Manchester United to visit Grimsby Town in Carabao Cup second round

Manchester United were handed a blockbuster in the Carabao Cup second round as they were drawn to travel to League Two outsiders Grimsby Town, with the tie set to take place in the week commencing 25 August. The early draw, which regionalises the competition through the second round, also produced a trio of high-profile Premier League clashes and a number of ties that pitted top-flight clubs against lower-league opposition. Grimsby’s meeting with United sits alongside all-Premier League duels such as Bournemouth vs Brentford and Wolves hosting West Ham, while Everton will welcome Mansfield Town to their new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The draw marks the return of Manchester United to competitive action in the cup at this stage because they are among the 11 Premier League clubs not involved in European competition this season. As a result, United enter at the second round, alongside other non-European league clubs, with the remaining teams still involved in European campaigns entering at the third round. The competition remains regionalised in the early rounds, split into Northern and Southern sections, before a combined third round broadens the field.