The Carabao Cup represents the first silverware of the English football season, providing clubs with a chance to gain early season honours and momentum for the remainder of the campaign.
Liverpool are the current holders after beating Chelsea on penalties last season, winning a record ninth League Cup at Wembley. Despite accusations that the Premier League’s biggest clubs often place the trophy down their list of priorities, it has been won by one of the division’s ‘big six’ in each of the last nine campaigns.
So for those of you who like to follow the latest soccer odds, we’ve decided to look at who the bookies rank as the five favourites to win the Carabao Cup.
Manchester United – 14/1
Manchester United will be looking to end a run of five seasons without silverware in 2022/23, the club’s longest barren run without a trophy since the 1970s.
Erik ten Hag’s arrival has brought cautious optimism to the Red Devils, with the Dutchman having won a series of accolades – including three Eredivisie titles – during his time at Ajax.
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United crashed out in the competition’s third round last season, having been beaten 1-0 by West Ham at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils will hope for an improved performance this season as the club look to win the EFL Cup for the first time since 2017.
Interestingly, ambitious Newcastle – without a major trophy since 1955 – are also priced at 14/1, ahead of Arsenal (16/1).
Tottenham – 12/1
Tottenham are another side looking to end a long wait for silverware this season, having not lifted a major trophy since EFL Cup success in 2008.
Antonio Conte has made clear his demands for a team capable of challenging for major trophies and has been backed during his first summer in charge, with the new additions in north London including the arrivals of Richarlison and Yves Bissouma.
Conte won the Premier League and FA Cup during a previous spell at Chelsea and success in this season’s EFL Cup could complete the English football set for the Italian.
He will want to see progress from Spurs on all fronts, if the club are to retain the services of a manager with grand ambitions of winning trophies.
Chelsea – 10/1
Chelsea narrowly missed out on success in the domestic cups last season, having been beaten on penalties in both the EFL and FA Cup finals in 2021/22.
The west Londoners have now contested five of the last eight domestic cup finals in English football, but have finished on the losing side on each occasion and will want to address that wretched recent record.
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— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 7, 2022
Chelsea’s new ownership are keen to back Thomas Tuchel in the transfer market this summer and reinforcements are required following the exits of Romelu Lukaku, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
Raheem Sterling – a four-time winner of the EFL Cup – will increase the club’s goal threat as he nears a move from Manchester City.
Liverpool – 8/1
Liverpool will enter the EFL Cup as holders this season, having beaten Chelsea in last season’s final to win the competition for a record ninth time.
The win was Jurgen Klopp’s first in the domestic cups since arriving into English football, with the Reds later completing an EFL and FA Cup double.
Liverpool contested every available fixture last season after also reaching the Champions League final, a demonstration of the club’s depth and desire to compete on all fronts.
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— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) February 27, 2022
Teenage arrivals Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay will hope for minutes in this season’s competition, while headline signing Darwin Nunez has increased the depth and firepower at Klopp’s disposal.
Manchester City – 3/1
Manchester City saw their dominance of the EFL Cup come to an end last season, but will begin the new campaign as favourites to win a record-equalling ninth trophy.
City won four consecutive EFL Cups before last season’s fourth round exit to West Ham, while the Premier League champions have won six of the last nine editions of the tournament.
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— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 10, 2022
Pep Guardiola has strengthened his squad significantly with the arrivals of Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez and Kalvin Phillips, with City geared up for another assault on all four major trophies in 2022/23.
In possession of arguably the strongest squad in European football, Guardiola has all the tools to challenge for multiple honours this season.
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