In the second round of the Carabao Cup, four-time champions Nottingham Forest will face Leeds in the only all-Premier League clash of the round. Chelsea, who have clinched the title five times, will host League One’s Luton Town at Stamford Bridge, while Tottenham is set to welcome Championship side Charlton.

David Moyes will return to Deepdale for Everton’s match against Preston North End, marking a significant moment as he began his managerial career there. Newcastle will play second-tier West Brom and Fulham is set to meet AFC Wimbledon at Craven Cottage.

Brentford has a challenging away match against Birmingham City, while Ipswich will take on League One’s Leicester City. West Ham, having defeated Portsmouth in the previous round, will travel to fellow Championship team Southampton.

The draw for the second round featured separate sections for northern and southern teams, with all matches scheduled to take place in the week commencing Monday, 24 August.

The draw in full

Northern section draw

Stoke v Hull

Newcastle v West Bromwich Albion

Blackburn v Sheffield United

Nottingham Forest v Leeds

Fleetwood v Shrewsbury

Bradford v Burnley

Sheffield Wednesday v Wolves

Blackpool v Lincoln

Preston v Everton

Barnsley v Crewe

Doncaster v Middlesbrough

Southern section draw

Stevenage v Reading

Cardiff v Norwich

Ipswich v Leicester

Walsall v Leyton Orient

Cambridge v Millwall

Birmingham v Brentford

Southampton v West Ham

Watford v Peterborough

Fulham v AFC Wimbledon

Plymouth/Exeter v Coventry

Chelsea v Luton

Tottenham v Charlton

Fixture Conflicts Arise for Fulham vs. Chelsea

The selection of Fulham vs. Chelsea for live broadcast by Sky Sports on Monday, 24 August, has raised concerns about fixture congestion. As neither team is involved in European competitions, both will enter the Carabao Cup in the second round, potentially leading to a packed midweek schedule.

Typically, this situation would see the EFL Cup ties played on Thursday, allowing for 72 hours of rest. However, this could disrupt the Premier League weekend fixtures.

Fulham’s match at Sunderland, which was not picked for TV coverage, was moved to Sunday, while Sky chose Chelsea’s match against Brighton for the same day.

Complications arose when both teams drew home fixtures in the Carabao Cup. Ordinarily, they cannot host matches on the same day, necessitating either police concessions or creative scheduling by the EFL.

Moreover, the games could have repercussions for eight EFL clubs as Wimbledon and Luton, their respective opponents, are scheduled for League One matches the Saturday following the ties.

If the Carabao Cup matches occur on Thursday, this would likely force adjustments to Saturday’s schedule. Additionally, a full slate of League One matches on the following Tuesday could lead to further changes.

The potentially affected games include:

Saturday, 29 August

Wimbledon v Wigan

Mansfield v Luton

Tuesday, 1 September

Burton v Wimbledon

Wigan v MK Dons

Luton v Stockport

Reading v Mansfield

Four-time winners Nottingham Forest will face Leeds in the Carabao Cup in the only all-Premier League tie in the second round of the competition.

Chelsea, who have won the competition five times, will welcome League One Luton to Stamford Bridge, while Tottenham will host Championship side Charlton.

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David Moyes will return to Deepdale as Everton visit Preston North End, where he began his managerial career.

Meanwhile, Newcastle will take on second-tier West Brom and Fulham will play AFC Wimbledon at Craven Cottage.

Brentford have a potentially tricky away trip to Birmingham City while Ipswich will play League One Leicester.

Also in the southern section West Ham, who beat Portsmouth in Saturday’s first round, travel to fellow Championship side Southampton.

The draw for the second round of the EFL Cup was split across northern and southern sections.

All matches are due to take place in the midweek of the week commencing Monday, 24 August.

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The nine English clubs involved in Europe this season will enter the competition in the third round.

The draw in full

Northern section draw

Stoke v Hull

Newcastle v West Bromwich Albion

Blackburn v Sheffield United

Nottingham Forest v Leeds

Fleetwood v Shrewsbury

Bradford v Burnley

Sheffield Wednesday v Wolves

Blackpool v Lincoln

Preston v Everton

Barnsley v Crewe

Doncaster v Middlesbrough

Southern section draw

Stevenage v Reading

Cardiff v Norwich

Ipswich v Leicester

Walsall v Leyton Orient

Cambridge v Millwall

Birmingham v Brentford

Southampton v West Ham

Watford v Peterborough

Fulham v AFC Wimbledon

Plymouth/Exeter v Coventry

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Chelsea v Luton

Tottenham v Charlton

Fulham v Chelsea league match causes fixture headache

After Sky Sports chose Fulham v Chelsea for live Premier League broadcast on Monday, 24 August, the potential for a knock-on impact was clear.

With the two teams not in Europe, and thus entering the Carabao Cup in the second round, both faced playing two games in the midweek.

Ordinarily, that should mean the EFL Cup ties would be played on the Thursday, with 72 hours’ rest.

That, too, would impact the Premier League’s weekend schedule.

Fulham’s match at Sunderland, which was not selected for TV broadcast, was switched to the Sunday.

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Chelsea v Brighton, meanwhile, was chosen by Sky for the Sunday.

All good so far.

That was until both Fulham and Chelsea were drawn at home in the Carabao Cup – and they are not supposed to play at home on the same day. The police will have to make a concession, or the EFL will have to get creative.

But there is another knock-on effect – at very short notice for eight EFL clubs.

The opponents of Fulham and Chelsea – Wimbledon and Luton respectively – are in League One action on the Saturday after the ties.

If one or both Carabao Cup ties are scheduled for the Thursday, then the Saturday games would ordinarily move to the Sunday.

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And there’s another complication.

The following Tuesday there is a full programme of League One games – and that could impact a further four matches with the potential they might have to move to Wednesday.

Either teams will have to play two games within 48 hours, or supporters who have made travel arrangements are going to find games displaced.

The games potentially impacted are as follows.

Saturday, 29 August

Wimbledon v Wigan

Mansfield v Luton

Tuesday, 1 September

Burton v Wimbledon

Wigan v MK Dons

Luton v Stockport

Reading v Mansfield