Why Liverpool are in two different Carabao Cup third round draws

The draw for the third round of the competition will take place on Wednesday evening, with the Reds one of eight clubs participating in Europe who begin at the final 32 stage.

However, there will be two separate draws to determine where and who Andoni Iraola's side will come up against in a round that is taking place over two weeks in September.

With Liverpool one of five English teams participating in the Champions League which begins in the week beginning September 7, their Carabao Cup tie must therefore take place the following midweek. The reverse applies for the three Premier League clubs in the Europa League.

None of those eight teams can play each other in the Carabao Cup third round, and will instead be placed in a pot separate to the other 24 qualified clubs.

That draw will take place at around 10.15pm on Sky Sports after the broadcast of Everton's second round tie at Preston North End on Wednesday evening.

There will, though, before the match be a preliminary draw, also broadcast live on Sky at around 7.20pm, which will determine whether the European qualifiers will play home or away in the third round.

It means in the main draw, the first eight ties drawn will involve the Champions League and Europa League participants with their home or away position having already been decided, and each will then be drawn against a club from the separate bowl containing the remaining teams.

The final eight ties will be determined by a normal draw between the remaining 16 clubs in the second pot.

Liverpool have won the League Cup a record 10 times with their last triumph coming in 2024 when they beat Chelsea 1-0 in the final at Wembley.

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