Carabao Cup second-round draw: Chelsea host Luton, Forest at home to Leeds

Premier League sides enter the fray in round two as clubs aim to make next March’s showpiece for the trophy. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Carabao Cup second-round draw: Chelsea host Luton, Forest at home to Leeds

Five-time winners Chelsea have been handed a home draw against League One Luton in the second round of the Carabao Cup. Chelsea’s new manager, Xabi Alonso, will begin the club’s attempt to win the competition for the first time since 2015 later this month.

Fellow Premier League side Tottenham have also benefited from a home draw, against Championship opponents Charlton. The 11 top-tier sides not involved in European competition enter the draw in the second round, with the remaining nine following in round three.

Fulham host League One AFC Wimbledon, Brentford have a potentially tricky away day at second-tier Birmingham while Ipswich host Leicester. Also in the southern section West Ham, who beat Portsmouth in Saturday’s first round, travel to Championship side Southampton.

Carabao Cup second-round draw

Blackburn v Sheffield United

Nottingham Forest v Leeds

Doncaster v Middlesbrough

Sheffield Wednesday v Wolves

Watford v Peterborough Utd

Ties are scheduled to be played the week commencing 24 August.

In the northern section, the headline fixture features last season’s Europa League semi-finalists Nottingham Forest hosting fellow top-flight opposition in Leeds.

The new Newcastle head coach, Matthias Jaissle, has been given a home draw against West Brom while the Everton manager, David Moyes, will return to Preston, where he was a player and manager. Premier League newcomers Hull travel to Stoke.

Plymouth will host Coventry, who won the Championship title last season, after stoppage-time goals from Alex Hartridge and Bim Pepple gave them a 2-0 win over Devon rivals Exeter.

Ties are scheduled to be played in the week commencing 24 August. The 2026-27 final is on 21 March at Wembley.