The EFL Cup is one of two domestic cup competitions, along with the FA Cup, to be played in England.
It was first held in 1961 when Aston Villa beat Rotherham 3-2 on aggregate in the final while Liverpool are the most successful team in the competition with nine wins.
Here is all you need to know in our EFL Cup guide and betting odds ahead of the 2023-24 quarter-finals.
Who are the holders?
Manchester United celebrated the first major trophy of the Erik ten Hag era after breaking success-starved Newcastle’s hearts in the 2023 EFL Cup final.
Both sides headed to Wembley desperate for a victory that it was hoped would provide the catalyst to a brighter future and it was the Red Devils that emerged victorious under the arch.
United had not won silverware since 2017 and ended their longest trophy drought in 40 years by beating Newcastle 2-0 at Wembley, where Casemiro’s header and a Sven Botman own goal settled things.
It was a painful end to the Magpies’ first final since losing by the same scoreline to the same opposition in the 1999 FA Cup showpiece.
EFL Cup quarter-final draw
Chelsea vs Newcastle
Everton vs Fulham
Liverpool vs West Ham
Port Vale vs Middlesbrough
EFL Cup round dates
First Round: w/c August 7 2023
Second Round: w/c August 28 2023
Third Round: w/c September 25 2023
Fourth Round: w/c October 30 2023
Quarter-final: w/c December 18 2023
Semi-final first leg: w/c January 8 2024
Semi-final second leg: w/c January 21 2024
Final Sunday February 25 2024
EFL Cup betting odds
Liverpool 7/4
Chelsea 10/3
Newcastle 7/2
Everton 8/1
West Ham 11/1
Fulham 14/1
Middlesbrough 14/1
Port Vale 100/1
Past EFL Cup winners
1961: Aston Villa
1962: Norwich
1963: Birmingham
1964: Leicester
1965: Chelsea
1966: West Brom
1967: QPR
1968: Leeds
1969: Swindon
1970: Manchester City
1971: Tottenham
1972: Stoke
1973: Tottenham
1974: Wolves
1975: Aston Villa
1976: Manchester City
1977: Aston Villa
1978: Nottingham Forest
1979: Nottingham Forest
1980: Wolves
1981: Liverpool
1982: Liverpool
1983: Liverpool
1984: Liverpool
1985: Norwich
1986: Oxford
1987: Arsenal
1988: Luton
1989: Nottingham Forest
1990: Nottingham Forest
1991: Sheffield Wednesday
1992: Manchester United
1993: Arsenal
1994: Aston Villa
1995: Liverpool
1996: Aston Villa
1997: Leicester
1998: Chelsea
1999: Tottenham
2000: Leicester
2001: Liverpool
2002: Blackburn
2003: Liverpool
2004: Middlesbrough
2005: Chelsea
2006: Manchester United
2007: Chelsea
2008: Tottenham
2009: Manchester United
2010: Manchester United
2011: Birmingham
2012: Liverpool
2013: Swansea
2014: Manchester City
2015: Chelsea
2016: Manchester City
2017: Manchester United
2018: Manchester City
2019: Manchester City
2020: Manchester City
2021: Manchester City
2022: Liverpool
2023: Manchester United
EFL Cup records
Most wins by team: Liverpool (9)
Most wins by player: Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho (6 – Manchester City)
Most final appearances by team: Liverpool (13)
Most final appearances by player: Ian Rush, Emile Heskey and Fernandinho (6)
Most goals scored by player: Ian Rush (49)
Most goals scored in one season: Andy Ritchie (12, Oldham 1989-90)
Most goals scored in one match: Frankie Bunn (6 – Oldham v Scarborough, 1989)
Biggest win: 10-0 (West Ham v Bury, 1983), Liverpool v Fulham (1986)
Biggest final win: 5-0 (Swansea v Bradford, 2013)
Youngest player to score in the final: Norman Whiteside (Manchester United v Liverpool 1983, 17 years and 323 days)
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