# 2016–17 Premier League Cup

The 2016–17 Premier League Cup is the fourth edition of the competition, and the first since it was renamed from the U21 Premier League Cup following the age limit being increased to under-23.

## Participants

37 teams participated this year's competition. 12 fewer than last year. Brentford, Chelsea, Exeter City left after last years competition, while Bolton Wanderers, Crewe Alexandra, Doncaster Rovers, Gillingham, Leeds United, Millwall, Peterborough United, Plymouth Argyle, Preston North End, Queens Park Rangers, and Sheffield Wednesday did not return after 3 years in the competition. Only Manchester City returned after last year's absence. Only Portsmouth was the new team that joined the competition for the very first time.

## Qualifying rounds

Two qualifying rounds were required to finalise the 32 teams that would enter the Group Stage. The First Qualifying Round consisted of the six EPPP Category 3 academy sides, with the three winners progressing to the next round.
In the Second Qualifying Round, the three winners were joined by Barnsley and Watford (the two teams who finished bottom of their respective Category 2 leagues in 2015/16). Of the five teams in the Second Qualifying Round draw, one received a bye straight to the Group Stage, with the two winners joining them.

### Second qualifying round
## Group stage

The draw for the group stage took place on 6 September 2016. Teams play each other twice, with the group winners and runners–up advance to the round of 16.
Results

### Group A

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Newcastle United | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 10 |
| Swansea City | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 10 |
| Southampton | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 9 |
| Bristol City | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 13 | −6 | 6 |

### Group B

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Sunderland | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 11 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 10 |
| Burnley | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 13 | −3 | 7 |
| Cardiff City | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 5 |

### Group C

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Hull City | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 10 |
| Colchester United | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 9 | −1 | 10 |
| Manchester City | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 7 |
| Derby County | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 14 | −5 | 7 |

### Group D

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Portsmouth | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 11 |
| Norwich City | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 9 | +4 | 10 |
| Everton | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 7 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 14 | −7 | 5 |

### Group E

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 3 | +14 | 15 |
| West Ham United | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 9 | +1 | 10 |
| Nottingham Forest | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 16 | −10 | 5 |
| Leicester City | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 10 | −5 | 3 |

### Group F

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Fulham | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 15 |
| Middlesbrough | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 9 |
| Charlton Athletic | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 11 | +2 | 8 |
| AFC Wimbledon | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 | −6 | 2 |

### Group G

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Liverpool | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 3 | +14 | 16 |
| Huddersfield Town | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | −5 | 7 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 5 |
| Ipswich Town | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | −7 | 5 |

### Group H

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Reading | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 9 | +7 | 13 |
| Sheffield United | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 13 | −1 | 8 |
| Birmingham City | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 7 |
| Stoke City | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 9 | −1 | 5 |

## Knockout stages
### Final

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Swansea City :
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | SVN | Gregor Zabret |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Tyler Reid |
| 3 | DF | WAL | Connor Roberts |
| 4 | MF | SWE | Adnan Marić |
| 5 | DF | WAL | Keston Davies |
| 6 | DF | WAL | Joe Rodon |
| 7 | MF | WAL | Daniel James |
| 8 | MF | SCO | Jay Fulton |
| 9 | FW | SCO | Oli McBurnie |
| 10 | MF | SCO | George Byers |
| 11 | FW | SCO | Adam King |
| Substitutes: ||||
| 12 | DF | WAL | Aaron Lewis |
| 13 | GK | WAL | Lewis Thomas |
| 14 | FW | SCO | Botti Biabi |
| 15 | FW | JAM | Jordon Garrick |
| 16 | MF | WAL | Jack Evans |
| Coach: Cameron Toshack ||||
Reading :
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ENG | George Legg |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Tennai Watson |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Rob Dickie |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Gabriel Osho |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Omar Richards |
| 6 | MF | ENG | Ryan East |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Josh Barrett |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Andy Rinomhota |
| 9 | FW | USA | Andrija Novakovich |
| 10 | MF | ENG | Tyler Frost |
| 11 | FW | CIV | Yakou Méïté |
| Substitutes: ||||
| 12 | GK | FIN | Axel Anderson |
| 13 | GK | AUS | Liam Driscoll |
| 14 | MF | SCO | Jordan Holsgrove |
| 15 | FW | ENG | Sam Smith |
| 16 | DF | SCO | Jake Sheppard |
| Coach: Martin Kuhl ||||