The Carabao Cup dominated the midweek fixture list this week so we thought now would be the perfect time to have a look over the outright market.

Liverpool are the defending champions after beating Chelsea on penalties in the showpiece last season. Prior to that, Manchester City had claimed four successive EFL Cup titles and they have won the competition in six of the last nine seasons.

No Premier League teams are involved in the first round, the 13 top flight clubs not involved in European competition come into the competition in the second round and then the rest enter in the third round.

That does give the big teams an advantage in this tournament, and as such we’re expecting the big guns to dominate once again.

Carabao Cup 2022/23 winner prediction

Manchester City at 3/1

City are the heavy favourites to take the title at 3/1, with Liverpool next in the betting at 8/1 and Chelsea 10/1. Admittedly there isn’t a great deal of value in backing Pep Guardiola’s men but there are a number of reasons why they should rightly be regarded as the clear favourites.

City may have fallen short in the fourth round last season as they were eliminated on penalties by West Ham but their record in the competition is exceptional. The fact they were denied a fifth straight title last term may also provide extra motivation going forward.

The Premier League champions have incredible strength in depth within their squad and even if a few players are rested/injured they should still be able to overcome most teams.

Liverpool will, of course, be looking to defend the trophy and launch another quadruple bid of their own but I suspect boss Jurgen Klopp will prioritise the league and Champions League over the domestic cups.

Chelsea do look a good option at 10/1 as Thomas Tuchel has an impressive record in the domestic cups despite the fact they are yet to win one under the German. Tuchel has led the Blues to three finals, two FA Cups and one EFL Cup final, out of a possible four and this year may be the campaign where he goes one better but I still feel City are the team to beat in the Carabao Cup.

Carabao Cup 2022/23 outsider prediction

Crystal Palace at 33/1

With each way betting available on the Carabao Cup, there are a few options at bigger prices available and Crystal Palace look good value at 33/1.

Palace don’t have a particularly impressive record in this competition – they haven’t been beyond the fourth round since a semi-final appearance in 2011/12 – and have been dumped out in the second round in each of the last three seasons, but that could change this year.

Boss Patrick Vieira has shown a willingness to go for the cups, taking the Eagles to an FA Cup semi-final last year in his first season in charge, and the EFL Cup looks like a good target.

Palace finished last season strongly and look to be improving under Vieira. They may have kicked off the new season with a defeat to Arsenal but they should be able to comfortably avoid getting drawn into any relegation scrap, but the European spots also look unlikely. As such, they should have the chance to focus on the domestic cups and the 33/1 on them to go all the way in the Carabao Cup may be worth a small stake or an each-way bet.