Liverpool’s ‘Tasmanian Devil’, Man United’s U21 player of the year, Arsenal’s youngest ever debutant and Chelsea’s £17m signing who’s still yet to feature… the prospects to look out for in the Carabao Cup third round

• The Carabao Cup returns this week with big teams emerging in the third round 
• The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Man United are expected to field young stars 
• Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here

The Carabao Cup third round kicks off tonight and with it comes the big teams entering the competition for the first time this season. 

Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Premier League champions Man City all come into the fray and most of them are expected to hand opportunities to some young talent coming through the ranks as they look to rotate their teams.

There are some tired legs following the first six games of the season for top flight teams and the Carabao Cup has always been an opportunity for both fringe and upcoming players to show their worth. 

Teams like Arsenal have famously used the competition as a proving ground for their brightest academy stars to shine, while Jurgen Klopp is known to have fielded entire starting XIs full of young players in recent years.

Mail Sport takes a look through the youngsters you should be looking out for who have a chance of featuring for their clubs in the Carabao Cup third round. 

The Carabao Cup third round is set to feature a host of young talent hoping to shine 

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Deivid Washington – Chelsea

The Brazilian forward signed for the Blues for £17m this summer having joined from Santos, penning a seven-year deal – though the 18-year-old is yet to feature for the club.

In the last round of the Carabao Cup, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino used their 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon to give chances to plenty of youth players – meaning their young prospects will have high hopes of getting game time in the next round against Brighton at home. 

In the Wimbledon game, Pochettino started five youngsters – including Mason Burstow up front – but he has since joined Sunderland on loan. The Argentine is facing something of a crisis up front with new signing Christopher Nkunku already ruled out for the foreseeable future and Nicolas Jackson set to serve a suspension. 

Washington was on the bench for Chelsea’s 1-0 home loss by Villa but didn’t come on, and he should have a chance of playing some minutes at least against the Seagulls. 

Deivid Washington – who cost £17m this summer – is yet to feature for Chelsea

Ben Doak – Liverpool 

There is a lot of hype around Doak – and for good reason. The Scottish winger is only 17 and he is already being tipped for a bright future having signed for the Reds in a deal worth around £600,000 last year.

Manager Klopp called him a ‘special boy’, while club captain Virgil van Dijk dubbed him ‘the Tasmanian Devil’ – high praise for a player who hasn’t even had his 18th birthday and is already being tipped for big things. 

He signed a new long-term contract with the club last week and has already made six appearances for the first team – even playing in this competition last November in a clash against Derby County, coming on as a sub. 

He recently started Liverpool’s 3-1 Europa League win awat at LASK, playing 61 minutes before being subbed off for Dominik Szoboszlai, and he has every chance of featuring in the club’s Carabao Cup clash against Leicester at Anfield on Wednesday.  

Ben Doak (No 50) is highly-rated at Liverpool and will hope to get a chance to shine this week

Ethan Nwaneri – Arsenal 

The 16-year-old is in good form having found the net for the Gunners’ U19s side in their 2-1 UEFA Youth League defeat to PSV last week – which he’ll hope has done enough to at least get him involved in the matchday squad to face Brentford.

Mikel Arteta’s side have a stern test away from home and it’s unlikely he’ll disrupt his team’s rhythm by fielding too many fringe and youth stars, though there could still be a place on the bench for young talent like Nwaneri. 

Nwaneri, who joined the club aged nine, is one of Arsenal’s brightest sparks at the club and he recently signed a new two-year scholarship deal despite interest from elsewhere – with Arteta said to have played a key role in ensuring his future at the Emirates.

He made history by coming on in a 3-0 win – ironically against Brentford – last season at the age of 15 years and 181 days. Next year he will be able to sign professional terms for the first time – and expect a raft of clubs to pop up again when he does. 

Ethan Nwaneri is Arsenal’s youngest debutant, with boss Mikel Arteta already a huge admirer

Daniel Gore – Manchester United

No stranger to training sessions with the first team, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder is highly-rated at Old Trafford having signed a new contract with United earlier this year.

Last season Gore was named as the club’s Under 21s player of the year after some superb creative displays that saw him play 18 times in the Premier League 2 division, laying on three assists. He also scored twice in the U18s Premier League.

Gore has already made himself known – perhaps for the wrong reasons – after being involved in a reported training ground bust-up with Anthony Martial after being invited to the session by Erik ten Hag, though a clash like that highlights his passion and hunger to succeed. 

In a show of Ten Hag’s faith in the youngster, Gore has been named on the bench for the last five matches in a row for United, though has not yet been called upon to come on as a sub. With the team facing Crystal Palace at home at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, the opportunity may finally come around for him.  

Dan Gore (right) has impressed Erik ten Hag and could feature against Crystal Palace

Justin Oboavwoduo – Man City

After joining Man City’s academy aged eight, the forward has gone from strength to strength at the Etihad with the 17-year-old in great form for the U21s this year, scoring two goals in four Premier League 2 games. 

Oboavwoduo has been in sparkling and ruthless form in front of goal – having helped fire City to the U18s title last season by banging in 16 goals from 23 games. His clinical performances won’t have gone unnoticed by Pep Guardiola, who has been known for giving youth a chance in cup competitions in years gone by.

However, Man City – who have won this competition six times in the last decade – face a tough trip to Newcastle in the third round, so Guardiola will be expected to play a strong team to ensure they progress in the tournament this season.

There should still be a chance for a few youngsters to claim a few spots on the bench and come on should City have a good day at the office at St James’ Park. 

Man City striker Justin Oboavwoduo has been in lethal form ahead of possible minutes in the Carabao Cup third round

Jarell Quansah – Liverpool 

The 6ft 2in centre back has shown he is someone Jurgen Klopp trusts at Liverpool having made his first start for the Reds in a 3-1 win against Wolves – playing 83 minutes at Molineux. 

He had already come off the bench twice before that in wins over Aston Villa and Newcastle and Liverpool’s home game against Leicester City would be another great opportunity for him to get minutes under his belt. 

Despite not featuring since that outing at Wolves – where he impressed and earned the credit of Klopp, who said he played ‘really well’ – he has still been named on the bench in both games since against LASK and West Ham.

The 20-year-old has been on Liverpool’s books since the age of five. Born in Warrington, the defender has been a regular for the academy – making over 30 appearances for the U21s. 

His first taste of senior football came last season, when he was loaned out to Bristol Rovers for the second half of the 2022-23 season.

Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah has already made his full debut this season but will hope for more minutes against Leicester City

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