The Carabao Cup campaign continues as the first top-flight sides enter the competition as the draw for the second round is made.
The 11 Premier League clubs not competing in Europe this season join those who have progressed from the first round, with the remaining sides again split into a North and South section at the final regionalised stage. Among the big sides set to find out their fate are Manchester United, looking for a better season under Ruben Amorim, while Bournemouth and Brighton could be keen to continue their rise with a deep cup run.
League Two Bromley, having won their first Carabao Cup game by upsetting Ipswich, will be watching the draw eagerly as they await their opponents. The second-round ties will be played in the week commencing 25 August, with the rest of the Premier League contingent set to enter at the third-round stage.
Follow all of the latest from the second round draw with our live blog below:
Carabao Cup second round draw live
- DRAW IN FULL: Ties for the second round of the Carabao Cup confirmed
- League Two side Grimsby Town will host Manchester United
- League Two Bromley to face Wycombe after upsetting Ipswich
- Leeds United could face Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough
- West Ham, Wolves, Brentford and Bournemouth involved in all-Premier League ties
Man United drawn away at League Two side Grimsby Town in Carabao Cup second round
21:04 , Will CastleManchester United will travel to League Two Grimsby in the Carabao Cup second round as they attempt to bounce back from one of their worst seasons in recent history.
The 2023 winners will head for Blundell Park during the week beginning August 25 after being paired with the Mariners in Wednesday night's draw, in which they were the last team team out of the hat.
Elsewhere, there are all-Premier League clashes between Bournemouth and Brentford and Wolves and West Ham, while promoted Leeds face a trip to either Bolton or Sheffield Wednesday and Everton will host League One Mansfield at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Man Utd drawn away at League Two’s Grimsby in Carabao Cup second round
Premier League 2025/26 predictions: Champions, top four, relegation, best signing, top scorer and more
21:00 , Will CastleThe Premier League is back and just 33 days after Chelsea appeared to bring the curtain down on the 2024/25 season with their thumping win in the Club World Cup final, champions Liverpool kick off their title defence against Bournemouth at Anfield.
The transfer window continues to rumble on with plenty of deals yet to materialise, which could shift the trajectory of many teams, notably Arne Slot’s side and Newcastle, with Alexander Isak’s future still in doubt.
Arsenal appear closer than ever after near misses in recent years, with Viktor Gyokeres brought in to spearhead Mikel Arteta’s title charge, while Pep Guardiola has rebuilt Man City quickly and Chelsea will hope to ride the momentum of their victory over PSG last month.
Manchester United’s lavish outlay has enabled them to revamp swiftly, Tottenham begin a new era under Thomas Frank, while newcomers Burnley, Leeds and Sunderland hope to avoid a quick return to the ever chaotic Championship.
Here, the Independent’s sports staff preview the new campaign and make their picks for the 2025/26 Premier League season:
Who will win the Premier League? Best signing and more predictions
After Manchester United hit rock bottom, are the good times finally coming?
20:45 , Richard JollyIf nothing else, Ruben Amorim does not try to sugarcoat things. The manager who had said he had perhaps the worst team in Manchester United’s history stood in the middle of the Old Trafford pitch and said: “Today, after this disaster season.” The disaster season: piercing as some of the criticisms of a campaign where United had fared worse than had seemed possible, few were as pithy as Amorim’s description. The rest of his message marked a real shift in tone. “I want to tell you the good days are coming,” he added.
That was May. In Amorim’s own timescale, therefore, the good days are arriving, beginning now. There is a sense they have to: not merely for Amorim, who was probably guilty of smiling exaggeration when he said on the pre-season tour of the United States that he wanted to stay for 20 years but is actually in the last two of his contract, but for the club.
Comparisons with the past are neither invariably accurate nor helpful, but the immediate precedent is of Erik ten Hag, retained after a disappointing season with the prospect the next could be better and sacked in October after some £200m of summer spending. Now Sir Jim Ratcliffe has disposed of some 450 members of staff but not Amorim. Furnished with new attackers, in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, his summer outlay is up to around £200m.
After hitting rock bottom, are the good times finally coming for Manchester United?
Bromley's next challenge
20:30 , Will CastleAfter shocking Ipswich in the first round yesterday, Bromley will host Wycombe in Round Two.
Some might say an easier challenge - how far could the League Two side go this season?
When do the second round ties take place?
20:15 , Will CastleRound Two ties will take place in the week commencing 25 August.
The tie of the draw
20:00 , Will CastleHow about that, then?
Grimsby Town have bagged themselves the plum draw and will host the goliaths of Manchester United in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Anyone backing the League Two boys?
Tonight's fixtures
19:48 , Will CastleWe’re not completely tied up with the Carabao Cup first round - here are the five games to be played tonight:
Barnsley v Fleetwood Town
Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield Wednesday
Cheltenham Town v Exeter City
Huddersfield Town v Leicester City
Birmingham City v Sheffield United
Carabao second round draw in full
19:40 , Will CastleSouthern Section
Fulham v Bristol City
Norwich v Southampton
Oxford United v Brighton
Reading v AFC Wimbledon
AFC Bournemouth v Brentford
Millwall v Coventry
Wolves v West Ham
Swansea v Plymouth
Bromley v Wycombe
Cardiff v Cheltenham/Exeter
Cambridge United v Charlton
Northern Section
Tranmere/Burton v Lincoln
Accrington Stanley v Doncaster
Wigan v Stockport
Stoke v Bradford
Burnley v Derby
Sunderland v Huddersfield/Leicester
Birmingham/Sheffield United v Port Vale
Preston v Wrexham
Barnsley/Fleetwood v Rotherham
Bolton/Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds
Everton v Mansfield
Grimsby v Man United
Man United draw Grimsby Town in Carabao Cup second round
19:34 , Will CastleTalk about saving the best until last!
Manchester United will travel to League Two’s Grimsby Town in the second round of the Carabao Cup - that’s the big talking point of the draw, no doubt.
A full list of fixtures to come.
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:31 , Will CastleAnd finally...
Grimsby vs Manchester United
League Two Grimsby host Ruben Amorim’s side!
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:30 , Will CastleEverton vs Mansfield
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:30 , Will CastleBolton or Sheffield Wednesday vs Leeds
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:30 , Will CastleBarnsley or Fleetwood vs Rotherham
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:30 , Will CastlePreston vs Wrexham
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:29 , Will CastleBirmingham or Sheffield United vs Port Vale
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:29 , Will CastleSunderland vs Huddersfield or Leicester
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:29 , Will CastleBurnley vs Derby
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:28 , Will CastleStoke vs Bradford
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:28 , Will CastleWigan vs Stockport
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:28 , Will CastleAccrington vs Doncaster
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:27 , Will CastleTranmere or Burton vs Lincoln
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:27 , Will CastleThat brings a close to the South Section of the draw!
A few all Premier League ties in there.
Next up, it’s the North...
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:26 , Will CastleCambridge vs Charlton
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:26 , Will CastleCardiff vs Cheltenham or Exeter
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:26 , Will CastleBromley vs Wycombe
A slightly easier task for Bromley after shocking Ipswich!
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:25 , Will CastleSwansea vs Plymouth
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:25 , Will CastleWolves vs West Ham
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:24 , Will CastleMillwall vs Coventry
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:24 , Will CastleBournemouth vs Brentford
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:24 , Will CastleReading vs AFC Wimbledon
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:23 , Will CastleOxford United vs Brighton
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:23 , Will CastleNorwich vs Southampton
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:23 , Will CastleFulham vs Bristol City
Here we go...
19:22 , Will CastleThe balls are swirling - we’re moments away from learning our first Carabao Cup second round fixtures...
Carabao Cup second round draw
19:17 , Harry Latham-CoyleMost of those into the second round draw have only had to win one game to get there; Accrington Stanley, though, have had to win two. The Lancashire club have overcome Oldham and Peterborough to get to this stage having been one of four entrants in the preliminary round, which featured the two newly-promoted League Two sides and the lowest finishers in that division last season who did not get relegated out of the Football League.
That round was necessitated by the bumper crop of Premier League teams in European competition this year - all of Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest earn entry into the third round of the Carabao Cup in return for the rigours of their continental conquests.
For their 11 top-flight foes, the competition begins now - the draw will soon be upon us...
Why Tranmere and Burton are still waiting to play first-round tie
19:12 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe eagle-eyed readers among you may have noticed that there are six balls in the draw representing two clubs, but only five ties to be played this evening. Tranmere and Burton were due to meet in their first round clash last night, and their players had even begun to warm-up - only for a severe power outage to strike that could not be solved in time for the game to go ahead.
The two sides will instead contest a second round place next Tuesday.
This game has been postponed because of a major power outage from Scottish Power that cannot be rectified.
— Tranmere Rovers FC (@TranmereRovers) August 12, 2025
More information will be provided on a new date and refunds.#TRFC #SWA pic.twitter.com/rRKqUkfPew
South Section ball numbers
19:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle1 AFC Bournemouth
2 AFC Wimbledon
3 Brentford
5 Bristol City
6 Bromley
7 Cambridge United
8 Cardiff City
9 Charlton Athletic
10 Coventry City
11 Fulham
12 Millwall
13 Norwich City
14 Oxford United
15 Plymouth Argyle
16 Reading
17 Southampton
18 Swansea City
20 Wolverhampton Wanderers
21 Wycombe Wanderers
22 Cheltenham Town or Exeter City
North Section ball numbers
19:03 , Harry Latham-CoyleNORTH SECTION
1 Accrington Stanley
2 Bradford City
3 Burnley
4 Derby County
5 Doncaster Rovers
6 Everton
7 Grimsby Town
9 Lincoln City
11 Mansfield Town
12 Port Vale
13 Preston North End
14 Rotherham United
15 Stockport County
16 Stoke City
17 Sunderland
18 Wigan Athletic
19 Wrexham
20 Barnsley or Fleetwood Town
21 Birmingham City or Sheffield United
22 Bolton Wanderers or Sheffield Wednesday
23 Huddersfield Town or Leicester City
24 Tranmere Rovers or Burton Albion
Carabao Cup draw
19:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleThis is the last regionalised round of the Carabao Cup, the sides again split into a North and South section to reduce travel as much as possible before the competition opens up in the third round.
Josh Sargent sends Norwich through - but could yet leave club
18:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleLiam Manning hailed Josh Sargent after the striker's 50th Norwich goal set up a 2-1 Carabao Cup first-round win at Watford.
First-half goals from United States international Sargent and Chile midfielder Marcelino Nunez proved to be enough despite a late Hornets fight back.
Sargent, who was captain for the night, might still be sold before the transfer window closes but City head coach Manning was hopeful that would not happen.
"His record speaks for itself - I think he is the best Championship striker," he said. "He was first class in how he led the line and long may it continue."
Sargent slotted home the opener in the 10th minute thanks to good work from debutant Papa Diallo and Hornets goalkeeper Egil Selvik made a mess of saving Nunez's long-range effort in the 26th minute as the ball squirmed through his gloves.
Watford substitute Kwadwo Baah's 68th-minute reply set up a stirring finish but Norwich held on.
Slotting home number 50 🫡 pic.twitter.com/ykLTrjaWG0
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) August 13, 2025
Bromley shock Ipswich to reach second round
18:46 , Harry Latham-CoyleBromley, meanwhile, pulled off a huge Carabao Cup upset with a penalty shootout win over Championship side Ipswich.
Goalkeeper Sam Long was the hero as he saved two Ipswich penalties, leaving Marcus Ifill to fire home the winning spot-kick as the League Two side triumphed 5-4 after a 1-1 draw.
Last night's action...
18:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleWrexham are through to the second round of the Carabao Cup after a winning a dramatic game against Hull City on penalties.
The Welsh side were 3-1 down going into second-half stoppage time when veteran striker Ollie Palmer scored twice to force penalties.
The hosts then prevailed 5-3 on penalties after Joel Ndala hit the crossbar for Hull.
Wrexham, playing their first home game of the season, had led after 31 minutes through Elliot Lee but looked like going out as a Hull side tipped to struggle hit back through Oli McBurnie, Ndala and Matt Crooks.
Wrexham beat Hull on penalties after dramatic stoppage-time comeback
Marcus Rashford explains Man United’s biggest problem
18:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleMarcus Rashford would not appear to think that there will be an immediate upturn in Manchester United’s fortunes after his departure - though the new Barcelona forward believes Ruben Amorim must be backed if the club are to escape “no man’s land”.
After Manchester United hit rock bottom, are the good times finally coming?
18:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleManchester United will be part of the second round draw tonight, a mark of their tumble having missed out on European football last season. But after a productive summer, are the good times finally set to return under Ruben Amorim? Richard Jolly considers the question:
After hitting rock bottom, are the good times finally coming for Manchester United?
Premier League 2025/26 predictions: Champions, top four, relegation, best signing, top scorer and more
18:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleWe’ll begin the build-up to tonight’s proceedings in a moment, but first, a look at our predictions for the upcoming Premier League season with the campaign now imminent. Agree with the forecasts made by The Independent’s football writers? Let us know.
Who will win the Premier League? Best signing and more predictions
Who is in the draw?
18:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe second round sees the entry of the 11 Premier League teams not involved in European competition this season. Here’s everything you need to know:
When is Carabao Cup second round draw? Ball numbers, start time and how to watch
Carabao Cup draw live
12:33 , Harry Latham-CoyleWith the new English football season beginning to click into gear, the draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup is about to be made as 11 Premier League sides join those who have progressed through the first round. We’ll have all of the latest throughout the evening.
