CARABAO CUP THIRD ROUND DRAW: Man United get favourable home game as European teams enter competition

Manchester United have been handed a Carabao Cup third round match that looks comfortable on paper and will be played at Old Trafford.

Arsenal, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester City have also had favourable fixtures, while the Premier League’s European qualifiers have all featured teams from the Football League.

Liverpool meanwhile will face West Ham, who scored late on Wednesday night to beat Bournemouth, and are therefore in the running for the draw.

Chelsea, however, are in a very clear tie after being drawn with League Two side Barrow, who are in the third round for the first time in their history and will be hoping for a fantastic win.

The draw for the third round of the Carabao Cup took on a new face on Wednesday night. The six teams that had progressed to the Champions League and Europa League were drawn before the main table to determine whether they would play home or away.

Erik ten Hag and Manchester United have been given a fairly routine draw for the Carabao Cup

Manchester City welcome Watford to the Etihad Stadium in the third round

Arsenal will face Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates in the third round as the Gunners look to win their first major trophy since 2020

Those six teams were then drawn first, with Manchester United taking on Barnsley at Old Trafford. This looks set to be a relatively easy draw for Erik ten Hag and co.

Arsenal hosted Bolton at home, Aston Villa travelled to Wycombe, Spurs visited Coventry City and Man City welcomed Watford to the Etihad Stadium.

Elsewhere, a Premier League match was due to be played at Goodison Park, with Everton hosting Southampton and Brighton hosting Wolves.

Newcastle travel to London to take on AFC Wimbledon, who dramatically eliminated Ipswich on penalties on Wednesday evening.

Eberechi Eze returns to his old club QPR with Crystal Palace, Leicester travel to nearby Walsall, Fulham play away at Preston North End and in the capital there is another derby between Brentford and Leyton Orient in West London.

Outside the Premier League, Blackpool take on Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke host Fleetwood Town to complete the match.

United’s third round clash will take place at home to League One opponents Barnsley

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

Enzo Maresca’s first Carabao Cup match as Chelsea manager will come against League Two Barrow

Liverpool go into the third round as title holders after beating Chelsea in extra time at Wembley last season, while Ten Hag begins his season with a home game against League One Barnsley in a bid to regain his first ever trophy in England.

His team beat Newcastle in 2023 to win the Red Devils’ first title, before lifting the FA Cup against Man City three months ago.