1973–74 Football League Cup

The 1973–74 Football League Cup was the 14th season of the Football League Cup, a knockout competition for England's top 92 football clubs.
Wolverhampton Wanderers won the competition by defeating Manchester City 2–1 in the final on 2 March 1974. This triumph gave them entry to the 1974–75 UEFA Cup.

First round

The 56 Football League clubs who had comprised the [Football League Football League Third Division|Third Division|Third] and Fourth Divisions during the previous season, plus the bottom eight of the Second Division, all competed from the first round. Ties were straight knockout games, with additional replays if required. The original games were staged on 28–29 August 1973.

Second round

The 28 first round winners were joined by the remaining clubs from the Second Division and all from the First Division. Ties were straight knockout games, with additional replays if required. The original games were staged on 2/8–10 October 1973.

2nd Replays

¹ At Old Trafford, Manchester

Third round

Ties were straight knockout games, with additional replays if required. The original games were staged on 30–31 October and 6 November 1973.

Ties

Tie no	Home team	Score¹	Away team	Attendance	Date
1	Hull City	4–1	Stockport County	13,753	6 November 1973
2	Birmingham City	2–2	Newcastle United	13,025	30 October 1973
3	Southampton	3–0	Chesterfield	13,663	30 October 1973
4	Stoke City	1–1	Middlesbrough	19,194	31 October 1973
5	Everton	0–1	Norwich City	22,046	30 October 1973
6	Millwall	1–1	Bolton Wanderers	9,281	31 October 1973
7	Fulham	2–2	Ipswich Town	8,964	31 October 1973
8	Tranmere Rovers	1–1	Wolverhampton Wanderers	14,442	31 October 1973
9	Orient	1–1	York City	12,061	31 October 1973
10	Carlisle United	0–1	Manchester City	14,472	6 November 1973
11	Bristol City	2–2	Coventry City	19,129	30 October 1973
12	Queens Park Rangers	8–2	Sheffield Wednesday	16,043	6 November 1973
13	Burnley	1–2	Plymouth Argyle	11,150	30 October 1973
14	Sunderland	0–2	Liverpool	36,208	21 November 1973
15	West Bromwich Albion	1–3	Exeter City	10,783	31 October 1973
16	Luton Town	0–0	Bury	8,191	31 October 1973

Replays

Tie no	Home team	Score¹	Away team	Attendance	Date
2	Newcastle United	0–1	Birmingham City	19,276	7 November 1973
4	Middlesbrough	1–2	Stoke City	26,068	6 November 1973
6	Bolton Wanderers	1–2	Millwall	13,501	6 November 1973
7	Ipswich Town	2–1	Fulham	21,400	14 November 1973
8	Wolverhampton Wanderers	2–1	Tranmere Rovers	14,839	13 November 1973
9	York City	2–1	Orient	11,152	6 November 1973
11	Coventry City	2–1	Bristol City	13,049	6 November 1973
16	Bury	2–3	Luton Town	7,827	6 November 1973

Fourth round

Ties were straight knockout games, with additional replays if required. The original games were staged on 20–21 and 27 November 1973.

Fifth round

Ties were straight knockout games, with additional replays if required.
;Replay
;Replay

Semi-finals

Ties were two-legged affairs with the winners advancing to the final. Extra time and then penalties would be used in the second leg if required.

Second leg

Wolverhampton Wanderers won 2–1 on aggregate
''Manchester City won 3–1 on aggregate''