The third-round draw for the 2026/27 EFL Cup has produced several high-profile Premier League clashes, with Liverpool set to host Tottenham Hotspur in the standout tie of the round. The draw was conducted on Wednesday, August 26, after the completion of the second-round fixtures.
Liverpool will welcome Tottenham to Anfield, creating an all-Premier League meeting between two clubs that entered the competition at the third-round stage because of their European commitments.
Manchester United have also been handed a Premier League opponent, with Brighton & Hove Albion travelling to Old Trafford.
Defending champions Manchester City will begin their title defence at home against Championship side Norwich City. City are entering the competition at this stage because of their participation in the Champions League.
Premier League champions Arsenal face an away trip to Ipswich Town, while Aston Villa will travel to Coventry City in a Midlands derby.
Other Premier League teams have also been given challenging ties. Sunderland will host Hull City, Crystal Palace will face Middlesbrough, while Bournemouth will take on Lincoln City.
Newcastle United will travel to Millwall, while Everton have been drawn against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Chelsea's third-round opponent is dependent on the outcome of their second-round match against Luton Town. The winner of that game will host Leeds United in the next round.
West Ham United will also await the outcome of Fulham's match against AFC Wimbledon before learning which team they will face.
The complete third-round draw is:
- Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough
- Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
- Manchester City vs Norwich City
- Sunderland vs Hull City
- Ipswich Town vs Arsenal
- Coventry City vs Aston Villa
- Bournemouth vs Lincoln City
- Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur
- Chelsea or Luton Town vs Leeds United
- Millwall vs Newcastle United
- Fleetwood Town vs Sheffield United
- Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Leyton Orient vs Bradford City
- Reading vs Brentford
- Peterborough United vs Barnsley
- West Ham United vs Fulham or AFC Wimbledon
The draw was conducted under special scheduling arrangements because several of the Premier League clubs involved are also competing in European competitions.
Eight clubs participating in the Champions League or Europa League were kept apart in the third round to reduce potential fixture clashes. The competition's third-round matches will be played across the weeks beginning September 7 and September 14.
The scheduling arrangement means the third round will be spread across two separate midweek periods rather than being completed within a single week.
For Liverpool and Tottenham, the draw has produced one of the most attractive fixtures of the round. Both sides will now have to balance their domestic cup ambitions with their wider commitments during a busy period of the season.
Manchester City will also be looking to begin their defence strongly when Norwich visit the Etihad Stadium. City won the previous edition of the competition after defeating Arsenal at Wembley and will be seeking to retain the trophy.
Arsenal's trip to Ipswich provides another interesting test, particularly with the Gunners entering the competition as reigning Premier League champions.
Manchester United's meeting with Brighton and Aston Villa's trip to Coventry also ensure that the round contains several fixtures where Premier League clubs will face familiar domestic opposition.
The presence of lower-league and Championship teams adds another element of unpredictability to the competition, with clubs such as Fleetwood Town, Leyton Orient, Peterborough United and Reading facing opportunities to eliminate higher-profile opponents.
The third round therefore offers a mixture of Premier League contests, local rivalries and potential cup upsets.
With the fixtures scheduled for September, clubs will now begin preparing for another demanding period of the domestic campaign, with progression to the fourth round at stake.
For supporters, however, the Liverpool-Tottenham meeting stands out as the headline fixture, while Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United will all be expected to negotiate their respective ties and remain in contention for the trophy.
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