Women's Super League sides Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton have been drawn together in the group stage of the League Cup.

They will be joined in Group A by Newcastle, who were promoted to the Championship last season.

Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have been drawn in Group E alongside Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic.

Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 after extra time at Molineux to win last season's final.

The first group matches will be played on 2 and 3 October, with that stage concluding on 11 and 12 December.

League Cup organisers have given a bye to the quarter-finals to the English teams competing in this season's Champions League group stage.

Chelsea are already guaranteed such a bye, and both Manchester City and Arsenal will get one too if they get through the Champions League qualifying rounds.

If they don't, then they will enter the League Cup at the group stage and play their first game on 16 or 17 October - with a draw taking place to determine which group they go into.

Northern Section:

Group A:

Newcastle United

Everton

Manchester United

Liverpool

Group B:

Durham

Sheffield United

Sunderland

Blackburn Rovers

Southern Section:

Group C:

West Ham United

Southampton

Portsmouth

London City Lionesses

Group D:

Birmingham City

Leicester City

Bristol City

Brighton & Hove Albion

Group E:

Crystal Palace

Charlton Athletic

Tottenham Hotspur

Aston Villa