What Are The Biggest Upsets In The History Of The EFL Cup?
On a rainy August night in Grimsby, one of the most unusual upsets in football history took place, as a sea of fans in Grimsby Town’s black and white team kits cheered on their remarkable victory over Manchester United, one of the richest sports teams in the world.
Whilst the victory came following an incredibly long penalty shootout, the home side were the better team on the night, taking a 2-0 lead that they held onto for nearly an hour before Harry Maguire equalised.
However, whilst a Premier League team losing so dramatically to a team in the fourth tier of English football is shocking, is it the biggest upset the League Cup has ever seen?
Here are a few worthy contenders.
Liverpool Vs Northampton Town, 2010/11 Carling Cup Third Round
The early 2010s for Liverpool feel somewhat familiar to Manchester United fans, with a revolving door of managers and some particularly shameful defeats.
The nadir perhaps came in 2010, when Roy Hodgson’s side lost to Northampton Town, then fighting to stay in the EFL entirely and ultimately finishing a dreary 16th.
The issue was fixture congestion; Liverpool were focused on a Premier League clash with Sunderland, allowing the Cobblers to seize the chance to win on a stunning night of nights.
Manchester United Vs York City, 1995/96 Coca-Cola Cup
The Red Devils are no strangers to shocking upsets, including a devastating 4-0 loss to then-League One strugglers MK Dons, but perhaps the most shocking was that the Double winners in the 1995/96 season would lose 3-0 to York City, a team that has spent the last 20 years in non-league football.
This was despite the Minstermen being reduced to ten men and some close shaves by the likes of Brian McClair.
Whilst United did fare a lot better in the second leg with the help of superstars like Eric Cantona, one extra goal was enough for York to win the tie 4-3 on aggregate and stun the biggest team in English football at the time.