Carabao Cup third round draw simulated as Arsenal given crunch derby and Liverpool face League One test

Ahead of Wednesday evening's Carabao Cup third round draw, we've done our own simulation to see what the fixture brackets could look like.

The draw is unique in that the eight teams competing in this season's Champions League and Europa League - Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Sunderland - are all placed in a separate pot to the other clubs.

The reason for this, the EFL's website states, is because the round three fixtures are scheduled across the same two weeks as the opening Champions League and Europa League fixtures, with the method of the draw enabling teams to play their Carabao Cup fixtures on alternate weeks to their European schedules.

It means that, when the draw takes place following Wednesday's second round fixture between Preston North End and Everton, the eight matches involving those aforementioned clubs - who cannot face each other - are drawn out first before the remainder of the draw then takes place.

Unlike in the first and second rounds, there are no North/South seeding restrictions.

Carabao Cup third round draw simulated

Our simulation drew out a potential north London derby clash for hosts Arsenal - if Spurs can get past in-form Championship side Charlton Athletic on Wednesday evening.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are drawn against League One side Peterborough after their 6-1 thrashing of Watford at Vicarage Road on Tuesday.

Manchester City face the winners of Chelsea versus Luton, while Manchester United take on either Bradford City or Burnley.

Leeds, Brighton, Bournemouth, Hull, Brentford and Ipswich all face Championship opposition, while Crystal Palace face League Two opposition in Fleetwood Town.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, take on Barnsley of League One, with Sunderland - who will play Europa League football this season - up against another third-tier side in Reading.

The final match of the second round sees Championship side Preston North End take on Everton, with the winner of that clash at Deepdale taking on Coventry City in our third round simulation.

Full Carabao Cup third round draw simulated

* = Pot 1

Arsenal* vs Tottenham Hotspur/Charlton Athletic

Aston Villa* vs Barnsley

Bournemouth* vs Lincoln City

Crystal Palace* vs Fleetwood

Liverpool* vs Peterborough

Manchester City* vs Chelsea/Luton Town

Manchester United* vs Bradford City/Burnley

Sunderland* vs Reading

Preston North End/Everton vs Coventry City

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Norwich City

Fulham/AFC Wimbledon vs Leyton Orient

Millwall vs Ipswich Town

West Ham United vs Brentford

Sheffield United vs Hull City

Leeds United vs Newcastle United/West Bromwich Albion

Middlesbrough vs Brighton and Hove Albion