The 63rd edition of the League Cup, England’s swiftest route to silverware with a bonus European place, begins for Chelsea in a delayed round three tie this evening at Manchester City. Both clubs are hoping to reach the final for the 10th time.

The Londoners have not claimed victory on the domestic front for four games, and any success against Pep Guardiola’s in-form outfit would boost confidence ahead of the weekend visit to Newcastle, the Blues’ final league fixture until Boxing Day.

• Potter on the importance of the Carabao Cup

• Pat Nevin on the benefits of taking a breath

• No doubt about Sterling's quality

Round four fixtures in the Carabao Cup will be played a few days before Christmas (when some World Cup stars may still be absent) and for those teams who make it through round three, the draw will take place after tomorrow night’s televised clash between Manchester United and Aston Villa.

Chelsea, London’s first and most recent claimants of this midweek trophy (1964/65 and 2014/15), were runners-up to Liverpool last season, losing after a penalty shoot-out. The 2018/19 Carabao Cup final played between tonight’s combatants had a similar outcome, sealed by Man City’s Raheem Sterling, now wearing the famous royal blue.

Chelsea team news

After another disappointing league result, Graham Potter has reiterated plenty of work needs to be done before the team functions as he would like, and his depleted squad faces another stern test at the Etihad.

Saturday evening at Newcastle is when Chelsea will be in action for the final time before the World Cup, so the head coach – rated one of the best English managers by his opposite number Pep Guardiola – can field a side balancing experience with the need to manage workloads and aspirations.

If he features, Raheem Sterling will face Man City as an opponent for the first time since March 2015, when he set up both Liverpool goals in a 2-1 victory. He has scored once in five previous meetings with the Citizens.

Edou Mendy, looking for his 50th clean sheet, seems certain to continue in goal as Kepa Arrizabalaga is out, while Kalidou Koulibaly should step into the fray after sitting out the weekend. With Jorginho also now a doubt, Mateo Kovacic looks set to become the 29th overseas player to reach 200 appearances for the club.

Although the unfortunate Carney Chukwuemeka has also been on the Blues’ extensive injury list, fellow teenagers Lewis Hall (a versatile midfielder/wing-back on the bench against Arsenal) and dynamic attacking midfielder Omari Hutchinson, impressive while training with the men’s first team, are in the squad tonight.

Armando Broja, Conor Gallagher, Christian Pulisic, Denis Zakaria and Hakim Ziyech are among those who would like to see more minutes under the floodlights this evening.

Chelsea’s recent record in the League Cup

2021/22 Runners-up
2020/21 Round 4
2019/20 Round 4
2018/19 Runners-up
2017/18 Semi-finalists
2016/17 Round 4

Haaland a handful

The suggestion is that Manchester City will be close to full strength at the Etihad this evening, but their 12.30pm Saturday kick-off will surely factor into Pep Guardiola’s plans. The City coach confirmed summer signing from Leeds Kalvin Phillips will return to the squad for the first time since September.

Naturally much of the focus will be on the involvement of Erling Haaland. The Blues’ coaches could look to Liverpool and Champions League Round of 16 opponents Borussia Dortmund for tips as to how to thwart the Norwegian. However, as only two clubs have conceded more shots from the striker than the Reds in their 1-0 league win, their tactic of limiting the supply line to Haaland with deeper-lying central midfielders cannot be considered wholly effective.

Dortmund’s plans, including a screen of three defensive midfielders and right-footed former Chelsea winger Thorgan Hazard on the left of a back-four, restricted the City striker to 13 touches of the ball before his substitution at the break. It also probably helped that chief assister and onetime Blues midfielder Kevin De Bruyne played no part that evening.

Similar to Chelsea, both the Citizens’ first-choice full-backs are unavailable. Kyle Walker is recovering from injury and Joao Cancelo is suspended for following his penalty concession and straight red at home to Fulham.

Carabao Cup 2022/23

The 2021/22 final between Chelsea and Liverpool produced a record viewing figure for the match on Sky Sports’ platform of four million, and this clash with Man City is the pick of round three.

This season’s competition is affected by the timing of the World Cup, starting with the entrance of many Premier League clubs delayed from September until now. The fourth round comes immediately after the World Cup final, just before Christmas. Quarter-finals have been bumped back to January and two-legged semi-finals have returned, but the final is in its usual spot in the football calendar.

The VAR system will not operate in any Carabao Cup game until the semi-final stage. Each side may make five substitutions and if the scores are tied after 90 minutes plus stoppages, the tie will be decided by penalty kicks. The Blues lost both domestic cup finals last season after a shoot-out. Yellow cards count only in the competition they are received, two meaning a one-match-suspension up to the quarter-finals.

Carabao Cup round dates

Tue 8/Wed 9 November - round three
Tue 20/Wed 21 December - round four
Tue 10/Wed 11 January - quarter-final
Wed 25 January - semi-final first leg
Tue 1 February - semi-final second leg
Sun 26 February - final

NB. All fixtures except final may be moved for live TV.

We have League Cup history

This is only the fourth time the two sides have met in this competition. Most recently Man City won a goalless final at Wembley in February 2019 by beating Chelsea after a penalty shoot-out in which Raheem Sterling’s spot-kick proved decisive.

A late David White tap-in was enough to jolt Glenn Hoddle’s Blues out of the then Coca Cola Cup in round three at Maine Road in October 1993.

Our first League Cup encounter, a 4-1 win for the Londoners at the Bridge on 21 November 1984, was memorable for a rapid Kerry Dixon hat-trick that took his tally to 17 in 13 games. That win set up the legendary three-match Milk Cup quarter-final with Sheffield Wednesday.

Women’s derby at the Bridge

Not all Blues teams will take a winter break from next weekend. Chelsea Women, still beating all comers despite Emma Hayes’ touchline absence, will keep the blue flag flying high throughout the coming weeks.

Their Sunday 20 November clash with derby rivals Tottenham will be played at Stamford Bridge and tickets, priced at £10 (£2 concessions), can be bought here

Carabao Cup round three (involving Premier League clubs)

Carabao Cup results Tuesday 8 November

• Bournemouth 4 Everton 1

• Brentford 1 Gillingham 1 (Gillingham win 6-5 on pens)

• Leicester 3 Newport 0

Carabao Cup fixtures Wednesday 9 November

• Arsenal v Brighton 7.45pm

• Liverpool v Derby 8pm

• Manchester City v Chelsea 8pm (Sky Sports)

• Newcastle v Crystal Palace 7.45pm

• Nottingham Forest v Tottenham 7.45pm

• Southampton v Sheffield Wednesday 7.45pm

• West Ham v Blackburn 7.45pm

• Wolves v Leeds 7.45pm
  

Carabao Cup fixtures Thursday 10 November

• Manchester United v Aston Villa 8pm (Sky Sports)