2023–24 EFL Cup explained

2023–24 EFL Cup
Other Titles:Carabao Cup
Country:England
Wales
Dates:8 August 2023 – 25 February 2024
Num Teams:92
Matches:93
Scoring Leader:Morgan Rogers
(5 goals)
Defending Champions:Manchester United
Champions:Liverpool
Count:10
Runner-Up:Chelsea
Prev Season:2022–23

The 2023–24 EFL Cup was the 64th season of the EFL Cup (known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons). The competition was open to all clubs participating in the Premier League and the English Football League.

The winner of the competition qualified for the play-off round of the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League.[1] However, as champions Liverpool qualified for the UEFA Champions League that season, the spot for the Conference League play-offs was passed down to runners-up Chelsea, who finished 6th in the 2023–24 Premier League and had not qualified for any UEFA competition beforehand.

Manchester United were the defending champions, but were eliminated by Newcastle United, whom they had beaten in the previous season's final, in the fourth round.

The final was played at Wembley Stadium on 25 February 2024 between Liverpool and Chelsea. Liverpool secured a record-extending tenth title following a 1–0 win after extra time, courtesy of club captain Virgil van Dijk's late header.[2]

Access

All 92 clubs in the Premier League and English Football League entered the season's EFL Cup.

In the first round, all Championship, League One and League Two clubs entered.

The following round, the Premier League clubs not involved in the Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League entered.

Clubs entering in this roundClubs advancing from previous roundNumber of gamesMain date
First round
(72 clubs)
  • 24 clubs from EFL League Two
  • 24 clubs from EFL League One
  • 24 clubs from EFL Championship
  • N/A
36 7 August 2023
Second round
(48 clubs)
  • 12 Premier League clubs (not involved in European competition)
  • 36 winners from first round
24w/c 28 August 2023
Third round
(32 clubs)
  • 8 Premier League clubs (involved in European competition)
  • 24 winners from second round
16w/c 25 September 2023
Fourth round
(16 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the fourth round
  • 16 winners from third round
8w/c 30 October 2023
Quarter-finals
(8 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the quarter-finals
  • 8 winners from fourth round
4w/c 18 December 2023
Semi-finals
(4 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the semi-finals
  • 4 winners from quarter-finals
4 (two-legged)w/c 8 January 2024
w/c 22 January 2024
Final
(2 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the final
  • 2 winners from semi-finals
125 February 2024

First round

A total of 72 clubs played in the first round: the 24 clubs from League Two the 24 clubs from League One and the 24 clubs from the Championship entered at this stage. The draw for this round was split on a geographical basis into "northern" and "southern" sections. Teams were drawn against a team from the same section.

Southern section

Second round

A total of 48 clubs played in the second round: the 12 Premier League clubs not involved in European competition entered at this stage along with the 36 winners from the first round. The draw for this round was split on a geographical basis into "northern" and "southern" sections. Teams were drawn against a team from the same section.

Southern section

Third round

A total of 32 clubs played in the third round: the 8 Premier League clubs involved in European competition, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, and West Ham United entered the competition at this stage plus the 24 winners from the second round.

Fourth round

A total of 16 teams played in the fourth round. League Two side Mansfield Town were the lowest-ranked team in the draw.

Quarter-finals

A total of eight teams played in the quarter-finals. League One side Port Vale were the lowest-ranked team in the draw, which took place on 1 November.[3]

Semi-finals

A total of four teams played in the semi-finals. Championship side Middlesbrough were the lowest-ranked team in the draw, which took place on 20 December.[4]

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Chelsea won 6–2 on aggregate.----Liverpool won 3–2 on aggregate.

Final

See main article: 2024 EFL Cup final.

Top goalscorers

Rank[5] PlayerClubGoals
1 Morgan RogersMiddlesbrough5
2 Cody GakpoLiverpool4
3 John BuckleyBlackburn Rovers3
Kelvin EhibhatiomhanReading
Kion EteteCardiff City
Jake GarrettBlackburn Rovers
Curtis JonesLiverpool
Jean-Philippe MatetaCrystal Palace
Ben WainePlymouth Argyle
1035 players2

Notes and References

  1. News: 18 October 2021 . UEFA Europa League: All you need to know . UEFA . 20 April 2022.
  2. Web site: Chelsea 0–1 Liverpool (aet) - Virgil van Dijk extra-time winner gives Reds Wembley glory. BBC Sport. 25 February 2024. 25 February 2024.
  3. Web site: Carabao Cup quarter-finals draw: Chelsea v Newcastle, Liverpool v West Ham, Everton v Fulham, Port Vale v Middlesbrough. 1 November 2023. BBC Sport. 2 November 2023.
  4. Web site: Carabao Cup draw: Liverpool to face Fulham in the semi-finals. 20 December 2023. BBC Sport. 20 December 2023.
  5. Web site: English League Cup 2023/2024: Top Scorer. WorldFootball.net. 26 September 2023.