Carabao Cup 2025/26 3rd round opponents for Liverpool officially confirmed

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Liverpool have discovered their opponents for the third round of this season’s Carabao Cup following Wednesday’s draw.

The Reds, finalists in three of the past four years and winners on two of those occasions, will begin their campaign in the competition next month.

Third-round fixtures will be spread across two midweeks to accommodate clubs involved in European competitions, with Liverpool’s tie scheduled for the week beginning September 22.

As in previous rounds of the Carabao Cup, matches will go straight to a penalty shootout if the scores are level after 90 minutes, with no extra time played.

Additionally, VAR will not be in use at this stage of the tournament.

In a statement, the EFL confirmed: “Following the expansion of the European competition calendar ahead of the 2024/25 season, the EFL will again be required to implement additional conditions for the Carabao Cup Round Three draw.

“In-line with last year’s competition, this season’s Carabao Cup Round Three fixtures will take place across two weeks (beginning 15 and 22 September), with fixtures in the Champions League (week beginning 15 September) and Europa League (week beginning 22 September) also scheduled during this period.

“As UEFA competition fixtures cannot be rescheduled, and to enable the Carabao Cup to proceed within its agreed schedule without disrupting other League or domestic cup fixtures, the additional conditions will ensure that Clubs participating in the Champions League or Europa League cannot meet each other in Round Three of the League Cup.

“This will ensure that both teams drawn in each tie will be able to fulfil the fixture in one of the allocated weeks.

“It would always be the EFL’s preference to conduct the draw in the traditional manner, but these changes have been forced upon us for the second season in succession as a result of UEFA’s failure to consult with the Leagues of Europe prior to finalising its competition schedule.”

Liverpool will take on Southampton in the third round of the competition.

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