Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Image source, Getty Images

Just under 12 years ago, Crystal Palace came to Old Trafford in the EFL Cup and stunned their hosts with a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Darren Ambrose and Glenn Murray.

Two players who featured that night and are involved on this occasion too, Jonny Evans and Nathaniel Clyne, who is about to make his 197th Palace appearance.

Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

The tone is set - Burnley are moving the ball around very quickly with an attacking formation.

Salford have got to get hold of this, they cannot concede so early in the game.

A chance for Port Vale as Rhys Walters gets a sight of goal, but Sutton keeper Jack Rose's save is a comfortable one.

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport at Peninsula Stadium

A good atmosphere at Moor Lane as the players come out to the Pogues version of classic Salford tune Dirty Old Town.

Burnley sold out the away end and they're in good voice too.

Six of tonight's seven ties are getting under way...

Crystal Palace head to Old Trafford in the League Cup on Tuesday night for the first of two visits to Manchester United in the space of five days.

With an ever-growing list of injuries for the Eagles that already includes winger Michael Olise and midfielder Jefferson Lerma, manager Roy Hodgson has admitted he will have to prioritise the Premier League over the cup.

"There's no question there's an absence of real competition in our squad because so many guys are injured," said the 76-year-old.

"If I really think the 11, which are maybe considered to be the best 11, can go out [Saturday] in a tough game, and a tough game on Tuesday, and then do it again on Saturday, I'd be dreaming.

"But I don't think anybody who has even the slightest inclination of what's required would expect it from me. So it's a little bit disappointing because at the start of the season I didn't envisage our current situation, and I thought we might be able to give it [the Carabao Cup] a real go.

"Now we will still give it a real go, but I'm sure people will criticise the fact that the team that plays on Tuesday night might be different.

"Is the Premier League more important to a club like Crystal Palace than the Carabao Cup? Unfortunately it is."

The former England boss also doesn't feel United's recent form will give his side a better chance.

"We are talking about one of the two biggest football clubs in the world," Hodgson added.

"So even though they might not be firing on all cylinders, they're still going to look at a bench probably which has cost several hundred million.

"It will be a very difficult game, but it will be a great experience, those players who haven't had a chance could get the chance. It will be good for them to show what they can do at the very top level.

"I believe enough in this team and this squad and the organisation to believe that whatever level I choose to play we are capable of giving Manchester United a good game."

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport

Burnley can gain some much-needed joy when they travel to League Two strugglers Salford City in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday.

Vincent Kompany's men have collected only one point in the Premier League and their only win so far this season came in the previous round - both of those results were against Nottingham Forest.

Burnley were narrowly beaten 1-0 at home by Manchester United on Saturday but come up against a Salford side who lie 21st in the third tier, having lost their last five consecutive games.

The Clarets signed 14 players this summer, spending close to £100m, and manager Kompany has hinted at changes for Tuesday's game.

“There is plenty of exciting players in our squad and we’re going to need everyone this season," said Kompany. "The best way to get everyone to improve is to start them in a match like this.

“It’s an exciting game for us and there’s a lot of players we want to see in a Burnley shirt and we believe can make an impact on the squad this season. I’m looking forward to the game. It’s a good moment for us to go play this game.

“I think everyone has to remember that a lot of the new guys are still learning what we are trying to do. We saw this last season as well, as the team picked up results as time went on.

“The team are fighting every day for the spots and making sure they are getting the performances.”

Image source, PA Media

Natalie Bromley, No Nay Never podcast, external

The painful reality of Burnley's cruel opening fixtures hit home about 45 minutes into the game against Manchester United.

On top and dominating the pace and flow of the game, we witness an absolute worldie leaving the boot of Bruno Fernandes and Burnley are consigned to their fourth successive home defeat of the season.

Five games, one point, 14 goals conceded.

If the Premier League feels unfair, it's because it probably is.

Global headlines will tell you that United are in a crisis, under-performing and having a terrible start to the season. We saw some of that at Turf Moor – indeed I am not sure I have ever seen Burnley narrow the gap in terms of quality and performance quite so much – but the top sides in the league have world-class players who can pull a moment of magic out of nowhere and steal the game from you.

But is that not what Burnley did last year in the Championship? We are just at the opposite end of the food chain this season.

We need to focus on our controllables. Those aspects we can manage.

Does Lyle Foster make a difference if he doesn’t pick up a needless suspension? Undoubtedly. Should Burnley look to bring in more strikers and experience in January? Possibly.

Right now, though, the focus must remain on the fact that four or five of our games so far have been against sides who will finish in the top six. We are not yet cut adrift in the league and our rivals have already wasted chances in their more favourable fixtures.

Keep playing like this and the results will come.

Ollie Kay, We Are Luton Town, external

While the media and fans of the Premier League quibble about how much the promoted sides should be spending, Luton Town fans saw the first full run out of Chiedozie Ogbene, who achieved his first 90 minutes in a the shirt against Wolves, following on from his energetic cameo against Fulham.

Chieo, who became a history-maker by becoming the first Africa-born player to represent the Republic of Ireland national team, is the perfect example that sometimes good scouting can trump throwing money around willy-nilly.

The Hatters have always had a proclivity of doing astute business in the free agent market, although Ross Barkley has not yet been able to show his best form because of injury.

Looking back at some of the previous free transfers Luton have plucked from the football pyramid...

Jordan Clark, from Accrington, who scored the goal in the play-off final, Amari'i Bell who has been ever present since joining from Blackburn Rovers. And Tom Lockyer from Charlton Athletic, who has been an absolute warrior at the back for.

After his fine performance against Wolves, which included four created chances, 92% pass accuracy as well as tracking back and mucking in defensively, Chieo left the pitch to raucous applause from those at the Kenny.

It looks like the recruitment team at Luton Town have again unearthed an absolute gem without a huge initial transfer outlay, to the dismay of all the fans who observe Premier League football from their sofas around the globe.

Image source, Getty Images

Gary Caldwell's Exeter have made a very encouraging start to the season and sit sixth in League One after nine games.

They suffered a 3-0 at high-flying Oxford on Saturday but the visit of Premier League Luton to St James Park tonight gives them the perfect opportunity to bounce back.

Exeter have not reached this stage of the League Cup since 1989-90, when they progressed to the fourth round before losing to Sunderland.

“I am very excited,” Caldwell said. “It shows how well the team have done – not just the start in the league, but producing two good performances in cup ties as well – to get us into this situation and bring a Premier League side to SJP.

"A full house under the lights is a special thing and a historic thing because it’s been that long.

“We have to look forward to the game, we know how big a challenge it’s going to be, but hopefully, it’s a really special night at the stadium."

Port Vale XI: Ripley, Jones, Cass, Balmer, Devine, Grant, Lowe, Sang, Massey, Walters, Thomas.

Subs: Leutwiler, Smith, Clark, Garrity, Chislett, Ojo, Plant, Debrah, Wilson.

Sutton United XI: Rose, Jackson, Sowunmi, Goodliffe, Kizzi, Patrick, Eastmond, N'Guessan, Beautyman, Pereira, Angol.

Subs: Bouzanis, Coley, Dundas, Kasimo, Fadahunsi, O'Brien, Hart.

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport at Peninsula Stadium

Salford have beaten two Championship teams to get here - Preston and Leeds.

In Salford boss Neil Wood's programme notes, he says they showed resilience and were fearless in those games - and will need to be again tonight.

"We are where we are in terms of our squad and there will be another opportunity for some of our B-team players, but they have earned a chance," he adds.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Sutton are struggling, with this cup run the highlight of the season so far.

The currently sit bottom of League Two with just four points from nine games. The daft thing is, they won their opening game - 5-1 against Notts County! Since then they've taken a single point from eight games, that at the weekend courtesy of a 1-1 draw with MK Dons.

They've seen off Cambridge and Wycombe to feature in this tie tonight, so they do have a result in them.

They've only played Port Vale twice before, beating them 4-3 in October 2021 before losing 2-0 in March 2022.

Image source, Getty Images

To be fair, Port Vale are having a enjoying a pretty good start to the season. They have 17 points from nine matches to leave them fourth in the table.

They head into this after drawing 1-1 at the weekend with Cambridge, which ensured just one loss from their last 11 games in all competitions.

Prior to tonight's game in the Carabao Cup, they've seen off Fleetwood and Crewe (via a shootout).

A win here and they'll be in the fourth round for the first time since 2006-07.

Image source, Getty Images

League Two Bradford host Middlesbrough at Valley Parade tonight and Mark Hughes' side come into the match in good form.

A 4-1 win at Newport on Saturday extended the Bantams' unbeaten run to six games and leaves them just two points off the play-off places.

“It was a great result for us on Saturday and we’ll be very confident after that as we look forward to playing Middlesbrough,” Hughes said.

“We’ll be in good shape and we’ll give it a good go. It’s one we’re all looking forward to. It’s easier going into a game like that against higher opposition with a win under our belts.”

On-loan West Brom winger Rayhaan Tulloch could be a player to watch out for tonight after impressing at the weekend.

“I think Ray probably took a few Newport supporters aback with the level of skill that he’s got," Hughes added.

“The reaction of the crowd was telling. They realised, ‘goodness me, this guy could be a problem’ and he certainly was. I’m pleased for him because it was his first real start and a very good performance."

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport at St James Park

Image source, Rex Features

Exeter and Luton last met here at St James Park in October 2017 - the Hatters won 4-1 on that day.

Yet despite their rise to the top flight two Luton players will start today that featured in that League Two clash.

Tonight's skipper Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu came on as a substitute that day while midfielder Luke Berry started the game.

Exeter's longest-serving player Pierce Sweeney also played that day - he's on the bench for the Grecians.

Image source, Getty Images

After claiming a crucial first league win of the season on Saturday, Middlesbrough will be hoping to build further momentum when they take on Bradford.

Michael Carrick's side beat Southampton 2-1 on Saturday and while Bradford are two divisions below Boro, the manager is anticipating a difficult game in West Yorkshire.

"It’s a really good opportunity to try to get through to the next round, but it’s a tough game against a good team," he told reporters.

"It’s a tough place to go, and we expect a good challenge. Bolton gave us a right good challenge when we went there, and Huddersfield was a tough game too.

"We’ll look forward to it. It’s the next opportunity to try to win another game and carry on the momentum and build on it.

"They got a big win at the weekend so they’ll be full of confidence. I’m sure they’ll be looking forward to the game as much as we are.”

Mansfield XI: Pym, Williams, Flint, Brunt, Cargill, Reed, Lewis, Boateng, Maris, Swan, Gale.

Subs: Flinders, Cooper, Macdonald, Clarke, Flanagan, Bowery, Keillor-Dunn, Abdullah, Akins.

Peterborough XI: Bilokapic, Burrows, Edwards, Knight, Kioso, Kyprianou, Collins, Jones, Mason-Clarke, Poku, Clarke-Harris.

Subs: Talley, Katongo, Crichlow, De Havilland, Randall, Sturge, Ajiboye, Fernandez, Corbett.

Wolves

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Dave Azzopardi, Talking Wolves, external

Although it has been a slow and frustrating start this season for Wolves, it is so good to see our Portugal magnifico Pedro Neto on the scoresheet again.

It has been over a year since we saw Neto score in the old gold, but his fantastic solo goal at Kenilworth Road on Saturday was a highlight from a disappointing afternoon in Luton.

Since picking up a knee injury in 2021, Neto has really struggled to gain consistent form, much to the frustration of Wolves fans. We've seen the winger have fantastic pre-seasons then pick up an injury which derails any progress. Arsenal were heavily linked with Neto in the 2022-23 summer window before an ankle injury saw him miss half of the campaign.

However, it looks like the winger is finally starting to kick on. He's been at the club for over four years now and this is probably the most creative he has been. In six games he already has a goal and four assists, smashing the three goal contributions he had over the last two campaigns. He tops the Premier League assists charts (alongside Mohamed Salah and James Maddison) and if he can continue to get on the scoresheet, he will be a huge asset for the side and Gary O'Neil this season.