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Carabao Cup first round draw in full as Leeds and Leicester find out opponents
Carabao Cup first round draw in full as Leeds and Leicester find out opponents,The first round of the Carabao Cup has been drawn as ex-Premier League sides Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton have learned their opponents after finding themselves in unfamiliar territory

Carabao Cup first round draw in full as Leeds and Leicester find out opponents

Leeds United, Leicester City and Southampton have all discovered their opponents in the first round of the Carabao Cup after the draw was made on Thursday afternoon.

The trio, who found out the shape of their league campaign in the morning, all face tricky ties in the first round, which takes place during the week commencing 7 August. Leeds will welcome Shrewsbury Town to Elland Road, Leicester visit fellow Midlands side Burton Albion, while the Saints will square off with League Two team Gillingham.

All 72 EFL clubs found out their opponents – including Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham. They will host former FA Cup winners Wigan at the Racecourse Ground.

As per usual, the draw was split into a northern and southern section to keep travel costs down. The 12 Premier League sides without any European football next season will then join in the second round, before the big boys enter the hat in the third round.

READ MORE: EFL fixtures released as Leicester, Leeds and Wrexham find out 2023/24 opponents

Manchester United will be hoping to defend the only piece of silverware they claimed last season. While Manchester City will be looking to right the only wrong of their Treble winning season.

Southampton knocked City out of the Carabao Cup, before they were dumped out themselves by United in the semi-finals. If they are to repeat their cup heroics, Saints will have to do it the long way – when they face Gillingham in the first round.

Who do you think will win the Carabao Cup? Let us know in the comments section

Harry Maguire of Manchester United celebrates with the trophy among team mates during the Carabao Cup Final match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on February 26, 2023 in London, England.
Manchester United are the defending champions (Image: Getty Images)

There were some big draws in the southern section – with QPR and Norwich pulling each other out of the hat.

Leyton Orient pulled the short straw, and they will face the long journey down to Plymouth. While in the northern section, Notts County's return to the competition will see them welcome Lincoln City – who thrilled fans with an FA Cup run in recent years.

The Carabao Cup draw has concluded
The Carabao Cup draw has concluded

Carabao Cup draw in full:

South

Plymouth Argyle v Leyton Orient

Forest Green Rovers v Portsmouth

Swansea City v Northampton Town

Exeter City v Crawley Town

Ipswich Town v Bristol Rovers

Newport County v Charlton Athletic

Stevenage v Watford

Cheltenham Town v Birmingham City

Sutton United v Cambridge United

MK Dons v Wycombe Wanderers

Millwall v Reading

AFC Wimbledon v Coventry City

Bristol City v Oxford United

Gillingham v Southampton

QPR v Norwich City

Peterborough v Swindon Town

Cardiff City v Colchester

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Jamie Vardy of Leicester City celebrates with Caglar Soyuncu of Leicester City and Youri Tielemans of Leicester City
Leicester City will visit Burton Albion (Image: Leicester City FC via Getty Images)

North

Notts County v Lincoln

Bolton Wanderers v Barrow

Hull City v Doncaster Rovers

Mansfield Town v Grimsby Town

Stoke City v West Brom

Sheffield Wednesday v Stockport

Leeds United v Shrewsbury Town

Preston North End v Salford

Rotherham United v Morecambe

Harrogate Town v Carlisle

Burton Albion v Leicester City

Accrington Stanley v Bradford City

Derby County v Blackpool

Port Vale v Fleetwood Town

Barnsley v Tranmere

Blackburn Rovers v Walsall

Huddersfield v Middlesbrough

Wrexham v Wigan Athletic

Sunderland v Crewe Alexandra