The Europeans have worked hard to create a new format that won’t bore fans to death

Usually the competition to break in youngsters, the League Cup will give Manchester rivals United and City a chance to utilise older players.

Birmingham have been fined £20 000, with a further £20 000 suspended, following a pitch invasion during their League Cup quarter-final.

Liverpool suffered a humiliating home defeat on penalties by League Two Northampton Town in the English League Cup third round on Wednesday.

Third-tier Brentford knocked Premier League Everton out of the English Football League Cup on penalties on Tuesday.

Manchester United squeezed past Spurs 4-1 on penalties to win the League Cup on Sunday after the Wembley final finished 0-0 after extra time.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp admitted his League Cup holders looked ”dead and buried” before scoring deep into extra-time to see off Burnley.

Burnley’s winning run against teams from London continued on Tuesday with a 2-0 defeat of Arsenal to reach the semi-finals of the English League Cup.