English football’s traditional heavyweights remain, with Manchester City and holders Liverpool among those who booked their place in round four this week.
Will one of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ take home the trophy? Or will we see our first surprise winner since Swansea were crowned League Cup champions in 2012/13?
We’ve decided to look at how the bookmakers view the favourites for success. Using the latest odds from 1xBet, we’ve ranked the favourites to win the trophy.
The five favourites to win the 2024/25 Carabao Cup
Manchester United – 9/1
Erik ten Hag has won silverware in each of his two seasons at Manchester United, ending the club’s six-year wait for a trophy with League Cup success in 2022/23. The Dutchman’s side have opened the season in unconvincing fashion but progressed to round four of the Carabao Cup after thrashing third-tier Barnsley 7-0 at Old Trafford.
Having invested heavily during the summer window, Ten Hag will feel he now has a squad capable of competing on all fronts as the Red Devils look for a top-four finish in the Premier League and success in cup competitions.
United will host Leicester City in the fourth round next month.
Chelsea – 8/1
Chelsea also eased into the fourth round with a comfortable 5-0 win over Barrow last time out. Christopher Nkunku scored a hat-trick for a rotated Chelsea team, who made light work of the League Two leaders at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues reached last season’s final before losing 1-0 to Liverpool in extra time and will be keen to avenge that loss and recent trips to Wembley. Chelsea have lost three finals in this competition since last lifting the trophy in 2015, while their last six domestic cup finals have all ended in defeat.
Christopher Nkunku scores a hat-trick as @ChelseaFC thrash Barrow 5-0 in the EFL Cup third round ✅ ✅ ✅ pic.twitter.com/pUUL6h6z11
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 24, 2024
Liverpool – 8/1
Liverpool are the holders of the competition after Virgil van Dijk’s extra-time header earned the Reds cup success in Jurgen Klopp’s final season in charge. Now under new management, Liverpool have made a strong start under Arne Slot with six wins from seven games in all competitions.
The Merseysiders showed their strength in depth during a third-round win over West Ham, as a rotated team thrashed Julen Lopetegui’s side 5-1 at Anfield. Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota each scored braces with Liverpool’s forward options in form over the season’s opening weeks.
Liverpool FC's attack is cooking under Arne Slot 😮💨
Mohamed Salah ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🅰️🅰️🅰️🅰️
Luis Díaz ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🅰️
Diogo Jota ⚽️⚽️⚽️🅰️
Cody Gakpo ⚽️⚽️🅰️
Darwin Núñez ⚽️🅰️
Federico Chiesa 🅰️ pic.twitter.com/teFBpDxcE6— OneFootball (@OneFootball) September 26, 2024
Arsenal – 5/1
Arsenal are second-favourites for the trophy despite a poor record in this competition. The North London side have won the Carabao Cup just twice in their history and are approaching 32 years since their last success.
Mikel Arteta will want trophies this season and a tangible reward for his team’s recent progress, with Arsenal having emerged as a genuine Premier League title challenger under his management.
The summer signings of Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino and Raheem Sterling have added depth in key areas, while an emerging collection of academy graduates are supplementing the first-team squad. Four Hale End products aged 18 or under started the third-round win over Bolton, including 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who scored twice.
Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest Arsenal goalscorer since Jack Wilshere in 2008 last night.
Time flies in football 👶 pic.twitter.com/fg1E6awz0e
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 26, 2024
Manchester City – 10/3
Manchester City boast a rich recent history in this competition with the Citizens having claimed six trophies since 2014 alone.
Only Liverpool (10) have ever won the League Cup on more occasions than the Blues, who won four consecutive cups between 2018 and 2021 under Pep Guardiola. Boasting arguably the strongest squad in European football, City have the depth to compete in all competitions.
