The seven reasons to fall in love with the magic of the League Cup… if you hadn’t already
SunSport brings you everything you need to get excited again about the oft-maligned competition ahead of the third round
WHEN it comes to the League Cup, or EFL Cup as it is known this season, we've heard it all.
'Nobody cares about the League Cup' some cry, some call it the 'kids cup', while others even dubbed it the 'Worthless Cup' back in its Worthington Cup days.
But not any more. It's time to embrace the EFL Cup... And SunSport gives you seven reasons why.
Let's start with the big one...
NODDY NO MORE
ONCE upon a time, the League Cup was simply a cup for the smaller fish in the pond, the tournament the so-called little club vied to win, as it was simply their only legitimate chance for silverware.
But now, nothing is further from the truth.
Exhibit A, Manchester City have got their hands on the trophy two years in a row, beating Liverpool on penalties last season and Sunderland the year before.
If mega-money City want to win it all, you'd better believe they all do.
Even on Monday, just 24 hours before the third round fixtures begin, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said: "We're in it to win it.
Fighting talk indeed...
EU GOTTA TAKE IT SERIOUSLY
EUROPEAN football... It's what every club strives for, whether Man United or Morecambe.
Any club taking part in the EFL Cup has the chance to break into Europe, with the tournament winners getting a spot in the Europa League.
Incentive not only for lower league clubs, but also mid-table and below Prem sides, knowing their only realistic route into the pinnacle of club football, Europe, comes thanks to the EFL Cup.
CAN'T WIN ANYTHING WITH KIDS?
WHILE clubs are taking the tournament seriously, the early stages of the League Cup is often a chance for bosses to give their host of talented youngsters a run out.
With the Premier League a brutal, unforgiving mistress, top chiefs tend to play it safe and stick with the tried and tested.
So when the first round or two of the cup starts, you'll often find an array of teenagers given their shot.
It's an exciting moment for the player himself, the bosses and even the fans.
Everyone loves the emergence of a new club icon.
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FRINGE BENEFIT
NOW it's not just the youngsters. What about the squad rotation players too?
Often first choice stoppers are given their first rest of the campaign - same for any position really - and the under-appreciated star not even deemed worthy for the bench gets the nod in the starting XI.
It's their shot to make themselves a hero... And many in the past have done just that.
After all, Vito Mannone was the hero as Sunderland beat Man United back in 2015, while Willy Caballero the star as City toppled Liverpool on penalties in the final last season.
MIDWEEK FIX
OK so the Champions League and Europa League are something, but we go weeks without the European game gracing our screens at times.
Fortunately, the EFL Cup is here to fix that, as it brings us weeks of extra midweek action.
Thank you. Thank you very much, League Cup.
This week we've got eight games on Tuesday and a further eight games on Wednesday.
There's some intriguing games too, such as the battle of the big-boys Leicester v Chelsea and the scrap between struggling Prem side West Ham and minnows Accrington.
The EFL has it all.
JUST CALL IT JACK (THE GIANT SLAYER)
SO the FA Cup is the the competition most well-renowned for giant-killings, but think of this.
Bradford, Northampton, Exeter...
All of these clubs have had shock results in THIS tournament over the years, with Bradford even reaching the final in 2013.
Northampton beat Liverpool back in 2010, York even beat Man United back in 1995.
United also lost in 2006 and 2007... To Southend and Coventry.
It can be a beautiful game sometimes. The Cinderella stories can warm even the coldest of hearts.
SILVER LINING
AND finally, one of the reasons we love the League Cup... It's an early piece of silverware.
It may not be the August trophies such as the Community Shield or Super Cup, but when February comes around, the FA Cup is still in its early stages, the leagues all have months left, Europe is still nowhere near its finale... But there's still a trophy to look forward to.
That's our friend the League Cup.