Manchester United away to Grimsby in English league cup

Manchester United players
Manchester United, who won the English league cup in 2023, start their 2025-26 campaign at Grimsby. -AP

Manchester United will travel to League Two Grimsby in the second round of the English league cup as they attempt to bounce back from one of their worst seasons in recent history.

The 2023 winners will head for Blundell Park during the week beginning August 25 after being paired with the Mariners in Wednesday night's draw, in which they were the last team team out of the hat.

Elsewhere, there are all-Premier League clashes between Bournemouth and Brentford and Wolves and West Ham, while promoted Leeds face a trip to either Bolton or Sheffield Wednesday and Everton will host League One Mansfield.

League One Doncaster's reward for their 4-0 drubbing of Championship club Middlesbrough is a trip to Accrington, while Bromley host League One Wycombe after dumping Ipswich, who spent last season in the Premier League, out on penalties.

The nine top-flight sides involved in Europe this season - Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, holders Newcastle, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace - will enter the competition in the third round.

Draw

South Section

Fulham v Bristol City

Norwich v Southampton

Oxford v Brighton

Reading v AFC Wimbledon

Bournemouth v Brentford

Millwall v Coventry

Wolves v West Ham

Swansea v Plymouth

Bromley v Wycombe

Cardiff v Cheltenham or Exeter

Cambridge v Charlton

North Section

Tranmere or Burton v Lincoln

Accrington v Doncaster

Wigan v Stockport

Stoke v Bradford

Burnley v Derby

Sunderland v Huddersfield or Leicester

Birmingham or Sheffield United v Port Vale

Preston v Wrexham

Barnsley or Fleetwood v Rotherham

Bolton or Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds

Everton v Mansfield

Grimsby v Manchester United