2015–16 Football League Cup

Did You Know?

• The lowest-ranked team in the third round was Carlisle United, who played in League Two.
• The live television rights for the competition were held by Sky Sports, who have held rights since 1996–97 apart from 2001–02.

Format

The League Cup was a knockout competition open to all 92 members of the Premier League and the Football League. It comprised seven rounds, structured so that 32 teams remained by the third round. Teams participating in European competition that season received a bye to the third round; the remaining Premier League teams entered at the second round, and the remaining Football League teams entered at the first round. Each tie was a single match except for the semi-finals, which were played over two legs.

The team drawn first in the first five rounds played at home; in the semi-finals the team drawn first hosted the first leg. The final was held at a neutral venue. If a match was level after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time were played. If the aggregate score in the semi-finals remained level after extra time, the away goals rule applied; if still tied, a penalty shoot-out decided the winner.

Fourth round

Sixteen teams, all winners of the third round, competed in the fourth round. The draw took place on 23 September 2015 following the North London derby. The lowest-ranked teams in this round were Hull City, Middlesbrough, and Sheffield Wednesday, all from the Championship. Matches were played in the week commencing 26 October 2015.

Semi-finals

Four teams, all winners of the quarter-finals, contested the semi-finals. The draw was held on 2 December 2015; all remaining teams were from the Premier League. The semi-finals were played over two legs, with each team hosting one leg. The first legs took place on 5 and 6 January 2016, and the second legs on 26 and 27 January 2016.