Manchester United and Tottenham are the only two non-Champions League clubs who are guaranteed not to face one of last season's top-four in the third round of the Carabao Cup next month.
A revamped draw format will see the Champions League qualifiers placed in 'Bowl 1' alongside United and Spurs, who will both compete in the Europa League this campaign. The 26 other teams involved in Wednesday's draw will be drawn from 'Bowl 2'.
Given that all six of the teams in Bowl 1 will be drawn against sides from Bowl 2, The Red Devils and Tottenham already know that they will avoid the main heavy-hitters.
Chelsea, who finished two places above United last season but ended up in the Europa Conference League, are at risk of drawing a top side. United leapfrogged Chelsea into the Europa League by winning the FA Cup in May.
Tottenham qualified by virtue of their fifth-place Premier League finish in Ange Postecoglou's first season at the helm.
On Wednesday, ahead of Newcastle United's Carabao Cup second-round clash with Nottingham Forest, a pre-draw will take place to determine whether each of the six teams in Bowl 1 will play home or away in the third round. The main draw will take place after the match as those same six sides, with their home or away status already determined, will come up against a team from Bowl 2.
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The remaining 10 fixtures will all see one Bowl 2 club pitted against another. A congested European fixture list has forced Carabao Cup organisers to split the third round into two midweeks this season. Due to United and Spurs' Europa League status, their games will take place in the week commencing September 16. Another round of fixtures will be played in the week commencing September 23.
The Red Devils ended a six-year wait for silverware and clinched Erik ten Hag's first trophy as manager in 2023 by beating Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final.
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The Magpies took their revenge last season by thrashing United 3-0 at Old Trafford in the round of 16.
Tottenham's most recent trophy win came in the 2008 Carabao Cup under Juande Ramos. The north Londoners have since reached the final three times without adding to their cabinet due to defeats against United in 2008, Chelsea in 2015 and Manchester City in 2021.