EXTRA-TIME will no longer be played in the Carabao Cup from next season, with matches level at 90 minutes moving straight to a penalty shoot-out.

The EFL, who organise the League Cup, on Friday also announced the penalty shoot-out format would revert to the traditional alternating kicks, rather than the ABBA format which was trialled in 2017-18.

VAR will also be used in all League Cup fixtures played at Premier League stadiums next term, the EFL said.

The EFL said: "The rationale put forward by the EFL is that withdrawing the additional 30 minutes of play would directly address any additional fatigue issues that are occasionally caused when the midweek ties go beyond the traditional 90-minute period.

"A statistical analysis was presented that demonstrated how almost 85 per cent of matches ended in normal time over a three-year period, without the additional period being required and as a result clubs have supported the new approach."

Seeding arrangements for rounds one and two of the competition will be removed, while round one will remain regionalised, with north and south sections.