2023–24 FA Women's League Cup
Football tournament season
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The 2023–24 FA Women's League Cup was the 13th edition of the Women's Super League and Women's Championship's league cup competition. It was sponsored by Continental AG, who have sponsored the competition since its creation in 2011, and was officially known as the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup[1] for sponsorship reasons. All 24 teams from the WSL and Championship took part in the competition. Arsenal were the defending champions.[2]
Molineux Stadium hosted the final | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Dates | 11 October 2023 – 31 March 2024 |
| Teams | 24 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Arsenal (7th title) |
| Runners-up | Chelsea |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 47 |
| Goals scored | 165 (3.51 per match) |
| Attendance | 91,475 (1,946 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) |  Stina Blackstenius Arsenal(9 goals) |
Format
The competition kept the same format as the previous season, starting with a group stage split regionally. Teams competing in the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage are exempt from the League Cup group stage, earning a provisional bye to the quarter-finals. As a result, the initial group stage draw made on 1 August 2023 featured 21 of the 24 teams: one Northern group had five teams drawn into it with the remaining Northern group and all three Southern groups initially featuring four teams each. The three teams excluded from the draw were Chelsea, who automatically entered the Champions League group stage and therefore joined the League Cup at the quarter-final stage, and Manchester United and Arsenal who took part in the Champions League qualifying rounds. If either team were eliminated during qualification, they would enter the League Cup group stage and be drawn into an existing group of four in their geographical region.[3] Arsenal were eliminated from the Champions League in the first qualifying round and were drawn into Group D.[4] Manchester United were eliminated from the Champions League in the second qualifying round and were automatically drawn into Group B.
The first place team in each of the five groups qualified for the knock-out stage. As Arsenal and Manchester United both failed to progress in the Champions League, the two best-placed runners-up also progressed to make eight teams in the quarter-finals.
Group stage
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SUN | AST | DUR | BLB | SHU | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunderland (Q) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 10 | Advanced to knock-out stage | — | H–W | 2–2 | – | – | |
| 2 | Aston Villa (Q) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 1 | +16 | 9 | Possible knock-out stage based on ranking | – | — | 5–1 | 7–0 | – | |
| 3 | Durham | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 7 | – | – | — | 3–2 | 1–1 | ||
| 4 | Blackburn Rovers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 13 | −8 | 3 | 0–3 | – | – | — | 3–0 | ||
| 5 | Sheffield United | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 12 | −9 | 1 | 2–3 | 0–5 | – | – | — |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
| Durham | 3–2 | Blackburn Rovers |
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| Sheffield United | 2–3 | Sunderland |
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| Blackburn Rovers | 0–3 | Sunderland |
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| Blackburn Rovers | 3–0 | Sheffield United |
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Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | MCI | MUN | LEI | LIV | EVE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City (Q) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 10 | Advanced to knock-out stage | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | – | – | |
| 2 | Manchester United | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 9 | Possible knock-out stage based on ranking | – | — | 3–1 | – | 7–0 | |
| 3 | Leicester City | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 8 | – | – | — | 2–1 | 5–1 | ||
| 4 | Liverpool | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 3 | 3–4 | 0–1 | – | — | – | ||
| 5 | Everton | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 16 | −13 | 0 | 1–2 | – | – | 1–2 | — |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
| Manchester City | 2–2 | Leicester City |
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| Penalties | ||
| 3–4 | ||
Group C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | LCL | CRY | LEW | WAT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | London City Lionesses (Q) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 7 | Advanced to knock-out stage | — | 2–1 | – | 2–2 | |
| 2 | Crystal Palace | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 4 | Possible knock-out stage based on ranking | – | — | – | 3–0 | |
| 3 | Lewes | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | — | – | ||
| 4 | Watford | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 2 | – | – | C–C | — |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
| Lewes | 1–1 | Crystal Palace |
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| Lewes | 0–1 | London City Lionesses |
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| London City Lionesses | 2–1 | Crystal Palace |
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Group D
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ARS | TOT | SOU | BRI | REA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal (Q) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 | +9 | 11 | Advanced to knock-out stage | — | 3–3 | – | 3–1 | – | |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur (Q) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 3 | +12 | 10 | Possible knock-out stage based on ranking | – | — | – | 3–0 | 6–0 | |
| 3 | Southampton | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 5 | 1–2 | 0–3 | — | – | – | ||
| 4 | Bristol City | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 2 | – | – | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | ||
| 5 | Reading | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 14 | −13 | 2 | 0–6 | – | 0–1 | – | — |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
| Bristol City | 1–1 | Southampton |
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| Penalties | ||
| 3–4 | ||
| Reading | 0–1 | Southampton |
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| Arsenal | 3–1 | Bristol City |
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| Southampton | 0–3 | Tottenham Hotspur |
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Group E
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | BHA | CHA | WHU | BIR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brighton & Hove Albion (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 9 | Advanced to knock-out stage | — | – | 3–1 | – | |
| 2 | Charlton Athletic | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 | Possible knock-out stage based on ranking | 1–2 | — | – | 1–0 | |
| 3 | West Ham United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 3 | – | 2–1 | — | – | ||
| 4 | Birmingham City | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 3 | 0–3 | – | 2–1 | — |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
| Charlton Athletic | 1–0 | Birmingham City |
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| Birmingham City | 2–1 | West Ham United |
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Ranking of second-placed teams
Due to Arsenal's and Manchester United's failure to progress from Champions League qualifying, they entered the League Cup group stage. With only one team receiving a bye to the League Cup quarter-finals, two best-placed runner-up teams progressed with the five group winners to make up the final eight. The ranking to determine which two second-placed teams progressed was calculated on a points-per-game basis.
| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | WPEN | LPEN | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Tottenham Hotspur (Q) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 3 | +12 | 10 | 2.50 | Advanced to knock-out stage |
| 2 | A | Aston Villa (Q) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 1 | +16 | 9 | 2.25 | |
| 3 | B | Manchester United | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 9 | 2.25 | |
| 4 | C | Crystal Palace | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 4 | 1.33 | |
| 5 | E | Charlton Athletic | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 | 1.00 |
Knock-out stage
| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | |||||||||||
| 14 February – Dartford | |||||||||||||
| London City Lionesses | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 6 March – Borehamwood | |||||||||||||
| Arsenal | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Arsenal | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 7 February – Crawley | |||||||||||||
| Aston Villa | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 (0) | ||||||||||||
| 31 March – Wolverhampton | |||||||||||||
| Aston Villa (pen.) | 1 (2) | ||||||||||||
| Arsenal | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 7 February - Leyton | |||||||||||||
| Chelsea | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 7 March – Manchester | |||||||||||||
| Manchester City | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Manchester City | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 7 February - Kingston upon Thames | |||||||||||||
| Chelsea | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Chelsea | 5 | ||||||||||||
| Sunderland | 0 | ||||||||||||
Quarter-finals
Chelsea entered the League Cup at the quarter-final stage, having been exempt from the group stage due to their participation in the Champions League group stage. The draw took place on 29 January 2024.[7] The quarter-finals were played on 7 February 2024.[8]
| Chelsea (1) | 5–0 | Sunderland (2) |
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| Tottenham Hotspur (1) | 0–1 | Manchester City (1) |
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Semi-finals
The draw took place on 9 February 2024.[10] The semi-finals were played on 6 and 7 March 2024.[8]
| Arsenal (1) | 4–0 | Aston Villa (1) |
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| Manchester City (1) | 0–1 | Chelsea (1) |
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Final
On 15 December 2023, it was announced that the 2024 FA Women's League Cup final would be held at Molineux Stadium, the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers, for the first time. The final took place on 31 March 2024. It was also the first game in the competition's history to use VAR. Following the introduction in the women's fa cup final, the previous year.[11]
| Arsenal (1) | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Chelsea (1) |
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Top goalscorers
| Rank[12] | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stina Blackstenius |
Arsenal | 9 |
| 2 |  Rachel Daly |
Aston Villa | 8 |
| 3 | Nikita Parris |
Manchester United | 5 |
| 4 |  Frida Maanum |
Arsenal | 4 |
| 5 |  Elise Hughes |
Crystal Palace | 3 |
| Chloe Kelly |
Manchester City | ||
 Saoirse Noonan |
Durham | ||
| Jessica Naz |
Tottenham Hotspur | ||
| 9 | 16 players | 2 | |
Controversy
Aston Villa were docked three points in their group table after finding an illegible player in their game against Sunderland. This altered the standings with Aston Villa, originally first in the group, dropping down to second and Sunderland replacing them at the top. Before the points deduction, Sunderland's performance wasn't sufficient to qualify for the quarter finals as one of the best second place teams; however Aston Villa, now in second place, did qualify as one of the best second place teams. This came at the expense of Manchester United who took the FA's decision to an independent tribunal arguing they should not be dismissed from the quarter finals because a different club broke the competition rules however the tribunal ruled in favour of the FA.[13]
After the final, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was seen to have shoved Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall as they shook hands. Hayes claimed it was due to Eidevall's "unacceptable male aggression" on the touchline after an altercation with Erin Cuthbert during the match.[14] The FA later confirmed that Hayes will not face any action over the incident.[15]
Notes
- Aston Villa won the match 7–0 but Sunderland were awarded a scoreless victory via independent tribunal and the record was expunged on 29 January after Aston Villa were found guilty of fielding an ineligible cup-tied player. As a result, Sunderland were promoted to group winners while Aston Villa still qualified from the group but as a best-placed runner-up instead of a group winner at the expense of Group B runners-up Manchester United.[5]