Cup holders United head to Scunthorpe

Holders Manchester United will begin their Carling Cup defence at Scunthorpe - and the third-round draw also paired Tottenham and Arsenal together for a north London derby.

United, who beat Aston Villa in the Wembley final in February, will make the trip to Glanford Park to face Nigel Adkins’ npower Championship side – who beat Sheffield Wednesday in the second round.

Ties are to be played in the week commencing September 20 and there is arguably none more attractive than the clash between Tottenham and Arsenal at White Hart Lane.

Northampton, the only League Two side surviving in the competition, were handed a dream trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool.

Villa take on Blackburn, while Newcastle face a daunting trip to London to take on free-scoring Chelsea.

Manchester City head to West Brom in another all-Premier League clash, while Stoke meet Fulham and Sunderland will have home advantage against West Ham.

Burnley, relegated from the Premier League last season, will relish their clash against top-flight neighbours Bolton, and League One Brentford have an attractive home match against Everton.

Notts County’s reward for knocking out Watford is a trip to Wolves, while MK Dons – who stunned Blackpool in the second round – face more Premier League opposition with a short journey to play Birmingham at St Andrew’s.

There is another north-west clash between Wigan and Preston, while elsewhere Portsmouth will tackle Leicester at Fratton Park, Peterborough face Swansea and Millwall will play Ipswich.

Carling Cup third round draw:

Brentford v Everton

Portsmouth v Leicester

Stoke v Fulham

Chelsea v Newcastle

Aston Villa v Blackburn

Tottenham v Arsenal

Millwall v Ipswich

Wolves v Notts County

Burnley v Bolton

Birmingham v MK Dons

Liverpool v Northampton

Scunthorpe v Man Utd

West Brom v Man City

Sunderland v West Ham

Peterborough v Swansea

Wigan v Preston

Matches to played week commencing September 20