Liverpool will be one of eight clubs in the Carabao Cup third round draw on Wednesday, but there will be two separate draws to determine their opponents due to Champions League commitments
Liverpool will have ambitions of winning the trophy
Liverpool will have ambitions of winning the trophy(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Liverpool is set to experience a change in the way they discover their opponents when they enter the Carabao Cup next month.
The third round draw for the competition is scheduled for Wednesday evening, with the Reds amongst eight clubs competing in Europe who enter at the last 32 stage.
However, two separate draws will determine the venue and opponents for Andoni Iraola's side in a round that spans two weeks in September.
As one of five English clubs participating in the Champions League, which kicks off in the week beginning 7th September, Liverpool's Carabao Cup fixture must be scheduled for the following midweek.
The opposite arrangement applies to the three Premier League sides competing in the Europa League.
None of these eight clubs can be drawn against one another in the Carabao Cup third round, and will instead be placed in a separate pot from the remaining 24 qualified sides.
That draw is due to take place at approximately 10.15pm BST on Sky Sports, following the broadcast of Everton's second round tie at Preston North End on Wednesday evening.
Prior to that match, however, a preliminary draw — also broadcast live at around 7.20pm BST — will establish whether the European qualifiers will host or travel in the third round.
Reds boss Andoni Iraola
Reds boss Andoni Iraola(Image: Molly Darlington, Getty Images)
This means that in the main draw, the first eight fixtures drawn will feature the Champions League and Europa League participants, with their home or away status already determined, and each will then be paired against a club from the separate bowl containing the remaining teams.
The final eight fixtures will be decided by a standard draw between the remaining 16 clubs in the second pot.
Liverpool have won the League Cup a record 10 times, with their most recent victory coming in 2024 when they defeated Chelsea 1-0 in the final at Wembley.