Carabao Cup semi-finals and final to allow five substitutions, EFL confirms

Tottenham vs Brentford and Manchester United vs Manchester City take place this week in one-leg semi-final ties

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The Carabao Cup semi-finals and final will permit teams to use up to five substitutions, the EFL has confirmed.

Tottenham host Brentford tomorrow with Manchester United meeting rivals Manchester City in the second semi-final on Wednesday.

And after consulting with all four clubs, the EFL will now permit the teams to use up to five substitutions during the ties.

An EFL statement read: “The EFL has agreed to increase the number of substitutes permitted to be used in this season’s Carabao Cup Semi-Finals and Final.”

“Following consultation with the four Clubs remaining in the competition, nine substitutes can now be named in the matchday squad, with five permitted to take to the pitch during the 90 minutes and extra time if applicable.”

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While five substitutions may be used, each team will only be permitted a maximum of three opportunities to use their changes, not including half-time, full-time and half-time of extra time.

If the tie goes to extra-time, an additional opportunity to make a change will be granted, but only from the five-substitution allocation.

The competition has already adapted to the Covid-19 pandemic, scrapping two-legged semi-final ties to ease the fixture schedule, though extra-time and penalties may still be used if necessary.

VAR will also be used for both the Carabao Cup semi-finals and final.

City are looking to win a fourth consecutive League Cup and their sixth triumph in eight seasons.

Carabao Cup Semi-Finals

Tottenham Hotspur v Brentford - Tuesday 4 January (19:45)

Manchester United v Manchester City - Wednesday 5 January (19:45)