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Carabao Cup

Round Three: Preview

19 September 2017

Tuesday sees the commencement of the Carabao Cup Third Round, with a final seven teams from England’s top tier entering the competition.

All-in-all, 16 ties will be played across Tuesday and Wednesday evening, and there are no shortage of interesting match-ups.

Here’s our preview…

Giant-killing at the Emirates?

The last time Arsenal and Doncaster Rovers met was in this very tournament, at the quarter-final stage back in 2005.

On that night at Belle Vue, Rovers gave their Premier League opponents a scare — drawing 2-2 in normal time, before being edged out 3-1 by the Gunners on penalties.

You have to go back as far as 1902 for a Doncaster victory in this fixture, but should they prevail on Wednesday night, it would surely be one of their finest hours.

Leeds reunion for Wood and Taylor

Just a matter of weeks after swapping Elland Road for Turf Moor, Burnley striker Chris Wood, and defender Charlie Taylor will face former Leeds United team-mates on Tuesday night.

The 25-year-old front man was prolific throughout the 2016/17 campaign for the Whites — scoring 27 times on his way to the Sky Bet Championship Golden Boot.

He’s begun his career in Lancashire well too, having found the back of the net twice in his first four appearances, but Leeds are coping fine in front of goal – they've hit back-to-back hat-tricks in this competition courtesy of Samu Saiz and Kemar Roofe.

TV games

Sky Sports’ coverage of the Third Round sees two live matches from the King Power Stadium and Old Trafford respectively.

First up on Tuesday night is an all-Premier League encounter between Leicester City and Liverpool.

The Foxes triumphed 3-1 in the two sides’ last competitive meeting, while the men from Anfield won the only previous clash the pair have had in this competition.

Attention then shifts to the Carabao Cup holders, with Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United side beginning their defence at home to Burton Albion on Wednesday.

In 2006, Nigel Clough and the Brewers – then in the Conference – held the Red Devils to a draw in an FA Cup Third Round tie, before losing 5-0 in the replay at Old Trafford. Now just one division separates the sides as they meet for just the third time.

The draw for Round Four will be live on Sky Sports News following the conclusion of this tie.

Around the grounds

At Selhurst Park, there’s a repeat of a Premier League opening day fixture between Crystal Palace and Huddersfield Town, as new Eagles boss Roy Hodgson takes charge of his second match.

There’s deja vu too at the Vitality Stadium, with Bournemouth and Brighton and Hove Albion clashing once more, after only meeting on Friday.

Barnsley make the trip to Wembley on Tuesday night for their encounter against Tottenham Hotspur, while Nottingham Forest also visit the capital to take on Chelsea – the two have nine League Cup triumphs between them.

Sky Bet League One outfit Bristol Rovers meet an in-form Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, while their city rivals, Bristol City, host Stoke City after dumping out Watford in Round Two.

Two all-Championship affairs take place on Tuesday, as Aston Villa play host to Middlesbrough, and Brentford welcome Norwich City to Griffin Park.

Elswhere, 2013 champions Swansea City are at Reading, four-time winners Manchester City visit West Bromwich Albion 24 hours later, and West Ham United and Everton face respective ties against Championship strugglers Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland.

Carabao Cup Round Three fixtures (7:45pm unless stated)

Tuesday 19th September 2017

Aston Villa v Middlesbrough
Bournemouth v Brighton and Hove Albion
Brentford v Norwich City
Bristol City v Stoke City
Burnley v Leeds United
Crystal Palace v Huddersfield Town
Leicester City v Liverpool (Live on Sky Sports)
West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Bristol Rovers
Reading v Swansea City (8pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v Barnsley (8pm)

Wednesday 20th September 2017

Arsenal v Doncaster Rovers
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest
Everton v Sunderland
Manchester United v Burton Albion (8pm - live on Sky Sports)
West Bromwich Albion v Manchester City (8pm)

Appointments: Click here to see the officials on Round Three duty


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