(Football news) It’s that time of the season when academy and reserve team players of the big Premier League teams finally get an opportunity to showcase their skills once the third round of the Carabao Cup finally gets underway. With the Premier League and Champions League to look forward to, the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea will give some much needed rest to their key players.
Manchester City vs Wycombe Wanderers
Defending champions Manchester City, who have won the Carabao Cup a record 8 times will face Wycombe Wanderers in their opening match. Pep Guardiola has already confirmed that his side will be heavily rotated, featuring many academy and reserve players as Aymeric Laporte, John Stones, Rodri, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ilkay Gundogan are injured. City will also rest the likes of Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo, who have played every minute this season, so that he has a fresh squad travelling to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, with a match against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League one week from now and then Liverpool after that.
Fulham vs Leeds United
Premier League side Leeds United will travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham, who will be without Fabio Carvalho yet again as he recuperates from a toe injury. Marco Silva is expected to give a chance to Jay Stansfield, Michael Hector and Alfie Mawson while Kenny Tete (hamstring) and Tom Cairney (knee) remain on the sidelines with long term injuries.
For Marcelo Bielsa, former Manchester United winger Daniel James is expected to start while teenager Crysencio Summerville might feature in the clash. With a mounting list of injuries comprising Robin Koch, Diego Llorente, Jack Harrison, Luke Ayling and Raphinha along with a suspension for Pascal Struijk, a heavily changed starting XI is expected for the Premier League side.
QPR vs Everton
Long term absentee Luke Amos could make his much awaited return for Queens Park Rangers against Everton in the Carabao Cup after the 24 year old suffered a cruciate ligament injury last year. Despite back to back defeats to Bournemouth and Bristol City, QPR boss Mark Warburton has reassured fans to not lose belief but is expected to make some changes as the side will be travelling to West Brom on Friday night.
Everton have just endured a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa and manager Rafael Benitez is expected to make changes. Jordan Pickford has suffered a shoulder injury while Richarlison sustained a knee problem and Seamus Coleman damaged a hamstring in training, which means the likes of Jonjoe Kenny, Tom Davies, Andre Gomes, Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite are expected to feature against Queens Park Rangers.
