Follow live coverage as Oxford United face Brighton & Hove Albion in the EFL Cup.
Newcastle are the reigning champions of the competition following a stunning win over Liverpool at Wembley last term, with Alexander Isak proving decisive to end the club's 70-year domestic trophy drought.
While all 72 clubs from the football league enter from the first round, Premier League teams enter at the second or third round stage, the latter for clubs competing in Europe this season.
The final is slated for 22 March 2026 this term, at Wembley as usual, marking the first chance for teams to earn both a trophy and a place in next season’s Uefa competitions. Follow updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
Oxford United FC 0 - 4 Brighton & Hove Albion FC
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:13Goal! Oxford United 0, Brighton and Hove Albion 4. Stefanos Tzimas (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box following a fast break.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:13Attempt saved. Louie Sibley (Oxford United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Jason Steele (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:12Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Carlos Baleba.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:11Attempt blocked. Stanley Mills (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:11Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Jason Steele.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:11Attempt saved. Nik Prelec (Oxford United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Jason Steele (Brighton and Hove Albion). Assisted by Will Vaulks.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:08Substitution, Oxford United. Brian De Keersmaecker replaces Cameron Brannagan.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:08Substitution, Oxford United. Nik Prelec replaces Przemyslaw Placheta.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:09Substitution, Oxford United. Luke Harris replaces Matt Phillips.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:08Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Carlos Baleba replaces Jack Hinshelwood.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:08Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Stefanos Tzimas replaces Diego Gómez.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:07Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Tom Watson replaces Ferdi Kadioglu.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:07Attempt saved. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Jason Steele (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:06Foul by Diego Gómez (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:05Attempt blocked. Will Vaulks (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:01Goal! Oxford United 0, Brighton and Hove Albion 3. Diego Gómez (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Diego Coppola following a corner.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:00Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Sam Long.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
21:01Attempt blocked. Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Brajan Gruda.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:57Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Matt Phillips.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:57Attempt blocked. Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Brajan Gruda.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:57Joël Veltman (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:56Substitution, Oxford United. Louie Sibley replaces Brodie Spencer because of an injury.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:56Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:56Delay in match because of an injury Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:56Delay in match because of an injury Brodie Spencer (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:54Igor Julio (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:52Offside, Oxford United. Mark Harris is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:52Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:51Delay in match because of an injury Brodie Spencer (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:50Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Harry Howell is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:50Brajan Gruda (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:47Second Half begins Oxford United 0, Brighton and Hove Albion 2.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:32First Half ends, Oxford United 0, Brighton and Hove Albion 2.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:32Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:29Foul by Harry Howell (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:29Foul by Diego Gómez (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:28Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Diego Gómez is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:26Stanley Mills (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:26James Milner (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:24Attempt missed. Harry Howell (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Diego Gómez.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:24Attempt saved. Mark Harris (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Jason Steele (Brighton and Hove Albion). Assisted by Przemyslaw Placheta.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:21Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:21Foul by Diego Gómez (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:21Attempt saved. Brajan Gruda (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Matt Ingram (Oxford United). Assisted by Diego Gómez.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:22Attempt missed. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) header from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mark Harris.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:15Handball by James Milner (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:15Attempt blocked. Diego Gómez (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Brajan Gruda.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:13Attempt saved. Stanley Mills (Oxford United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Jason Steele (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:10Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Diego Coppola.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:06Goal! Oxford United 0, Brighton and Hove Albion 2. Brajan Gruda (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Joël Veltman with a through ball.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:04Offside, Oxford United. Mark Harris is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:02Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Diego Gómez.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:00Foul by Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
19:58Goal! Oxford United 0, Brighton and Hove Albion 1. Olivier Boscagli (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Brajan Gruda following a corner.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
20:00Attempt blocked. Harry Howell (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
19:57Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Jack Currie.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
19:56Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Matt Phillips.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
19:55Attempt blocked. Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by James Milner with a cross.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
19:54Attempt saved. Stanley Mills (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Jason Steele (Brighton and Hove Albion). Assisted by Cameron Brannagan.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
19:52Igor Julio (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
19:49Foul by Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
19:47Attempt saved. Diego Gómez (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Matt Ingram (Oxford United). Assisted by Brajan Gruda.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
19:47Attempt blocked. Matt Phillips (Oxford United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
19:47Attempt saved. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Jason Steele (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
19:46First Half begins.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
19:15Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
17:45Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
We will have all the latest scores, goals and updates plus analysis and reaction throughout the game here. This season we're bringing you live coverage from every match in the Premier League, WSL, Championship, Carabao Cup and FA Cup from the third round onwards - as well as the best from the Champions League and beyond in Europe.
