Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has not taken the EFL Cup too seriously in the past but would no doubt like to get past Lincoln this week. The Reds have a number of new recruits and fringe squad members who should benefit from some playing time in this competition ahead of bigger tests.
Boyhood Everton fan Joey Barton will have Fleetwood fired up for an EFL Cup tie with the Toffees at Highbury but this is a tough task for Town. The visitors have started the new campaign in cracking form and will be keen to maintain that momentum with another win on the Fylde Coast.
Man Utd looked woefully short of match sharpness in their Premier League opener and Luton are a value bet to take advantage in the EFL Cup. The Hatters are flying high in the Championship, have already battled through two rounds of this competition and will be fired up for this tie.
Jose Mourinho faces a tricky juggling act as Tottenham visit Leyton Orient in the third round of the EFL Cup. Spurs must play this match just two days before travelling to North Macedonia to face KF Shkendija in a Europa League qualifier, but may still have the strength in depth to cope.
Both of these south-coast teams have much more important matters to deal with than the EFL Cup this season and could be forgiven for not putting too much emphasis on Thursday night’s game. Brighton once again start the campaign aiming for Premier League survival while Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett is under pressure to earn automatic promotion out of League One.
Everton will hope a smart summer in the transfer market sees them challenging for silverware this season and they begin their EFL Cup campaign with the visit of League Two side Salford. The Toffees enjoyed an impressive start to the new campaign at the weekend with a 1-0 victory at Tottenham and look to have recruited well under Carlo Ancelotti.
Harrogate made a dream start to life in the EFL at the weekend and will now be eyeing a cup upset at Premier League new boys West Brom. Town were promoted through the National League play-offs last month and have started the new season with four successive away games in three different competitions.
Burton pulled off an EFL Cup shock over Aston Villa on their way to the semi-finals in 2018/19 and will fancy their chances of a repeat on Tuesday night. Jake Buxton was part of the playing squad back then and now aims to take down Dean Smith’s side as a manager.
Manchester City are red-hot favourites to complete a hat-trick of EFL Cup Final triumphs but we feel Aston Villa will not go down without a fight. Villa have fond memories of playing at Wembley themselves, having prevailed in last season’s Championship play-offs decider at the national stadium.
Manchester City are expected to march on towards a third straight EFL Cup triumph when visiting League One Oxford in this season’s quarter-finals. The Blues beat United 3-0 at Kassam Stadium in the third round last term, en route to lifting the trophy for the fourth time in six renewals.
Kenny Jackett will ease some of the growing pressure on the Portsmouth manager if he can mastermind an EFL Cup win against bitter rivals Southampton. Pompey fans chanted for Jackett to be sacked during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Wycombe and the team have made a poor start to their League One campaign.
Liverpool have bigger fish to fry this season but are firm favourites to avoid an upset when they start their EFL Cup campaign with a trip to League One opposition. MK Dons are huge underdogs and back-to-back home defeats suggests this should be a routine win for the Reds regardless of team selection.
Burton will only be playing for pride when hosting Manchester City in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final but that may be enough to spur them on to be competitive. The visitors look sure to make a number of changes from the side which romped to a 9-0 win in the opening encounter.
Frank Lampard will make an emotional return to Stamford Bridge when Derby visit Chelsea in the EFL Cup on Wednesday and his side are fancied to make a game of it. The Rams have already knocked Manchester United out of this competition at Old Trafford and are in great form in the Championship.