This 7.45pm kick-off at Stamford Bridge is the Cumbrians’ third-ever tie at this stage of the League Cup and their first since the Sixties.

The current League Two leaders fell short on both previous occasions, losing 3-0 to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in October 1967 and 5-1 in a replay at Birmingham City in October 1962, after drawing 1-1 at Holker Street.

This is the first of four consecutive home outings at the Bridge for the Blues – which will take us up to October's international break – and provides an opportunity to record our second home win of the campaign.

Chelsea have an exemplary record against lower-league sides in this competition, beating AFC Wimbledon, Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough on the way to last season’s final. The Blues were eventually defeated by an extra-time goal for Liverpool at Wembley.

We have finished as runners-up in three of the past six seasons but have not won the League Cup since 2015 – our longest stretch since 1998.

Five-time winners, we have progressed to round four in all but one of the past 13 seasons. Our only defeat came against Manchester City in 2022.

Most League Cup wins

10 - Liverpool
8 - Manchester City
6 - Manchester United
5 - Aston Villa
5 - Chelsea

Chelsea team news

Head coach Enzo Maresca could ring the changes after Saturday’s impressive 3-0 victory at West Ham United, but progress is important and the Italian expected to pick a strong, albeit altered, side.

The League Cup has often been used to rebuild sharpness and confidence and for various reasons, plenty of the squad will be eager for minutes.

Conference League starter Filip Jorgensen – awaiting his domestic debut in goal – is in contention to start, and Maresca has hinted the likes of Josh Acheampong, Benoit Badiashile, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Tyrique George, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Mykhailo Mudryk will be involved in the squad.

Reece James remains unavailable but Malo Gusto is fit to start at right-back. It is hoped Romeo Lavia will be ready for the weekend visit of Brighton but Tuesday evening is too early for him.

The history

The two clubs have met only once in competitive action, and that came 76 years ago at Stamford Bridge in round three of the FA Cup.

Barrow were unbeaten in Division Three North going into the tie on 10 January 1948, but had their experienced keeper Alex Roxburgh not been in top form the result might even have touched double figures.

The then third-tier side had no answer to Chelsea’s little right-winger Bobby Campbell, who put the opening goal on a plate for midfielder Ken Armstrong, temporarily playing centre forward.

Campbell scored himself and had a hand in a further strike by Armstrong, as well as goals from Len Goulden and Jimmy Bowie. Four of the Blues’ five forwards found the net that day. The fifth, former Wrexham winger Tommy Jones, missed out after his penalty was saved by Roxburgh.

One of a handful of players who played for both sides, striker Tony Hateley became Chelsea’s £100,000 club-record signing in October 1966. He netted five times for Barrow 10 years later.

Know this...

Chelsea’s biggest-ever victory in this competition was a 7-0 triumph at Doncaster Rovers in round three on 16 November 1960.

The Blues are London’s first and latest winners of this competition, in 1965 and 2015.

The most recent lower-division side to knock the Londoners out of the League Cup were Championship Burnley, that occured in the fourth round at Stamford Bridge in 2008 (after extra time and penalties).

Chelsea’s last fourth-tier ‘giant-killers’ in this competition were Scarborough, who won 4-3 on aggregate over two legs in 1989. The Blues were joint-top of the league at the time.

As a midfielder at Tottenham Hotspur and Birmingham, current Barrow manager Stephen Clemence was winless in 12 games against the Blues, including eight defeats, during his playing career.

Watching Barrow’s 5-0 FA Cup loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 1948 was a crowd of 44,336, the largest-ever attendance at a Bluebirds match.

Carabao Cup regulations

We begin our 65th League Cup campaign in round three, which has been split over two weeks to accommodate UEFA competitions.

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system isn't in operation during this tie, which will be played to a finish on the night. Should the score be level after 90 minutes, the winner will be determined by penalties.

The draw for the Carabao Cup fourth round takes place live on Sky Sports after Wednesday night’s tie between Liverpool and West Ham, a 7.45pm kick-off.