Liverpool will begin their defence of the Carabao Cup against West Ham in the third round. This match will mark the start of Arne Slot’s tenure as the manager responsible for continuing Jurgen Klopp’s successful run at Anfield. Klopp led Liverpool to a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in last season’s final, which turned out to be his final trophy as the club’s manager.
The Carabao Cup campaign for Liverpool will commence in the week commencing September 23, sandwiched between Premier League fixtures against Bournemouth and Wolves. West Ham secured their place in the third round with an 88th-minute winner from Jarrod Bowen in a 1-0 home win against Bournemouth.
It is worth noting that the scheduling of the third round is staggered over September 17/18 and 24/25. This is due to the expanded format of this season’s Champions League and Europa League. As a result, Liverpool could not draw Manchester United or Tottenham, as both teams are participating in the Europa League.
Liverpool has a remarkable record in the League Cup, having won the trophy a record 10 times. In last season’s campaign, they overcame West Ham, Leicester, Bournemouth, and Fulham on their way to lifting the trophy. Two of these victories came in the last three seasons under Klopp’s guidance. Cody Gakpo finished as the second-top goalscorer in the tournament, finding the net four times, while Curtis Jones was one of seven players to score three goals.
Arne Slot, who now leads Liverpool, has previous experience of winning domestic cups. In his final campaign as Feyenoord head coach, he secured the KNVB Cup, the Dutch equivalent of the FA Cup.
In addition to Liverpool vs. West Ham, several other intriguing matchups await in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Manchester City will face Watford, Arsenal will take on Bolton, and Manchester United will play against Barnsley. These fixtures, along with the others in the competition, promise exciting football and intense competition as teams vie for a chance to lift the prestigious trophy.