2021–22 EFL Cup

The 2021–22 EFL Cup is the 62nd season of the EFL Cup (known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons). The competition is open to all clubs participating in the Premier League and the English Football League.

2021–22 EFL Cup
Carabao Cup, League Cup
Wembley Stadium will host the final on 27 February 2022
CountryEngland
Wales
Dates31 July 2021 – 27 February 2022
Teams92
Defending championsManchester City
Matches played83
Goals scored234 (2.82 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Marcus Forss
(5 goals)
2022–23
All statistics correct as of 22 September 2021.

The winner of the competition qualifies for the play-off round of the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League.[1]

The competition began on 31 July 2021, and the final is set to be played at Wembley Stadium on 27 February 2022.[2]

Manchester City were the holders, having won the previous four editions, and were eliminated by West Ham United in the fourth round.

Access

All 92 clubs in the Premier League and English Football League will enter the season's EFL Cup. Access is distributed across the top 4 leagues of the English football league system. For the first two rounds, the draw is regionalised into northern and southern clubs.

In the first round, 22 of 24 Championship clubs and all League One, and League Two clubs will enter.

The following round, the two remaining Championship clubs who finished 18th and 19th in the 2020–21 Premier League season (Fulham and West Bromwich Albion) and the Premier League clubs not involved in either the Champions League, Europa League, or Europa Conference League will enter.

Clubs entering in this round Clubs advancing from previous round Number of games
First round
(70 clubs)
  • 24 clubs from EFL League Two
  • 24 clubs from EFL League One
  • 22 clubs from EFL Championship
  • N/A
35
Second round
(50 clubs)
  • 2 clubs from EFL Championship
  • 13 Premier League clubs (not involved in European competition)
  • 35 winners from first round
25
Third round
(32 clubs)
  • 7 Premier League clubs (involved in European competition)
  • 25 winners from second round
16
Fourth round
(16 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the fourth round
  • 16 winners from third round
8
Quarter-finals
(8 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the quarter-finals
  • 8 winners from fourth round
4
Semi-finals
(4 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the semi-finals
  • 4 winners from fifth round
4

(Two Legged)

Final
(2 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the final
  • 2 winners from semi-finals
1

First round

A total of 70 clubs played in the first round: 24 from League Two (tier 4), 24 from League One (tier 3), and 22 from the Championship (tier 2). The draw for this round was split on a geographical basis into 'northern' and 'southern' sections. Teams were drawn against a team from the same section.

Northern section

10 August 2021 Barrow (4) 1–0Scunthorpe United (4)Barrow-in-Furness
19:45 BST Sea  50' Report Stadium: Holker Street
Attendance: 1,320
Referee: Oliver Langford
10 August 2021 Blackburn Rovers (2)1–2 Morecambe (3) Blackburn
19:45 BST Dolan  22' Report
Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 5,283
Referee: Steve Martin
10 August 2021 Bolton Wanderers (3) 0–0
(5–4 p)
Barnsley (2)Horwich
19:45 BST Report Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium
Attendance: 7,147
Referee: Ollie Yates
Penalties
Sarcevic
Isgrove
Bakayoko
Kachunga
Sheehan
Benson
Kane
Helik
J. Williams
Cole
10 August 2021 Derby County (2) 3–3
(5–3 p)
Salford City (4)Derby
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 4,747
Referee: James Bell
Penalties
Shinnie
Kazim-Richards
Brown
Forsyth
Watson
Morris
Burgess
Touray
Lund
10 August 2021 Hartlepool United (4)0–1 Crewe Alexandra (3) Hartlepool
19:45 BST Report Ainley  50' Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 3,149
10 August 2021 Mansfield Town (4)0–3 Preston North End (2) Mansfield
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 2,526
Referee: Ross Joyce
10 August 2021 Oldham Athletic (4) 2–2
(4–3 p)
Tranmere Rovers (4)Oldham
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 2,684
Referee: Scott Oldham
Penalties
Hart
Keillor-Dunn
Jameson
Stobbs
Adams
Spearing
Glatzel
Morris
Clarke
Dieseruvwe
10 August 2021 Port Vale (4)1–2 Sunderland (3) Stoke-on-Trent
19:45 BST Proctor  67' Report
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,267
Referee: Sam Allison
10 August 2021 Rotherham United (3)1–2 Accrington Stanley (3) Rotherham
19:45 BST Sadlier  76' Report
Stadium: New York Stadium
Attendance: 3,131
Referee: Will Finnie
10 August 2021 Sheffield United (2) 1–0Carlisle United (4)Sheffield
19:45 BST Brewster  24' Report Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 6,778
Referee: James Oldham
10 August 2021 Shrewsbury Town (3) 2–2
(4–2 p)
Lincoln City (3)Shrewsbury
19:45 BST Udoh  69', 79' Report
Stadium: New Meadow
Attendance: 2,069
Referee: Andy Haines
Penalties
10 August 2021 Stoke City (2) 2–1Fleetwood Town (3)Stoke-on-Trent
19:45 BST
Report Chester  90+4' (o.g.) Stadium: Bet365 Stadium
Attendance: 4,694
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
11 August 2021 Blackpool (2) 3–0Middlesbrough (2)Blackpool
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 5,836
Referee: Bobby Madley
11 August 2021 Nottingham Forest (2) 2–1Bradford City (4)West Bridgford
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 9,514
Referee: Peter Wright

Southern section

31 July 2021 Bournemouth (2) 5–0Milton Keynes Dons (3)Bournemouth
15:00 BST
Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 5,746
Referee: Sam Purkiss
10 August 2021 Birmingham City (2) 1–0Colchester United (4)Birmingham
19:45 BST Oakley  75' Report Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 6,199
Referee: Declan Bourne
10 August 2021 Bristol Rovers (4)0–2 Cheltenham Town (3) Bristol
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,409
Referee: Lee Swabey
10 August 2021 Cambridge United (3) 0–0
(3–1 p)
Swindon Town (4)Cambridge
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 1,825
Referee: Trevor Kettle
Penalties
Ironside
Smith
Williams
Payne
McKirdy
Reed
Hunt
10 August 2021 Cardiff City (2) 3–2Sutton United (4)Cardiff
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 3,505
Referee: Josh Smith
10 August 2021 Charlton Athletic (3)0–1 AFC Wimbledon (3) Charlton
19:45 BST Report Osew  26' Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 3,372
Referee: Robert Lewis
10 August 2021 Exeter City (4)0–0
(3–4 p)
Wycombe Wanderers (3) Exeter
19:45 BST Report Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 2,555
Referee: David Rock
Penalties
Sparkes
Sweeney
Seymour
J. Brown
Grounds
Dodd
Vokes
Horgan
Samuel
Mehmeti
Stockdale
Pendlebury
10 August 2021 Forest Green Rovers (4) 2–2
(6–5 p)
Bristol City (2)Nailsworth
19:45 BST
Report Janneh  39', 67' Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 2,554
Referee: Darren Drysdale
Penalties
Matt
Young
Hendry
Adams
Cadden
Stevenson
Sweeney
Palmer
Massengo
Wells
Conway
Bakinson
Janneh
Pring
10 August 2021 Ipswich Town (3)0–1 Newport County (4) Ipswich
19:45 BST Report Abraham  4' Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 6,144
Referee: Neil Hair
10 August 2021 Millwall (2) 2–1Portsmouth (3)Bermondsey
19:45 BST
Report Hackett-Fairchild  4' Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 7,915
Referee: Charles Breakspear
10 August 2021 Peterborough United (2)0–4 Plymouth Argyle (3) Peterborough
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: London Road Stadium
Attendance: 4,021
Referee: Ben Toner
10 August 2021 Reading (2)0–3 Swansea City (2) Reading
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 4,989
Referee: Samuel Barrott
10 August 2021 Stevenage (4) 2–2
(3–0 p)
Luton Town (2)Stevenage
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Broadhall Way
Attendance: 3,052
Referee: Andy Woolmer
Penalties
Lines
James-Wildin
Reeves
Cornick
Mendes Gomes
Pereira
11 August 2021 Burton Albion (3)1–1
(2–4 p)
Oxford United (3) Burton upon Trent
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Pirelli Stadium
Attendance: 1,868
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
Penalties
Akins
Shaughnessy
O'Connor
Blake-Tracy
Sykes
Forde
Agyei
Mousinho
11 August 2021 Coventry City (2)1–2 Northampton Town (4) Coventry
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Ricoh Arena
Attendance: 5,284
Referee: Ben Speedie
11 August 2021 Leyton Orient (4)1–1
(3–5 p)
Queens Park Rangers (2) Leyton
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 4,071
Referee: Craig Hicks
Penalties
Drinan
Sotiriou
James
Kemp
Dykes
Ball
Dozzell
Kelman
Adomah

Second round

A total of 50 clubs played in the second round: the 35 winners from the first round, the 2 clubs from the Championship (tier 2) who did not enter in the first round, plus the 13 Premier League clubs who are not in European competition. The draw for this round was split on a geographical basis into 'northern' and 'southern' sections. Teams were drawn against a team from the same section. The draw was held on 11 August 2021 after the conclusion of the first round tie between Leyton Orient and Queens Park Rangers, live on Sky Sports and it was made by Andy Townsend and Jobi McAnuff at 21:15 BST.[4]

Northern section

24 August 2021 Oldham Athletic (4) 0–0
(5–4 p)
Accrington Stanley (3)Oldham
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 2,362
Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge
Penalties
Hart
Keillor-Dunn
Bahamboula
Whelan
Adams
Luamba
Sykes
Charles
Morgan
Savin
Leigh
Butcher
24 August 2021 Wigan Athletic (3) 0–0
(5–4 p)
Bolton Wanderers (3)Wigan
19:45 BST Report Stadium: DW Stadium
Attendance: 11,660
Referee: Thomas Bramall
Penalties
Power
Aasgaard
Jo. Jones
Naylor
Humphrys
Ja. Jones
Doyle
Sarcevic
Lee
Afolayan
Sheehan
Delfouneso
24 August 2021 Huddersfield Town (2)1–2 Everton (1) Huddersfield
19:45 BST Lees  45' Report
Stadium: John Smith's Stadium
Attendance: 10,459
Referee: Matt Donohue
24 August 2021 Sheffield United (2) 2–1Derby County (2)Sheffield
19:45 BST
Report Sibley  44' Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 7,973
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
24 August 2021 Stoke City (2) 2–0Doncaster Rovers (3)Stoke-on-Trent
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: bet365 Stadium
Attendance: 6,193
Referee: Marc Edwards
24 August 2021 Shrewsbury Town (3)0–2 Rochdale (4) Shrewsbury
19:00 BST Report
Stadium: Montgomery Waters Meadow
Attendance: 2,229
Referee: Scott Oldham
24 August 2021 Nottingham Forest (2)0–4 Wolverhampton Wanderers (1) West Bridgford
20:00 BST Report
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 10,769
Referee: Andy Davies
24 August 2021 Morecambe (3)2–4 Preston North End (2) Morecambe
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Mazuma Stadium
Attendance: 4,334
Referee: James Oldham
24 August 2021 Blackpool (2)2–3 Sunderland (3) Blackpool
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 5,756
Referee: Peter Wright
24 August 2021 Leeds United (1) 3–0Crewe Alexandra (3)Beeston
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 34,154
Referee: Benjamin Speedie
24 August 2021 Barrow (4)0–6 Aston Villa (1) Barrow-in-Furness
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Progression Solicitors Stadium
Attendance: 5,349
Referee: Martin Coy

Southern section

24 August 2021 Brentford (1) 3–1Forest Green Rovers (4)Brentford
19:45 BST
Report Aitchison  8' Stadium: Brentford Community Stadium
Attendance: 12,137
Referee: Will Finnie
24 August 2021 Millwall (2) 3–1Cambridge United (3)Bermondsey
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 4,005
Referee: Neil Hair
24 August 2021 Norwich City (1) 6–0Bournemouth (2)Norwich
19:00 BST
Report Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 20,090
Referee: Charles Breakspear
24 August 2021 Cardiff City (2)0–2 Brighton & Hove Albion (1) Cardiff
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 6,013
Referee: James Bell
24 August 2021 Birmingham City (2)0–2 Fulham (2) Bordesley
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 4,783
Referee: Samuel Barrott
24 August 2021 Gillingham (3)1–1
(4–5 p)
Cheltenham Town (3) Gillingham
19:45 BST Oliver  20' Report May  24' Stadium: MEMS Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 2,151
Referee: David Rock
Penalties
Lee
O'Keefe
Lloyd
Carayol
Adshead
Thomas
Wright
Lloyd
Tozer
Chapman
24 August 2021 Queens Park Rangers (2) 2–0Oxford United (3)White City
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium
Attendance: 8,154
Referee: Tom Nield
24 August 2021 Swansea City (2) 4–1Plymouth Argyle (3)Swansea
19:00 BST
Report Shirley  63' Stadium: Swansea.com Stadium
Attendance: 7,491
Referee: Robert Madley
24 August 2021 Stevenage (4)2–2
(3–5 p)
Wycombe Wanderers (3) Stevenage
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Lamex Stadium
Attendance: 1,934
Referee: Declan Bourne
Penalties
Norris
James-Wildin
Reeves
Coker
Jacobson
Horgan
Pendlebury
Mehmeti
De Barr
24 August 2021 Northampton Town (4)0–1 AFC Wimbledon (3) Northampton
19:45 BST Report Hartigan  90+4' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 3,257
Referee: Ross Joyce
24 August 2021 Watford (1) 1–0Crystal Palace (1)Watford
19:45 BST Fletcher  86' Report Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,011
Referee: Tim Robinson
25 August 2021 West Bromwich Albion (2)0–6 Arsenal (1) West Bromwich
20:00 BST Report
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 17,016
Referee: David Webb
25 August 2021 Newport County (4)0–8 Southampton (1) Newport
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 7,002
Referee: Darren Drysdale

Third round

A total of 32 teams played in the third round. Chelsea, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United entered in this round due to their participation in either the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League, the 2021–22 UEFA Europa League, or the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League. The draw was made on 25 August 2021 live on Sky Sports after the conclusion of the second round tie between West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal by Kevin Phillips and Kevin Campbell.[5] Unlike the previous rounds this round was not split into northern and southern sections. Tiebreakers were decided by penalty.

Oldham Athletic and Rochdale were the lowest level teams that were still in the competition.

21 September 2021 Burnley (1) 4–1Rochdale (4)Burnley
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 9,125
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
21 September 2021 Manchester City (1) 6–1Wycombe Wanderers (3)Manchester
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
Attendance: 30,959
Referee: Robert Jones
21 September 2021 Norwich City (1)0–3 Liverpool (1) Norwich
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 26,353
Referee: Darren England
21 September 2021 Preston North End (2) 4–1Cheltenham Town (3)Preston
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 6,561
Referee: Dean Whitestone
21 September 2021 Sheffield United (2)2–2
(2–4 p)
Southampton (1) Sheffield
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 8,934
Referee: John Brooks
Penalties
21 September 2021 Watford (1)1–3 Stoke City (2) Watford
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,421
Referee: Tony Harrington
21 September 2021 Wigan Athletic (3)0–2 Sunderland (3) Wigan
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: DW Stadium
Attendance: 6,511
Referee: Leigh Doughty
21 September 2021 Brentford (1) 7–0Oldham Athletic (4)Brentford
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Brentford Community Stadium
Attendance: 12,819
Referee: Simon Hooper
22 September 2021 Brighton & Hove Albion (1) 2–0Swansea City (2)Brighton
19:30 BST
Report Stadium: Falmer Stadium
Attendance: 8,838
Referee: Michael Salisbury
22 September 2021 Arsenal (1) 3–0AFC Wimbledon (3)Holloway
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Emirates Stadium
Attendance: 56,276
Referee: Jarred Gillett
22 September 2021 Chelsea (1) 1–1
(4–3 p)
Aston Villa (1)Fulham
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 35,892
Referee: Graham Scott
Penalties
22 September 2021 Manchester United (1)0–1 West Ham United (1) Manchester
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 72,568
Referee: Jonathan Moss
22 September 2021 Millwall (2)0–2 Leicester City (1) Bermondsey
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 9,985
Referee: Andy Madley

Fourth round

A total of 16 teams played in this round. The ties were played during the week commencing 25 October 2021. League One side Sunderland were the only team from the third division or lower left in the competition.

26 October 2021 Chelsea (1) 1–1
(4–3 p)
Southampton (1)Fulham
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 39,766
Referee: Kevin Friend
Penalties
26 October 2021 Arsenal (1) 2–0Leeds United (1)Holloway
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Emirates Stadium
Attendance: 59,126
Referee: Andre Marriner
27 October 2021 Stoke City (2)1–2 Brentford (1) Stoke-on-Trent
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Bet365 Stadium
Attendance: 9,584
Referee: Michael Salisbury
27 October 2021 Burnley (1)0–1 Tottenham Hotspur (1) Burnley
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 14,637
Referee: Peter Bankes
27 October 2021 Preston North End (2)0–2 Liverpool (1) Preston
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 22,131
Referee: David Coote

Quarter-finals

A total of eight teams will play in this round. The draw was held on 30 October 2021.[6] The ties will be played during the week commencing 20 December 2021. League One side Sunderland are the only team from outside the Premier League left in the competition.

21 December 2021 Arsenal (1) v Sunderland (3) Holloway
19:45 GMT Stadium: Emirates Stadium
22 December 2021 Brentford (1) v Chelsea (1) Brentford
19:45 GMT Stadium: Brentford Community Stadium
22 December 2021 Liverpool (1) v Leicester City (1) Liverpool
19:45 GMT Stadium: Anfield

Semi-finals

A total of four teams will play in this round. This season will see the return of double-legged semi-finals as with the 2019–20 EFL Cup after the 2020–21 EFL Cup semi-finals were played over a single leg due to fixture congestion caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The first legs will be played during the week commencing 3 January 2022 and the second legs will be played during the week commencing 10 January 2022.

Final

A total of two teams will play in this round. The final will be played on 27 February 2022. This sees the return of the EFL Cup Final to its February slot as with the 2020 EFL Cup Final, as the 2021 EFL Cup Final was played in April so that spectators could attend due to COVID-19 restrictions in England. It will be played at Wembley Stadium in Wembley in the London Borough of Brent. The winner will qualify for the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League unless they have qualified for the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League or 2022–23 UEFA Europa League.

Notes

  1. Rochdale received a bye following the postponement of the match due to COVID-19 cases among Harrogate Town's squad.[3]

References

  1. "UEFA Europa Conference League: all you need to know". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  2. "Key Dates". EFL.com. English Football League. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  3. "EFL Statement | Dale Receive A Bye Into Carabao Cup Round Two". Rochdale F.C. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  4. "Carabao Cup second-round draw: Barrow v Aston Villa, Arsenal go to West Brom". BBC Sport. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  5. "Win the chance to host the Carabao Cup draw". efl.com. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  6. "Soccer AM to host Carabao Cup Quarter-Final draw". EFL.com. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.