If Ruben Amorim’s side manage to see off Grimsby Town on Wednesday night, Manchester United could be looking at a nightmare third-round draw. The Red Devils entered the League Cup at the same stage as the Premier League’s lowest-ranked clubs this season, following a disappointing 15th-place finish in the 2024/25 campaign.
That early entry already means an extra fixture compared with the rest of the 'Big Six' if they are to reach the March 2026 final. Amorim’s recent pessimistic remarks - suggesting the squad is not yet good enough for Europe and still needs time to develop - have only intensified scrutiny.
But according to Carabao Cup rules, the toughest tests may still lie ahead. Should United progress from Blundell Park, they could face a daunting challenge in the third round, putting both Amorim and his team under even more pressure.
Man United Could Face Nightmare League Cup Third Round Draw
ruben amorim manchester united
On the EFL website, one rule that could impact United is highlighted in their article about the third-round draw, which will be conducted immediately after their game against Grimsby Town. It states:
"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."
As United are not among the nine teams competing in Europe this season, they face an increased likelihood of being drawn against one of Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, or Tottenham.
On the flip side, this also means none of those listed teams can face each other, giving United's rivals a far better chance of drawing lower-ranked opposition - an opportunity to rotate and rest their first-team players. With the Red Devils already suffering a winless start to the season, their potential to run into another tricky set of fixtures compounds their anxiety around the future of Amorim's side.
Manchester United's Matthijs de Ligt, Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw
United’s third-round fixture - again, assuming they progress from the second round - is scheduled for the week commencing September 15. That places it sandwiched between the Manchester Derby at the Etihad Stadium on the 14th and the visit from Chelsea just six days later on the 20th.