Carling Cup

Back to Football

The Carling Cup is the English football’s League Cup. Unlike the FA Cup, only the 92 clubs of the FA Premier League and The Football League may enter. The winners of the competition qualify for the UEFA Cup if they have not qualified in any other way. If the winner of the competition qualifies for the Champions League, the UEFA Cup spot is given to the seventh-placed team in the Premier League.

Since 1982 when the League Cup has been named after its sponsor, it has taken on the following names; Milk Cup, Littlewoods Challenge Cup, Rumblelows Cup, Coca-Cola Cup, Worthington Cup and the current name, the Carling Cup. The Carling Cup is unusual in that most European League only offer a single knockout cup competition. The Carling Cup is a less prestigious cup than the FA Cup, because of the history and number of teams involved. Some of the larger Premiership teams use the competition to field lesser experienced players, also taking something away from the meaning of the ‘giant-killing’ so popular in the FA Cup.

Chelsea are the current Carling Cup holders, and Liverpool have won the Carling Cup the most times, lifting the cup seven times.

Fourth Round Draw

• Luton v Everton
• Portsmouth v Blackburn
• Chelsea v Leicester
• Sheff Utd v Arsenal
• Tottenham v Blackpool
• Bolton v Man City
• Coventry v West Ham
• Liverpool v Cardiff.