2023–24 EFL Cup

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2023–24 EFL Cup
Carabao Cup
Wembley Stadium hosted the final
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales
Dates8 August 2023 – 25 February 2024
Teams92
Defending championsManchester United
Final positions
ChampionsLiverpool (10th title)
Runner-upChelsea
Tournament statistics
Matches played93
Goals scored322 (3.46 per match)
Attendance1,472,810 (15,837 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Morgan Rogers
(5 goals)
2024–25 →

The 2023–24 EFL Cup was the 64th season of the EFL Cup (known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons). The competition was open to all clubs participating in the Premier League and the English Football League.

The winner of the competition qualified for the play-off round of the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League.[1]

Manchester United were the defending champions, but were eliminated by Newcastle United, whom they had beaten in the previous season's final, in the fourth round.

The final was played at Wembley Stadium on 25 February 2024 between Liverpool and Chelsea. Liverpool secured a record-extending tenth title following a 1–0 win after extra time, courtesy of club captain Virgil van Dijk's late header.[2]

Access[edit]

All 92 clubs in the Premier League and English Football League entered the season's EFL Cup.

In the first round, all Championship, League One and League Two clubs entered.

The following round, the Premier League clubs not involved in the Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League entered.

Clubs entering in this round Clubs advancing from previous round Number of games Main date
First round
(72 clubs)
  • 24 clubs from EFL League Two
  • 24 clubs from EFL League One
  • 24 clubs from EFL Championship
  • N/A
36 w/c 7 August 2023
Second round
(48 clubs)
  • 12 Premier League clubs (not involved in European competition)
  • 36 winners from first round
24 w/c 28 August 2023
Third round
(32 clubs)
  • 8 Premier League clubs (involved in European competition)
  • 24 winners from second round
16 w/c 25 September 2023
Fourth round
(16 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the fourth round
  • 16 winners from third round
8 w/c 30 October 2023
Quarter-finals
(8 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the quarter-finals
  • 8 winners from fourth round
4 w/c 18 December 2023
Semi-finals
(4 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the semi-finals
  • 4 winners from quarter-finals
4 (two-legged) w/c 8 January 2024
w/c 22 January 2024
Final
(2 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the final
  • 2 winners from semi-finals
1 25 February 2024

First round[edit]

A total of 72 clubs played in the first round: the 24 clubs from League Two the 24 clubs from League One and the 24 clubs from the Championship entered at this stage. 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[edit]

8 August 2023 Huddersfield Town (2)2–3 Middlesbrough (2) Huddersfield
19:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Kirklees Stadium
Attendance: 8,057
Referee: Oliver Langford
8 August 2023 Mansfield Town (4) 2–0Grimsby Town (4)Mansfield
19:30 BST
Report Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 3,123
Referee: Scott Jackson
8 August 2023 Accrington Stanley (4)1–1
(1–4 p)
Bradford City (4) Accrington
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Crown Ground
Attendance: 2,368
Referee: Martin Coy
Penalties
8 August 2023 Barnsley (3)2–2
(6–7 p)
Tranmere Rovers (4) Barnsley
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 4,343
Referee: Thomas Kirk
Penalties
8 August 2023 Blackburn Rovers (2) 4–3Walsall (4)Blackburn
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 6,173
Referee: Ben Speedie
8 August 2023 Bolton Wanderers (3) 1–0Barrow (4)Horwich
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Toughsheet Community Stadium
Attendance: 4,871
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
8 August 2023 Derby County (3)0–2 Blackpool (3) Derby
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 7,033
Referee: Jeremy Simpson
8 August 2023 Harrogate Town (4) 1–0Carlisle United (3)Harrogate
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Wetherby Road
Attendance: 2,177
Referee: Matthew Corlett
8 August 2023 Hull City (2)1–2 Doncaster Rovers (4) Kingston upon Hull
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: MKM Stadium
Attendance: 6,577
Referee: Simon Mather
8 August 2023 Notts County (4)0–2 Lincoln City (3) Nottingham
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 6,468
Referee: Martin Woods
8 August 2023 Port Vale (3) 3–2Fleetwood Town (3)Stoke-on-Trent
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 2,743
Referee: Edward Duckworth
8 August 2023 Preston North End (2)2–2
(2–4 p)
Salford City (4) Preston
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 6,790
Referee: Tom Reeves
Penalties
8 August 2023 Rotherham United (2) 1–1
(4–2 p)
Morecambe (4)Rotherham
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: New York Stadium
Attendance: 2,834
Referee: Thomas Parsons
Penalties
8 August 2023 Sheffield Wednesday (2) 1–1
(4–1 p)
Stockport County (4)Sheffield
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 10,886
Referee: Lewis Smith
Penalties
8 August 2023 Stoke City (2) 2–1West Bromwich Albion (2)Stoke-on-Trent
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Bet365 Stadium
Attendance: 10,583
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
8 August 2023 Sunderland (2)1–1
(3–5 p)
Crewe Alexandra (4) Sunderland
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 10,763
Referee: Scott Oldham
Penalties
8 August 2023 Wrexham (4) 0–0
(4–2 p)
Wigan Athletic (3)Wrexham
20:00 BST Report Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 9,736
Referee: Sam Allison
Penalties
9 August 2023 Leeds United (2) 2–1Shrewsbury Town (3)Leeds
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 35,129
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
9 August 2023 Burton Albion (3)0–2 Leicester City (2) Burton upon Trent
20:00 BST Report
Stadium: Pirelli Stadium
Attendance: 4,631
Referee: Gavin Ward

Southern section[edit]

8 August 2023 Newport County (4) 3–1Charlton Athletic (3)Newport
19:30 BST Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 2,600
Referee: Scott Simpson
8 August 2023 Swansea City (2) 3–0Northampton Town (3)Swansea
19:30 BST
Report Stadium: Swansea.com Stadium
Attendance: 6,923
Referee: Peter Wright
8 August 2023 Cheltenham Town (3)0–2 Birmingham City (2) Cheltenham
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Whaddon Road
Attendance: 4,026
Referee: Craig Hicks
8 August 2023 Exeter City (3) 2–1Crawley Town (4)Exeter
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 3,560
Referee: Christopher Pollard
8 August 2023 Forest Green Rovers (4)1–3 Portsmouth (3) Nailsworth
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,868
Referee: Sam Purkiss
8 August 2023 Gillingham (4) 3–1Southampton (2)Gillingham
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 7,775
Referee: Carl Brook
8 August 2023 Millwall (2)0–4 Reading (3) Bermondsey
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 4,738
Referee: Leigh Doughty
8 August 2023 Milton Keynes Dons (4)0–2 Wycombe Wanderers (3) Bletchley
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Stadium MK
Attendance: 2,946
Referee: James Bell
8 August 2023 Plymouth Argyle (2) 2–0Leyton Orient (3)Plymouth
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 10,324
Referee: Sunny Sukhvir Gill
8 August 2023 Stevenage (3) 1–1
(4–3 p)
Watford (2)Stevenage
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Broadhall Way
Attendance: 4,495
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Penalties
8 August 2023 Sutton United (4) 2–2
(6–5 p)
Cambridge United (3)Sutton
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Gander Green Lane
Attendance: 1,761
Referee: Daniel Middleton
Penalties
9 August 2023 AFC Wimbledon (4) 2–1Coventry City (2)Wimbledon
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Plough Lane
Attendance: 4,781
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
9 August 2023 Bristol City (2) 5–1Oxford United (3)Bristol
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 9,661
Referee: Ollie Yates
9 August 2023 Cardiff City (2) 2–2
(3–0 p)
Colchester United (4)Cardiff
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 5,158
Referee: Will Finnie
Penalties
9 August 2023 Ipswich Town (2) 2–0Bristol Rovers (3)Ipswich
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 15,047
Referee: David Rock
16 August 2023 Queens Park Rangers (2)0–1 Norwich City (2) Shepherd's Bush
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 7,813
Referee: James Linington

Second round[edit]

A total of 48 clubs played in the second round: the 12 Premier League clubs not involved in European competition entered at this stage along with the 36 winners from the first round. 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[edit]

29 August 2023 Bolton Wanderers (3)1–3 Middlesbrough (2) Horwich
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Toughsheet Community Stadium
Attendance: 8,624
Referee: Stephen Martin
29 August 2023 Port Vale (3) 0–0
(2–0 p)
Crewe Alexandra (4)Stoke-on-Trent
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 6,375
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
Penalties
29 August 2023 Sheffield Wednesday (2)1–1
(4–5 p)
Mansfield Town (4) Sheffield
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 10,724
Referee: Sunny Sukhvir Gill
Penalties
29 August 2023 Stoke City (2) 6–1Rotherham United (2)Stoke-on-Trent
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Bet365 Stadium
Attendance: 9,410
Referee: Michael Salisbury
29 August 2023 Tranmere Rovers (4)0–2 Leicester City (2) Birkenhead
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 6,610
Referee: Ben Toner
29 August 2023 Wolverhampton Wanderers (1) 5–0Blackpool (3)Wolverhampton
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Molineux Stadium
Attendance: 20,605
Referee: Jarred Gillett
29 August 2023 Wrexham (4)1–1
(3–4 p)
Bradford City (4) Wrexham
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 9,816
Referee: Ben Speedie
Penalties
30 August 2023 Doncaster Rovers (4)1–2 Everton (1) Doncaster
20:00 BST Report
Stadium: Eco-Power Stadium
Attendance: 11,430
Referee: Tom Reeves
30 August 2023 Harrogate Town (4)0–8 Blackburn Rovers (2) Harrogate
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Wetherby Road
Attendance: 2,653
Referee: Will Finnie
30 August 2023 Nottingham Forest (1)0–1 Burnley (1) West Bridgford
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 27,766
Referee: Bobby Madley

Southern section[edit]

29 August 2023 Birmingham City (2)1–3 Cardiff City (2) Birmingham
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 11,405
Referee: Leigh Doughty
29 August 2023 Bristol City (2)0–1 Norwich City (2) Bristol
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 9,408
Referee: Sam Allison
29 August 2023 Exeter City (3) 1–1
(5–3 p)
Stevenage (3)Exeter
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 4,006
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
Penalties
29 August 2023 Fulham (1) 1–1
(5–3 p)
Tottenham Hotspur (1)Fulham
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 21,043
Referee: Josh Smith
Penalties
29 August 2023 Luton Town (1) 3–2Gillingham (4)Luton
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 9,468
Referee: Jeremy Simpson
29 August 2023 Newport County (4)1–1
(0–3 p)
Brentford (1) Newport
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,845
Referee: Scott Oldham
Penalties
29 August 2023 Plymouth Argyle (2)2–4 Crystal Palace (1) Plymouth
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 15,826
Referee: Dean Whitestone
29 August 2023 Portsmouth (3)1–1
(4–5 p)
Peterborough United (3) Portsmouth
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 6,594
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Penalties
29 August 2023 Reading (3)2–2
(1–3 p)
Ipswich Town (2) Reading
20:00 BST Report
Stadium: Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,867
Referee: Lewis Smith
Penalties
29 August 2023 Swansea City (2)2–3 Bournemouth (1) Swansea
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Swansea.com Stadium
Attendance: 8,785
Referee: Matt Donohue
29 August 2023 Wycombe Wanderers (3)0–1 Sutton United (4) High Wycombe
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Adams Park
Attendance: 1,778
Referee: Christopher Pollard
30 August 2023 Chelsea (1) 2–1AFC Wimbledon (4)Fulham
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 37,794
Referee: Tony Harrington

Third round[edit]

A total of 32 clubs played in the third round: the 8 Premier League clubs involved in European competition, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, and West Ham United entered the competition at this stage plus the 24 winners from the second round.

26 September 2023 Bradford City (4)0–2 Middlesbrough (2) Bradford
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 15,754
Referee: Tom Nield
26 September 2023 Exeter City (3) 1–0Luton Town (1)Exeter
19:45 BST Report Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 7,360
Referee: James Bell
26 September 2023 Ipswich Town (2) 3–2Wolverhampton Wanderers (1)Ipswich
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 20,236
Referee: Samuel Barrott
26 September 2023 Mansfield Town (4) 2–2
(3–1 p)
Peterborough United (3)Mansfield
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 4,372
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
Penalties
26 September 2023 Port Vale (3) 2–1Sutton United (4)Stoke-on-Trent
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,113
Referee: Will Finnie
26 September 2023 Salford City (4)0–4 Burnley (1) Salford
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Moor Lane
Attendance: 3,305
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
26 September 2023 Manchester United (1) 3–0Crystal Palace (1)Trafford
20:00 BST Report Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 72,842
Referee: Michael Salisbury
27 September 2023 Aston Villa (1)1–2 Everton (1) Birmingham
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 23,851
Referee: Tony Harrington
27 September 2023 Blackburn Rovers (2) 5–2Cardiff City (2)Blackburn
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 5,371
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
27 September 2023 Bournemouth (1) 2–0Stoke City (2)Bournemouth
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 10,282
Referee: Graham Scott
27 September 2023 Brentford (1)0–1 Arsenal (1) Brentford
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Brentford Community Stadium
Attendance: 16,688
Referee: Darren Bond
27 September 2023 Chelsea (1) 1–0Brighton & Hove Albion (1)Fulham
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 37,516
Referee: Thomas Bramall
27 September 2023 Fulham (1) 2–1Norwich City (2)Fulham
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 12,831
Referee: Craig Pawson
27 September 2023 Lincoln City (3)0–1 West Ham United (1) Lincoln
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Sincil Bank
Attendance: 10,168
Referee: Josh Smith
27 September 2023 Liverpool (1) 3–1Leicester City (2)Liverpool
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 49,732
Referee: Tim Robinson
27 September 2023 Newcastle United (1) 1–0Manchester City (1)Newcastle upon Tyne
20:00 BST
Report Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 51,692
Referee: Chris Kavanagh

Fourth round[edit]

A total of 16 teams played in the fourth round. League Two side Mansfield Town were the lowest-ranked team in the draw.

31 October 2023 Mansfield Town (4)0–1 Port Vale (3) Mansfield
19:45 GMT Report
Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 7,432
Referee: Thomas Bramall
31 October 2023 Exeter City (3)2–3 Middlesbrough (2) Exeter
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 7,601
Referee: Graham Scott
1 November 2023 West Ham United (1) 3–1Arsenal (1)Stratford
19:30 GMT
Report
Stadium: London Stadium
Attendance: 62,154
Referee: Simon Hooper
1 November 2023 Everton (1) 3–0Burnley (1)Liverpool
19:45 GMT
Report Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 38,841
Referee: Michael Salisbury
1 November 2023 Chelsea (1) 2–0Blackburn Rovers (2)Fulham
19:45 GMT Report Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 39,548
Referee: Tim Robinson
1 November 2023 Ipswich Town (2)1–3 Fulham (1) Ipswich
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 28,221
Referee: Lewis Smith
1 November 2023 Bournemouth (1)1–2 Liverpool (1) Bournemouth
19:45 GMT Report
Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 11,116
Referee: John Brooks
1 November 2023 Manchester United (1)0–3 Newcastle United (1) Trafford
20:15 GMT Report
Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 72,484
Referee: Robert Jones

Quarter-finals[edit]

A total of eight teams played in the quarter-finals. League One side Port Vale were the lowest-ranked team in the draw, which took place on 1 November.[3]

19 December 2023 Everton (1)1–1
(6–7 p)
Fulham (1) Liverpool
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 38,715
Referee: Graham Scott
Penalties
19 December 2023 Port Vale (3)0–3 Middlesbrough (2) Stoke-on-Trent
19:45 GMT Report
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 12,006
Referee: Michael Salisbury
20 December 2023 Liverpool (1) 5–1West Ham United (1)Liverpool
20:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 57,332
Referee: Tim Robinson

Semi-finals[edit]

A total of four teams played in the semi-finals. Championship side Middlesbrough were the lowest-ranked team in the draw, which took place on 20 December.[4]

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Middlesbrough (2) 2–6 Chelsea (1) 1–0 1–6
Liverpool (1) 3–2 Fulham (1) 2–1 1–1
Middlesbrough (2)1–0Chelsea (1)
Report
Attendance: 32,097
Referee: Samuel Barrott
Chelsea (1)6–1Middlesbrough (2)
Report
Attendance: 37,754
Referee: John Brooks

Chelsea won 6–2 on aggregate.


Liverpool (1)2–1Fulham (1)
Report
Attendance: 56,724
Referee: David Coote
Fulham (1)1–1Liverpool (1)
Report
Attendance: 24,320
Referee: Simon Hooper

Liverpool won 3–2 on aggregate.

Final[edit]

Chelsea0–1 (a.e.t.)Liverpool
Report
Attendance: 88,868[5]

Top goalscorers[edit]

Rank[6] Player Club Goals
1 England Morgan Rogers Middlesbrough 5
2 Netherlands Cody Gakpo Liverpool 4
3 England John Buckley Blackburn Rovers 3
England Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan Reading
England Kion Etete Cardiff City
England Jake Garrett Blackburn Rovers
England Curtis Jones Liverpool
France Jean-Philippe Mateta Crystal Palace
New Zealand Ben Waine Plymouth Argyle
10 35 players 2

References[edit]

  1. ^ "UEFA Europa League: All you need to know". UEFA. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Chelsea 0–1 Liverpool (aet) - Virgil van Dijk extra-time winner gives Reds Wembley glory". BBC Sport. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Carabao Cup quarter-finals draw: Chelsea v Newcastle, Liverpool v West Ham, Everton v Fulham, Port Vale v Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 1 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Carabao Cup draw: Liverpool to face Fulham in the semi-finals". BBC Sport. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference attendance was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "English League Cup 2023/2024: Top Scorer". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 26 September 2023.