The Carabao Cup returns this week with the big boys entering the competition.

There is still a long way to go until we crown the 2017 winners with some blockbuster ties expected before the Wembley showdown.

Of course, plenty will fall by the wayside before then.

But what if the competition was a league rather than a knockout competition?

Ahead of this week's matches, Aston Villa are five points clear at the top.

Villa boss Steve Bruce (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)
Gareth Southgate and the late Ugo Ehiogu celebrate in 1996 (
Image:
Rex Features)

Steve Bruce’s side have won 130 matches, drawn 43 and lost 51 throughout the multi-named history of the competition, ahead of their match against Middlesbrough.

That would work out at 433 points if you were to award three points a win and one for a draw - more than any other team.

Villa have won the competition five times, most recently in 1996.

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Only Liverpool have won it more often, having lifted the cup on eight separate occasions.

It’s no surprise then that it’s the Anfield club who would be just behind Aston Villa in a league of Carabao Cup results.

Liverpool have won 126 games and drawn 50, which works out at the equivalent of 428 points, just five fewer than Villa.
Steven Gerrard of Liverpool lifts the trophy (
Image:
Getty)

Arsenal have the next best record and would be in third on 390 points.

Tottenham would be in fourth on 376 points followed by Norwich with
353 and Manchester City with 352.

Top 20

  1. Aston Villa (433 points)
  2. Liverpool (428)
  3. Arsenal (390)
  4. Tottenham (376)
  5. Norwich (353)
  6. Manchester City (352)
  7. West Ham (348)
  8. Manchester United (338)
  9. Nottingham Forest (328)
  10. Southampton (328)
  11. Chelsea (323)
  12. Birmingham (314)
  13. Crystal Palace (299)
  14. Leicester (288)
  15. Bolton (286)
  16. Everton (283)
  17. Leeds (283)
  18. Blackburn (280)
  19. Sheffield Wednesday (279)
  20. Ipswich (275)
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