, made up of 23 winners from the second round and the nine Premier League clubs involved in European competition.
The Carabao Cup remains an important opportunity for clubs seeking domestic success, particularly those looking to give emerging players valuable competitive experience while maintaining a serious challenge for silverware.
For Liverpool and Tottenham, however, the draw removes that luxury early.
One of the two Premier League sides will leave the competition before the fourth round, making the Anfield contest an immediate and potentially decisive test.
The remaining third-round fixtures are:
Crystal Palace v Middlesbrough
Manchester United v Brighton
Manchester City v Norwich
Sunderland v Hull City
Ipswich Town v Arsenal
Coventry City v Aston Villa
Bournemouth v Lincoln City
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea or Luton Town v Leeds United
Millwall v Newcastle United
Fleetwood Town v Sheffield United
Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leyton Orient v Bradford City
Reading v Brentford
Peterborough United v Barnsley
West Ham United v Fulham or AFC Wimbledon
The Carabao Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, March 21, 2027, at Wembley Stadium, with the fourth round set for the week beginning October 26 and the fifth round scheduled for the week beginning December 14.
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The Liverpool Tottenham Carabao Cup draw therefore gives the competition an immediate blockbuster, while the presence of Fleetwood and several Championship and League One sides keeps alive the possibility of another memorable cup upset.
