England. League Cup
The EFL Cup, sponsored as Carabao Cup, is England's premier midweek knockout competition featuring all 92 professional clubs from the English Football League pyramid. Second only to the FA Cup in prestige, it levels the playing field where Championship and lower-tier sides challenge Premier League giants. Known for upsets and high drama, it offers rotation opportunities for managers and a shot at Wembley glory for underdogs.
History and foundation
Launched in 1960 to spice up the season, the first final saw Rotherham United edge Aston Villa 3-2 in 1961. Liverpool lead with 10 wins, including their 2022 penalty shootout triumph over Chelsea. Iconic moments: Sunderland's 1985 shock over Liverpool, Liam Delap's 2009 halfway-line screamer for Derby. Manchester United's four-peat in the 1990s; group stages introduced in 2014 to streamline. Survived format tweaks and criticism, evolving into a fan favorite.
Tournament format
Dynamic knockout: early rounds for League One/Two clubs, Championship joins in third, Prem in fourth. No replays since 1990s—straight to penalties on ties. Recent tweaks include mini-groups for 2024/25, totaling 62 ties. Final at Wembley caps the action, drawing massive TV audiences across the UK and beyond.
Interesting facts
Averages 2.8 goals per game, peaking in qualifiers. Top scorers: Jan Hurst (13 for Rotherham, 1961), Ian Rush (9 twice). Stars: Steven Gerrard (8 for Liverpool), Harry Kane (20+ for Spurs). Modern heroes like Erling Haaland (3 in 2023 final run) and Mo Salah (10 goals). Youth showcase: Jude Bellingham's Birmingham exploits, Phil Foden's Man City emergence.