Carabao Cup third round draw: Millwall to face Newcastle United as EFL sides eye upsets

Millwall have been handed a mouth-watering home tie against Premier League side Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup third round.

The Lions are one of several EFL clubs to have landed top-flight opposition after the draw was made on Wednesday night.

A special format was used for the third round, with European commitments affecting how the 32 teams were paired.

The eight Premier League sides competing in Europe – with Brighton excluded as their potential European fixtures do not clash with the third-round schedule – were drawn first and could not face one another.

For exclusive stories and all the detailed EFL news you need, subscribe to The Football League Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.

EFL sides eye upsets

Millwall will welcome Newcastle to The Den whilst Fleetwood Town, the only League Two side remaining in the competition, will welcome Sheffield United.

Middlesbrough face a trip to Crystal Palace, Norwich City will travel to holders Manchester City and Lincoln City take on Bournemouth.

Reading will host Brentford, while West Ham United face either Fulham or AFC Wimbledon, who round off the second-round action on Thursday night.

Luton Town, who also face Chelsea tonight, could face Leeds United should they cause an upset.

Peterborough United, who thrashed Watford 5-1 at Vicarage Road in the second round, will host Barnsley in an all-League One tie.

Leyton Orient will also face League One opposition when Bradford City travel to Brisbane Road, guaranteeing at least two third-tier clubs a place in the last 16.

The third-round ties will be played across the weeks commencing Monday, September 7 and Monday, September 14.

This is in order to avoid clashes with the opening rounds of European competition.

Nine Premier League clubs competing in Europe – including Brighton, who are attempting to qualify for the UEFA Conference League – enter the competition at this stage.

The draw in full

• Crystal Palace v Middlesbrough
• Manchester United v Brighton
• Manchester City v Norwich
• Sunderland v Hull
• Ipswich v Arsenal
• Coventry v Aston Villa
• Bournemouth v Lincoln
• Liverpool v Tottenham
• Chelsea or Luton v Leeds
• Millwall v Newcastle
• Fleetwood v Sheffield United
• Everton v Wolves
• Leyton Orient v Bradford
• Reading v Brentford
• Peterborough v Barnsley
• West Ham v Fulham or AFC Wimbledon

READ MORE: When is the Carabao Cup third-round draw and how will it work?