The reason why Manchester United will not be able to face Liverpool in the next round of the Carabao Cup has been revealed.
This week marks the return of the Carabao Cup, with Premier League teams not participating in European competitions joining the tournament.
Teams such as Everton, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, and Brighton & Hove Albion played on Tuesday night.
Newcastle United, West Ham United, and Nottingham Forest are scheduled to play their matches on Wednesday night.
Following the Wednesday night games, the draw for the third round will occur, involving the remaining Premier League teams.
It has been announced that, due to a change in rules, Champions League teams will not face Europa League teams in the third round. The Manchester Evening News reports that the Carabao Cup’s third round will be played over two midweeks to accommodate the extended European group stages. This scheduling means that Champions League clubs (Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Aston Villa) will not compete against Europa League teams (Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur).
Teams in the Champions League will start their first matches on September 17/18, coinciding with United and Spurs competing in the Carabao Cup third round.
The following week, the scenario will switch: Liverpool, City, Arsenal, and Villa will be in Carabao Cup action, while United and Spurs will compete in the Europa League.
During Erik ten Hag’s first season with United, they won the Carabao Cup by defeating Newcastle United 2-0 in the final.
Last season, Liverpool clinched the Carabao Cup in a dramatic fashion when Virgil van Dijk scored with a header from a Kostas Tsimikas corner in the 118th minute, securing a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Wembley. This victory marked Jurgen Klopp’s last trophy as Liverpool manager.