The list of invited under-21 teams for next season’s EFL Trophy has been confirmed.
Liverpool and Manchester United’s youngsters are the latest category one academy sides to join the competition for the 2019/20 campaign.
They join current holders Pompey, who beat Sunderland on penalties to lift the trophy at Wembley back in March.
And the Premier League’s top six will be represented for the first time, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham also taking part.
The format of the competition once again sees 16 invited teams joined by the 48 clubs from League One and League Two.
The selection of the invited sides is based on their final league position at the end of the 2018/19 season, with the highest 16 who have category one academy status asked to take part.
Pompey will discover their group stage opponents when the draw takes place in July, while the opening round of fixtures are scheduled to take place in the week commencing September 2.
EFL Trophy invited clubs |
Arsenal |
Aston Villa |
Brighton & Hove Albion |
Chelsea |
Everton |
Fulham |
Leicester City |
Liverpool |
Manchester City |
Manchester United |
Newcastle United |
Norwich City |
Southampton |
Tottenham Hotspur |
West Ham United |
Wolverhampton Wanderers |