2022–23 EFL Cup

The 2022–23 EFL Cup was the 63rd 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.

2022–23 EFL Cup
Wembley Stadium hosted the final
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales
Dates2 August 2022 – 26 February 2023[1]
Teams92
Defending championsLiverpool
Final positions
ChampionsManchester United (6th title)
Runner-upNewcastle United
Tournament statistics
Matches played93
Goals scored241 (2.59 per match)
Attendance1,554,555 (16,716 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Marcus Rashford
(6 goals)

The winner of the competition qualified for the play-off round of the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League.[2]

Liverpool were the defending champions, having beaten Chelsea on penalties to secure a record 9th title in the previous season's final,[3] but were eliminated by Manchester City in the fourth round.

The final was played at Wembley Stadium on 26 February 2023 between Manchester United and Newcastle United, with Manchester United winning 2–0 for their sixth title.

Access

All 92 clubs in the Premier League and English Football League entered the season's EFL Cup. Access was distributed across the top 4 leagues of the English football league system.[4]

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

The following round, the two remaining Championship clubs, who finished 18th and 19th in the 2021–22 Premier League season (Burnley and Watford), and the Premier League clubs not involved in either the Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League entered.

Clubs entering in this roundClubs advancing from previous roundNumber of gamesMain date
First round
(70 clubs)
  • 24 clubs from EFL League Two
  • 24 clubs from EFL League One
  • 22 clubs from EFL Championship
  • N/A
35w/c 8 August 2022
Second round
(50 clubs)
  • 2 clubs from EFL Championship
  • 13 Premier League clubs (not involved in European competition)
  • 35 winners from first round
25w/c 22 August 2022
Third round
(32 clubs)
  • 7 Premier League clubs (involved in European competition)
  • 25 winners from second round
16w/c 7 November 2022
Fourth round
(16 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the fourth round
  • 16 winners from third round
8w/c 19 December 2022
Quarter-finals
(8 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the quarter-finals
  • 8 winners from fourth round
4w/c 9 January 2023
Semi-finals
(4 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the semi-finals
  • 4 winners from quarter-finals
4

(two-legged)

w/c 23 January 2023
w/c 30 January 2023
Final
(2 clubs)
  • No clubs enter the final
  • 2 winners from semi-finals
126 February 2023

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

9 August 2022 Shrewsbury Town (3) 3–2Carlisle United (4)Shrewsbury
19:30 BST
ReportStadium: New Meadow
Attendance: 2,269
Referee: Christopher Pollard
9 August 2022 Blackpool (2)0–0
(3–4 p)
Barrow (4) Blackpool
19:45 BSTReportStadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 4,972
Referee: Ben Speedie
Penalties
9 August 2022 Bolton Wanderers (3) 5–1Salford City (4)Horwich
19:45 BSTReportStadium: University of Bolton Stadium
Attendance: 6,505
Referee: John Brooks
9 August 2022 Bradford City (4) 2–1Hull City (2)Bradford
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 5,394
Referee: Seb Stockingbridge
9 August 2022 Doncaster Rovers (4)0–3 Lincoln City (3) Doncaster
19:45 BSTReportStadium: Eco-Power Stadium
Attendance: 4,006
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
9 August 2022 Fleetwood Town (3) 1–0Wigan Athletic (2)Fleetwood
19:45 BSTReportStadium: Highbury Stadium
Attendance: 1,761
Referee: Michael Salisbury
9 August 2022 Grimsby Town (4) 4–0Crewe Alexandra (4)Cleethorpes
19:45 BSTReportStadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 2,802
Referee: Adam Herczeg
9 August 2022 Harrogate Town (4)0–1 Stockport County (4) Harrogate
19:45 BSTReport
Stadium: Wetherby Road
Attendance: 1,534
Referee: Thomas Kirk
9 August 2022 Huddersfield Town (2)1–4 Preston North End (2) Huddersfield
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: John Smith's Stadium
Attendance: 5,550
Referee: Ross Joyce
9 August 2022 Mansfield Town (4)1–2 Derby County (3) Mansfield
19:45 BSTReportStadium: One Call Stadium
Attendance: 6,861
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
9 August 2022 Morecambe (3) 0–0
(5–3 p)
Stoke City (2)Morecambe
19:45 BSTReportStadium: Mazuma Stadium
Attendance: 2,806
Referee: Andy Haines
Penalties
9 August 2022 Rochdale (4) 2–0Burton Albion (3)Rochdale
19:45 BST
ReportStadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1,601
Referee: Scott Oldham
10 August 2022 Blackburn Rovers (2) 4–0Hartlepool United (4)Blackburn
19:45 BSTReportStadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 6,844
Referee: James Bell
10 August 2022 Middlesbrough (2)0–1 Barnsley (3) Middlesbrough
19:45 BSTReport
Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 9,361
Referee: Ben Toner
10 August 2022 Port Vale (3)1–2 Rotherham United (2) Burslem
19:45 BSTReportStadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,094
Referee: Bobby Madden
10 August 2022 Sheffield Wednesday (3) 2–0Sunderland (2)Sheffield
19:45 BST
ReportStadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 8,412
Referee: Tom Reeves
11 August 2022 West Bromwich Albion (2) 1–0Sheffield United (2)West Bromwich
20:00 BST
ReportStadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 6,747
Referee: David Webb

Southern section

2 August 2022 Cambridge United (3) 1–0Millwall (2)Cambridge
19:45 BST
ReportStadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 3,368
Referee: Charles Breakspear
9 August 2022 AFC Wimbledon (4)0–2 Gillingham (4) Merton
19:45 BSTReport
Stadium: Plough Lane
Attendance: 3,008
Referee: Craig Hicks
9 August 2022 Cardiff City (2)0–3 Portsmouth (3) Cardiff
19:45 BSTReport
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 6,303
Referee: Lee Swabey
9 August 2022 Cheltenham Town (3)0–7 Exeter City (3) Cheltenham
19:45 BSTReport
Stadium: Whaddon Road
Attendance: 2,552
Referee: Will Finnie
9 August 2022 Crawley Town (4) 1–0Bristol Rovers (3)Crawley
19:45 BSTReportStadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 1,860
Referee: David Rock
9 August 2022 Forest Green Rovers (3) 2–0Leyton Orient (4)Nailsworth
19:45 BST
ReportStadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,055
Referee: James Oldham
9 August 2022 Ipswich Town (3)0–1 Colchester United (4) Ipswich
19:45 BSTReportStadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 11,654
Referee: Sam Purkiss
9 August 2022 Luton Town (2)2–3 Newport County (4) Luton
19:45 BSTReport
Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 3,827
Referee: Ollie Yates
9 August 2022 Milton Keynes Dons (3) 1–0Sutton United (4)Bletchley
19:45 BST
ReportStadium: Stadium MK
Attendance: 2,263
Referee: Charles Breakspear
9 August 2022 Northampton Town (4)1–2 Wycombe Wanderers (3) Northampton
19:45 BST
ReportStadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 2,711
Referee: Tom Nield
9 August 2022 Norwich City (2) 2–2
(4–2 p)
Birmingham City (2)Norwich
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 18,971
Referee: Samuel Barrott
Penalties
9 August 2022 Walsall (4) 2–0Swindon Town (4)Walsall
19:45 BST
ReportStadium: Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 2,889
Referee: Thomas Parsons
9 August 2022 Reading (2)1–2 Stevenage (4) Reading
20:00 BSTReport
Stadium: Select Car Leasing Stadium
Attendance: 4,230
Referee: Carl Brook
10 August 2022 Coventry City (2)1–4 Bristol City (2) Burton upon Trent
19:45 BSTAllen 62'Report
Stadium: Pirelli Stadium[a]
Attendance: 2,680
Referee: Peter Wright
10 August 2022 Plymouth Argyle (3)0–2 Peterborough United (3) Plymouth
19:45 BSTReport
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 6,089
Referee: Allan Young

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 were 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.[6]

Northern section

23 August 2022 Sheffield Wednesday (3) 3–0Rochdale (4)Sheffield
19:30ReportStadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 9,045
Referee: Ben Toner
23 August 2022 Shrewsbury Town (3)0–1 Burnley (2) Shrewsbury
19:30ReportStadium: New Meadow
Attendance: 3,819
Referee: Bobby Madden
23 August 2022 Barrow (4)2–2
(1–3 p)
Lincoln City (3) Barrow-in-Furness
19:45Report
Stadium: Holker Street
Attendance: 3,011
Referee: Simon Mather
Penalties
23 August 2022 Bolton Wanderers (3)1–4 Aston Villa (1) Horwich
19:45Charles 24'ReportStadium: University of Bolton Stadium
Attendance: 20,064
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
23 August 2022 Bradford City (4)1–2 Blackburn Rovers (2) Bradford
19:45Cook 18'ReportStadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 7,821
Referee: Ross Joyce
23 August 2022 Derby County (3) 1–0West Bromwich Albion (2)Derby
19:45Sibley 15'ReportStadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 10,638
Referee: Robert Madley
23 August 2022 Fleetwood Town (3)0–1 Everton (1) Fleetwood
19:45ReportGray 28'Stadium: Highbury Stadium
Attendance: 4,267
Referee: Tom Reeves
23 August 2022 Grimsby Town (4)0–3 Nottingham Forest (1) Grimsby
19:45Report
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 8,418
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
23 August 2022 Rotherham United (2)0–1 Morecambe (3) Rotherham
19:45ReportGnahoua 72'Stadium: New York Stadium
Attendance: 3,808
Referee: Peter Wright
23 August 2022 Stockport County (4)0–0
(1–3 p)
Leicester City (1) Edgeley
19:45ReportStadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,301
Referee: Samuel Barrott
Penalties
24 August 2022 Leeds United (1) 3–1Barnsley (3)Beeston
19:45
ReportAndersen 35'Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 35,472
Referee: John Brooks
24 August 2022 Tranmere Rovers (4)1–2 Newcastle United (1) Birkenhead
19:45Nevitt 21'ReportStadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 10,961
Referee: Anthony Backhouse

Southern section

23 August 2022 Walsall (4)0–1 Charlton Athletic (3) Walsall
19:00ReportJaiyesimi 57'Stadium: Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 2,954
Referee: Ollie Yates
23 August 2022 Cambridge United (3)0–3 Southampton (1) Cambridge
19:45Report
Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 6,733
Referee: David Rock
23 August 2022 Colchester United (4)0–2 Brentford (1) Colchester
19:45ReportStadium: Colchester Community Stadium
Attendance: 5,516
Referee: James Linington
23 August 2022 Crawley Town (4) 2–0Fulham (1)Crawley
19:45ReportStadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 5,577
Referee: Lee Swabey
23 August 2022 Gillingham (4) 0–0
(6–5 p)
Exeter City (3)Gillingham
19:45ReportStadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 2,127
Referee: Carl Brook
Penalties
23 August 2022 Newport County (4) 3–2Portsmouth (3)Newport
19:45
Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 3,866
Referee: John Busby
23 August 2022 Norwich City (2)2–2
(3–5 p)
Bournemouth (1) Norwich
19:45
ReportStadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 20,647
Referee: Michael Salisbury
Penalties
23 August 2022 Oxford United (3)0–2 Crystal Palace (1) Oxford
19:45ReportStadium: Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 9,564
Referee: Peter Bankes
23 August 2022 Stevenage (4) 1–0Peterborough United (3)Stevenage
19:45Reid 90+3'ReportStadium: Lamex Stadium
Attendance: 2,292
Referee: Christopher Pollard
23 August 2022 Watford (2)0–2 Milton Keynes Dons (3) Watford
19:45Report
Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,891
Referee: Andy Woolmer
24 August 2022 Forest Green Rovers (3)0–3 Brighton & Hove Albion (1) Nailsworth
19:45Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 3,812
Referee: Tim Robinson
24 August 2022 Wycombe Wanderers (3)1–3 Bristol City (2) High Wycombe
19:45Al-Hamadi 50'Report
Stadium: Adams Park
Attendance: 3,116
Referee: Andy Davies

Third round

A total of 32 teams played in the third round. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United entered in this round due to their participation in either the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League, the 2022–23 UEFA Europa League, and the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League. The draw was made on 24 August 2022.[7] The third round consisted of 19 clubs from the Premier League, three from the Championship, six from League One and four from League Two. Ties were scheduled to be played in the week commencing 7 November 2022.

8 November 2022 Leicester City (1) 3–0Newport County (4)Leicester
19:45
ReportStadium: King Power Stadium
Attendance: 15,081
Referee: Darren Bond
8 November 2022 Bournemouth (1) 4–1Everton (1)Boscombe
19:45Report
Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 10,021
Referee: Darren England
8 November 2022 Burnley (2) 3–1Crawley Town (4)Burnley
19:45
ReportStadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 6,329
Referee: Samuel Barrott
8 November 2022 Bristol City (2)1–3 Lincoln City (3) Ashton Gate
19:45
ReportStadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 7,961[8]
Referee: Sam Allison
8 November 2022 Stevenage (4)1–1
(4–5 p)
Charlton Athletic (3) Stevenage
19:45
Report
Stadium: Lamex Stadium
Attendance: 3,515
Referee: Tom Nield
Penalties
8 November 2022 Milton Keynes Dons (3) 2–0Morecambe (3)Bletchley
19:45
ReportStadium: Stadium MK
Attendance: 1,674
Referee: Ben Toner
9 November 2022 Nottingham Forest (1) 2–0Tottenham Hotspur (1)West Bridgford
19:45
ReportStadium: City Ground
Attendance: 28,384
Referee: Peter Bankes
9 November 2022 Arsenal (1)1–3 Brighton & Hove Albion (1) Holloway
19:45Report
Stadium: Emirates Stadium
Attendance: 59,233
Referee: Jarred Gillett
9 November 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers (1) 1–0Leeds United (1)Wolverhampton
19:45ReportStadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,246
Referee: Andre Marriner
9 November 2022 Manchester City (1) 2–0Chelsea (1)Manchester
20:00ReportStadium: City of Manchester Stadium
Attendance: 52,148
Referee: Simon Hooper
10 November 2022 Manchester United (1) 4–2Aston Villa (1)Trafford
20:00Report
Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 72,512
Referee: David Coote

Fourth round

A total of 16 teams played in the fourth round. League Two side Gillingham was the lowest-ranked team in the draw, which was made on 10 November 2022.[9]

20 December 2022 Milton Keynes Dons (3)0–3 Leicester City (1) Bletchley
19:45ReportStadium: Stadium MK
Attendance: 15,495
Referee: Andre Marriner
20 December 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers (1) 2–0Gillingham (4)Wolverhampton
19:45ReportStadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,943
Referee: Michael Salisbury
20 December 2022 Southampton (1) 2–1Lincoln City (3)Southampton
19:45
Report
Stadium: St Mary's Stadium
Attendance: 17,385
Referee: Jarred Gillett
20 December 2022 Newcastle United (1) 1–0Bournemouth (1)Newcastle upon Tyne
19:45
ReportStadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 51,579
Referee: John Brooks
21 December 2022 Blackburn Rovers (2)1–4 Nottingham Forest (1) Blackburn
19:45Report
Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 15,138
Referee: Robert Jones
21 December 2022 Manchester United (1) 2–0Burnley (2)Trafford
20:00ReportStadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 62,062
Referee: Graham Scott
22 December 2022 Manchester City (1) 3–2Liverpool (1)Manchester
20:00
ReportStadium: City of Manchester Stadium
Attendance: 47,149
Referee: David Coote

Quarter-finals

A total of eight teams played in the quarter-finals. League One side Charlton Athletic was the lowest-ranked team in the draw and the only non-Premier League team left.

10 January 2023 Manchester United (1) 3–0Charlton Athletic (3)Trafford
20:00 GMT
ReportStadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 74,345
Referee: Jarred Gillett
10 January 2023 Newcastle United (1) 2–0Leicester City (1)Newcastle upon Tyne
20:00 GMTReportStadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 52,009
Referee: Darren England
11 January 2023 Southampton (1) 2–0Manchester City (1)Southampton
20:00 GMT
ReportStadium: St Mary's Stadium
Attendance: 22,996
Referee: Peter Bankes

Semi-finals

A total of four teams, all of them from the Premier League, played in this round.

Summary

Team 1Agg.Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Nottingham Forest0–5Manchester United0–30–2
Southampton1–3Newcastle United0–11–2
Nottingham Forest (1)0–3Manchester United (1)
Report
Attendance: 29,325
Manchester United (1)2–0Nottingham Forest (1)
Report
Attendance: 72,315
Referee: Peter Bankes

Manchester United won 5–0 on aggregate.


Southampton (1)0–1Newcastle United (1)
Report
Attendance: 30,090
Newcastle United (1)2–1Southampton (1)
Report

Newcastle United won 3–1 on aggregate.

Final

Manchester United2–0Newcastle United
Report

Top goalscorers

Rank[11]PlayerClubGoals
1 Marcus RashfordManchester United6
2 Ché AdamsSouthampton5
3 Tommy ConwayBristol City3
Andy CookBradford City
Ronan CurtisPortsmouth
Raúl JiménezWolverhampton Wanderers
Jamie VardyLeicester City

Notes

References