2024/25 EFL Cup Betting Odds & Lines - Bet on Carabao Cup (League Cup) Online
The EFL Cup, also known as the League Cup or Carabao Cup, is one of the main domestic trophies in English football. Teams from across England and Wales can take part in the League Cup for a chance of glory, and you can bet on all the soccer matches here at Stake Sportsbook.
What is the Carabao Cup (EFL Cup)?
The Carabao Cup is an English soccer tournament open to all teams in the English Football League (EFL), including those in League Two, League One, the Championship, and the Premier League. While it doesn’t share the same prestige as the FA Cup, it’s still a prized trophy for teams across the top four divisions of English football, with all ninety-two clubs involved. Additionally, winning the League Cup opens up qualification for the UEFA Conference League and European competitions.
History of the EFL Cup
The League Cup was first formed due to disputes between the Football Association (FA) and the EFL over revenue sharing. League attendances were dwindling, and clubs wanted to add evening weekday fixtures after fitting pitches with floodlights in the 1950s.
The League Cup was introduced for the 1960-61 season, with Aston Villa lifting the trophy for the first time. Since then, it’s been played annually for every season alongside tournaments such as the EFL Trophy and FA Cup. From 1967-68 onwards, winners have qualified for one of the levels of European competition.
2023/24 EFL Cup Results
The latest edition of the League Cup was won by Liverpool, who defeated Chelsea in the final to cement their status as the most successful club in the competition. Liverpool lifted the League Cup for the tenth time, having gone ahead thanks to a winner scored by Virgil van Dijk in extra time.
When is the 2024/25 EFL Cup?
First round - 13 August 2024 - All clubs from League One and League Two, as well as twenty-two clubs from the Championship.
Second round - 26 August - Two remaining Championship clubs plus thirteen clubs from the Premier League which aren’t playing in Europe join the tournament.
Third round - 16 September - The remaining seven Premier League clubs are added to the competition.
Fourth round – 28 October - Sixteen winners from the third round.
Quarter-finals – 16 December.
Semi-finals – 6 January 2025 and 3 February 2025 – Two-legged fixtures.
Final – 16 March 2025 – Held at Wembley Stadium.
Which Team Play in the EFL Cup?
Some of the most successful clubs to play in the EFL Cup include:
Liverpool – Ten titles
Manchester City – Eight titles
Manchester United – Six titles
Chelsea – Five titles
Aston Villa – Five titles
Tottenham Hotspur – Four titles
Nottingham Forest – Four titles
Format & Schedule of the Carabao Cup 2024/25
The Carabao Cup is split into seven rounds, with the first three rounds organised so that the top clubs have to play fewer games. All of the rounds up to the semi-finals are played as single knockout games, with the winner progressing to the next stage in the competition.
Teams playing in European competitions such as the Europa League and Champions League get a bye to the third round, while the remaining Premier League teams play their first League Cup games in the second round.
The semi-finals are played over two legs, with the aggregate score used to determine the winner. If scores are level, the tie is decided on a penalty shootout. The final is a single match played at Wembley, with extra time and then penalties following if the scores are level after 90 minutes.
How to Bet on the EFL Cup & Soccer/Football Bet Types
There are lots of different soccer betting types to choose from, with our EFL games featuring more than seventy pre-live markets. Some of the most popular options include:
Both pre-live and live betting markets are available on all EFL soccer matches at Stake. To bet on a game live, simply log into your account when the match is being played and place your bets as normal. The odds and markets available will change depending on what’s happening on the pitch, and you can use the live stats and live streams to make informed betting decisions.
EFL Cup Betting Odds & Payouts
Decimal – To calculate your payout from decimal betting odds, all you have to do is multiply your stake by the odds. The result is how much you’ll win back, including your original stake. For example, if you bet $10 on odds of 4.5 and win, you’ll receive $45. That’s $35 profit plus your $10 stake.
Fractional – Work out your potential payout by multiplying your stake by the first number in the fraction and then dividing the answer by the second number. This reveals how much profit you’d make from a winning bet. So if you bet $10 at 1/2 and win, you’d make $5.
American – If the odds have a minus symbol in front, the number is how much you’d need to bet to make a profit of $100. If the odds are displayed with a plus symbol, they show you how much you’d potentially win from a $100 bet.
Don’t just bet on the biggest team – While the top teams will often win the tournament, many big teams go out in the earlier rounds due to fielding weaker sides. Teams that are competing in multiple competitions won’t usually prioritise the Carabao Cup, using it as an opportunity to rest key players.
Northwest dominance – Interestingly enough, since 2016, the League Cup has only been won by clubs in the Northwest of England. Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are the only recent winners, with Chelsea winning in 2015. The last club outside of the “Big Six” to win was Swansea in 2013.
Make the most of all the stats available – Research is crucial when betting on sports and there’s no shortage of data when it comes to football. Make sure you check all available stats, including team news, fixture lists, current form and more, before making your bets.
Bet Bonuses & Responsible Gambling Online
Aside from all the great odds on soccer, there are plenty of other great reasons to join Stake. We have some excellent sports betting promotions for you to enjoy, including our VIP Club, which offers regular rewards and your very own VIP host. While they help make betting on soccer more fun, always ensure you’re betting responsibly. Follow our Stake Smart guidelines to help you stay within your limits.
