The Carabao Cup, also known as the League Cup or EFL Cup, is the first major trophy awarded in the English football season and one of three major domestic titles in England alongside the Premier League and FA Cup.
In addition to silverware, the winner is also guaranteed a playoff round berth in the following season's Europa Conference League, one of Europe's top three club competitions.
We're at the semi-final stage of the 2021-22 Carabao Cup with the respective ties happening across early January.
Manchester City is the current holder of the trophy, having won it in four straight seasons and six of the past eight. But the Citizens will be handing off the silverware after suffering elimination in the Round of 16 to West Ham.
A total of 92 clubs from the top four divisions in English football compete for the Carabao Cup: Premier League (20 teams), Championship (22), League One (24) and League Two (24).
Carabao Cup semi-final match details and how to watch
| Date (AEDT) | Time (AEDT) | Match | Stadium | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Jan 6 | 6.45am | Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham | Stamford Bridge | beIN Sports/Kayo |
| Thu Jan 13 | 6.45am | Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | beIN Sports/Kayo |
| Fri Jan 14 | 6.45am | Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal | Anfield | beIN Sports/Kayo |
| Fri Jan 21 | 6.45am | Arsenal v Liverpool | Emirates Stadium | beIN Sports/Kayo |
Only four clubs remain in the search for early silverware this season and they all come from the Premier League.
All four side have work to do in the top-flight with Manchester City currently 11 points clear in the title race.
They therefore won't take the Carabao Cup lightly as they look to pick up at least one trophy this season.
How to watch the Carabao Cup in Australia
The Carabao Cup rights are held by beIN Sports in Australia.
The service can be accessed directly through a beIN Sports Connect subscription which costs $19.99 a month or $179.99 for a year with a free 14-day trial available for new users.
BeIN Sports can also be viewed via streaming service Kayo with subscriptions starting at $20 a month and free 14-day trials also available.
Why is it called the Carabao Cup?
Carabao is an energy drink produced in Thailand and distributed worldwide, and it became the competition's title sponsor beginning with the 2017-18 edition.
Since the tournament's inception, it was popularly known as the League Cup because it involved all the teams that played in the English football leagues. That explains the "EFL Cup" moniker that's also often used, with EFL standing for 'English Football League.'