Before Round 3 of -TrophyTrackerPost-PandaTV

The leading Premier League teams will keep up with their domestic competitions as they get ready for the third round of the Carabao Cup against lighter opposition.

Following the early matches of Round 3 last week, some minor surprises occurred. Brentford and Crystal Palace both needed penalty shootouts to overcome Aston Villa and Millwall respectively. Meanwhile, fourth-tier side Grimsby Town, after defeating Manchester United in Round 2, continued their run by beating Sheffield Wednesday. In another match, Swansea staged an exciting comeback to win 3-2 against Nottingham Forest and advance to the next round.

This week’s highlight will certainly be the fixtures featuring the top Premier League giants. Liverpool are heavily favored as they host Southampton at Anfield.

With the current squad depth, manager Arne Slot can rotate players while still securing victory. The reigning Premier League champions are expected to extend their winning streak across all competitions since the season began.

Similarly, Chelsea will visit lower-league Lincoln City. This match is predicted to be an opportunity for Chelsea’s young or reserve players to showcase their skills. Chelsea will undoubtedly aim for a commanding win to somewhat erase the recent poor run of results.

Manchester City, despite traveling to Huddersfield, are considered far superior in class and form. Coach Pep Guardiola is expected to rotate many star players following last weekend’s intense clash with Arsenal.

Arsenal also have a favorable schedule, facing much weaker Port Vale. Young talent Max Dowman is likely to be trusted by coach Mikel Arteta to start in this game.

Meanwhile, Tottenham face Doncaster Rovers and Newcastle meet Bradford City, with both Premier League sides holding overwhelming advantages in these ties.

The relatively easier draws in this year’s Round 3 could allow big clubs to experiment with lineups and give chances to young and reserve players. However, Carabao Cup history shows there have been shocks when lower-tier teams play with determination, so complacency could cost giants dearly, as happened to Manchester United in Round 2.

Nonetheless, given the current strength, most experts predict Round 3 of the 2025/26 Carabao Cup will see dominance from the top Premier League clubs, resulting in a round with few surprises but promising excitement for later stages when the big names face each other.