Introduction
The English Football League Cup, also known as the Carabao Cup due to sponsorship reasons, is an annual knockout football competition in men's domestic English football.
The tournament is open to all 92 Premier League and English Football League (EFL) clubs. The competition began in 1960 and was initially named the Football League Cup, before changing to the current name in 2017.
Format
The format of the competition involves a straight knockout system, where each tie is decided by a single match. The tournament starts with the first round in August, involving clubs from League Two and League One. Premier League clubs enter the competition in the second round, and the third round features the seven Premier League clubs that are competing in European competitions.
The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final are all two-legged affairs, with each club playing one home and one away match. The final is held at Wembley Stadium in February.
2021-2022 Schedule and Broadcasting
The first round of the Carabao Cup took place on August 10, 2021. The second round matches were played on August 24 and 25. The third round matches will be played on September 21 and 22. The fourth round will be played on October 26 and 27, followed by the quarter-finals on December 21 and 22.
The semi-finals will be played over two legs, with the first leg taking place on January 4 and 5, and the second leg on January 11 and 12. The final will be held at Wembley Stadium on February 27, 2022.
BT Sport holds the broadcast rights to the Carabao Cup in the UK, with coverage of selected matches from every round of the competition. Fans of the competition will be able to watch matches live on the BT Sport app or on the BT Sport website.
Notable Previous Winners
The Carabao Cup has been won by some of the biggest clubs in English football, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal. However, some lesser-known clubs have also triumphed in the competition, including Swindon Town, Oxford United, and Luton Town.
Manchester City has been the most successful club in recent years, winning the competition four times in a row between 2018 and 2021.
Conclusion
The Carabao Cup is an exciting competition that provides football fans with plenty of entertainment throughout the season. With a mix of Premier League and EFL clubs battling it out for the trophy, there are always surprises in store along the way. So, make sure to tune in and catch all the action of the 2021-2022 Carabao Cup season!
