Carabao Cup: Teams in Europe given two-goal head start in third-round ties

They need all the help they can get

By / Football News / 3 weeks ago

The EFL has announced that six of the Premier League teams competing in European competitions this season will be given a two-goal head start in their third round Carabao Cup ties.

A revamped draw for the third round made its debut on Wednesday night which saw the teams involved in the Champions League and the Europa League placed in a separate pot to avoid playing each other.

However, the EFL thought the bias shown towards the six clubs did not go far enough and introduced a host of new rules today to ensure their progress to the latter stages of the competition.

‘Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool and Aston Villa will be given a two-goal head start in their third round ties’, a spokesperson on behalf of the EFL told Paddy Power News.

‘Furthermore, their opponents will only be able to field seven players and opposition goalkeepers must have one arm tied behind their backs at all times.

‘If the scores are level at the end of 90 minutes, a penalty shootout will determine the outcome of the contest. At which point the opposition goalkeepers must tie the other arm behind his back.

‘These new rules, whilst completely undermining the integrity of the competition, will ensure the biggest clubs meet in the final rounds because, well, money’.

Despite this, Liverpool have released a statement after what they described as an ‘unacceptable’ home draw against fellow Premier League side West Ham and called for a ‘review with full transparency’.

The Merseyside club said they will ‘explore the range of options available given the clear need for escalation and resolution’.

Meanwhile, Manchester City have lodged an appeal after they somehow managed to avoid a home draw with Barrow.

A City source told Paddy Power News that their lawyers are looking into the matter.

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