Manchester United’s search for a first victory in the 2025/26 season takes them to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Ruben Amorim is expected to make multiple changes to the side that drew 1-1 at Fulham on Sunday, seven days on from a narrow 1-0 loss to Arsenal on the Premier League’s opening weekend.
Nevertheless, United are obviously heavy favourites to beat their League Two opponents, who overcame Shrewsbury 3-1 in the first round.
It is the first time in more than a decade that United are taking part in round two of the Carabao Cup, with fellow Premier League heavyweights Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham among those clubs who will get their campaigns underway in round three.
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Why are Man United playing in the Carabao Cup second round?
United are in the second round of the Carabao Cup because they failed to qualify for the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League last season.
The nine Premier League teams taking part in UEFA competitions — the five mentioned above, plus Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and FA Cup winner Crystal Palace — enter in round three.
There are a total of 46 teams in round two, with the draw split into a northern section of 12 ties and a southern section of 11. The winners from these matches will progress to a third round that will feature 32 teams once the remaining Premier League clubs enter. Grimsby are one of just five remaining League Two clubs, with 30 teams in round two coming from the Championship and League One combined.
All ties must be settled on the night and if games are level after 90 minutes, they will go straight to penalties. There is no extra time in the Carabao Cup until the semifinal stage.
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When were Man United last in the Carabao Cup second round
Even in their years of decline since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, seasons where United are not in Europe are rare. United’s previous game at this stage of the competition came at MK Dons in 2014 after David Moyes’ ill-fated season at the helm ended with a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League in 2013/14.
That game offers a grim warning to Amorim and his players. On August 26, 2014, at Stadium MK, Louis van Gaal’s much-changed United lost 4-0 as Will Grigg and Benik Afobe scored twice.
United have qualified for Europe every season since. That would not have been the case in 2023/24 had Erik ten Hag’s Reds not won the FA Cup after finishing eighth. There was no bailout last term, as United came a lowly 15th and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham.
Premier League teams playing in Europe have received a bye to the third round since 1996/97. At that stage, United were in the midst of a 24-season run of consecutive European finishes that ended under Moyes.
