EFL Cup Second Round Brings Premier League and Lower-League Clashes Today
Crewe travels to Oakwell to face Barnsley on August 25, 2026, headlining the second round of the EFL Cup, also known as the Carabao Cup. English football clubs and travelling supporters prepare for high-stakes knockout fixtures as Southampton meets West Ham and Brentford plays Birmingham City.
Squad Depletions and Broadcaster Lineups Shape Tuesday Fixtures
Barnsley enters the Oakwell match following a penalty shootout victory over Wigan in the first round, where Cameron McGeehan scored the regulation equalizer before a 6-5 penalty finish. League Two side Crewe arrives after defeating Accrington Stanley 2-1, secured by a late goal from Luca Moore following an earlier penalty conversion by Jack Lankester.
Meanwhile, Southampton hosts West Ham at St Mary’s Stadium without several key players. Taylor Harwood-Bellis remains outside the squad amid transfer speculation involving Aston Villa, while goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu and fullback Mads Roerslev are ruled out with injuries. West Ham travels south missing Tomáš Souček due to an ankle ligament injury suffered during the 2026 World Cup. Edson Álvarez, El Hadji Malick Diouf, and Soungoutou Magassa are also absent from the West Ham squad, though Alphonse Areola, new signing Joël Veltman, and Jarrod Bowen are expected to feature following a recent league defeat to Charlton Athletic.
Brentford travels to St. Andrew’s Stadium to play Birmingham City after defeating Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 in the Premier League behind goals from Keane Lewis-Potter, Vitaly Janelt, and Michael Kayode. The fixture marks Brentford’s opening match of the tournament after advancing straight to the second round as a Premier League side. International broadcasters and streaming platforms, including DAZN Sport channels and Fubo, provide live coverage for viewers tracking the tournament outside the United Kingdom.
