2022–23 Scottish League Cup

{{infobox football tournament season

|title = Scottish League Cup

|year = 2022–23

|country = Scotland

|image = Premier Sports Cup Large Landscape Identity Positive on Black.png

|image_size =

|caption = Premier Sports Cup logo

|dates = 9 July 2022 – 26 February 2023

|num_teams = 45

|defending_champions= Celtic

|winners = Celtic

|count = 21

|second = Rangers

|matches = 95

|goals = 296

|scoring_leader = 5 players
(4 goals)

|prev_season = 2021–22

|next_season = 2023–24

|updated =

}}

The 2022–23 Scottish League Cup, also known as the Premier Sports Cup (until the semi-finals)/ Viaplay Cup (final) for sponsorship reasons, was the 77th season of Scotland's second-most prestigious football knockout competition. Celtic were the defending champions. They retained the title to win the competition for a 21st time.{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64688959|title=Rangers 1 Celtic 2|date=26 February 2023|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=28 February 2023}}

Schedule

Round ! First match date ! Fixtures ! width=100\| Clubs
class="wikitable"
align=center \|align=left \|Group stage	align=left \|9 July 2022{{cite web \|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/premier-sports-cup-202223 \|title=Premier Sports Cup 2022/23 \|publisher=SPFL \|date=4 May 2022 \|access-date=15 May 2022}}	80	45 → 16
align=center \|align=left \|Second round	align=left \|30 August 2022	8	16 → 8{{0}}
align=center \|align=left \|Quarter finals	align=left \|18 October 2022	4	8 → 4
align=center \|align=left \|Semi finals	align=left \|14 January 2023	2	4 → 2
align=center \|align=left \|Final	align=left \|26 February 2023	1	2 → 1

Format

The format for the 2022–23 competition was similar to the previous six seasons; however, this season the group stage was not regionalised. The competition began with eight groups of five teams. The five clubs initially competing in the UEFA Champions League (Celtic and Rangers), Europa League (Heart of Midlothian) and Europa Conference League (Dundee United and Motherwell) qualifying rounds received a bye to the second round. The group stage consisted of 40 teams: all remaining teams that competed across the SPFL in 2021–22, and the 2021–22 Highland Football League champions (Fraserburgh) and runners-up (Buckie Thistle), and the 2021–22 Lowland Football League champions (Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic).

The winners of each of the eight groups, as well as the three best runners-up, progressed to the second round (last 16). At this stage, the competition reverted to the traditional knock-out format. The three group winners with the highest points total and the European entrants were seeded.

=Bonus point system=

The traditional point system of awarding three points for a win and one point for a draw was used; however, for each group stage match that finished in a draw, a penalty shoot-out took place, with the winner being awarded a bonus point.{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/new-league-cup-format-announced/ |title=New League Cup format and TV deal |publisher=SPFL |date=7 December 2015 |accessdate=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322072242/http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/new-league-cup-format-announced/ |archive-date=22 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}

Group stage

The teams were seeded according to their final league positions in 2021–22 and drawn into eight groups, with each group comprising one team from each pot. The draw for the group stage took place on 25 May 2022 and was broadcast live on FreeSports & the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MCQjFrAQdA SPFL YouTube channel].

= Group A =

= Group B =

= Group C =

= Group D =

= Group E =

= Group F =

= Group G =

= Group H =

=Best runners-up=

Knockout phase

=Second round=

==Draw and seeding==

Celtic, Dundee United, Heart of Midlothian, Motherwell and Rangers entered the competition at this stage, due to their participation in UEFA club competitions.

The draw took place on 24 July 2022, following the Aberdeen v Raith Rovers match.{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/premier-sports-cup-r2-draw-on-sunday |title=Premier Sports Cup R2 draw on Sunday |publisher=SPFL |date=22 July 2022 |access-date=23 July 2022}}

Teams in bold advanced to the quarter-finals.

class="wikitable"

!Seeded

!Unseeded

valign=top|

|valign=top|

;Notes

† denotes teams playing in the Championship.
* denotes team playing in League One.
** denotes team playing in League Two.

==Matches==

{{Football box collapsible

|date =30 August 2022

|time =19:45

|team1 =Annan Athletic

|score =1–4

|aet =yes

|team2 =Aberdeen

|report ={{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/30/scotland/league-cup/annan-athletic-fc/aberdeen-fc/3891912/ |title=Annan Athletic vs. Aberdeen - 30 August 2022 |publisher=Soccerway |date=30 August 2022 |accessdate=30 August 2022}}

|goals1 =

Swinglehurst {{goal|81}}

|goals2 =

Besuijen {{goal|55||105}}
Duk {{goal|97}}
Clarkson {{goal|117}}

|stadium =Galabank

|location =Annan

|attendance=1,538

|referee =Steven McLean

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date =30 August 2022

|time =19:45

|team1 =Dundee

|score =3–0

|team2 =Falkirk

|report ={{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/30/scotland/league-cup/dundee-fc/falkirk-fc/3891911/ |title=Dundee vs. Falkirk - 30 August 2022 |publisher=Soccerway |date=30 August 2022 |accessdate=30 August 2022}}

|goals1 =

Cameron {{goal|55}}
Ashcroft {{goal|80}}
Robinson {{goal|90|pen.}}

|goals2 =

|stadium =Dens Park

|location =Dundee

|attendance=3,195

|referee =Colin Steven

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date =30 August 2022

|time =19:45

|team1 =Partick Thistle

|score =1–0

|team2 =Arbroath

|report ={{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/30/scotland/league-cup/partick-thistle-fc/arbroath-fc/3891908/ |title=Partick Thistle vs. Arbroath - 30 August 2022 |publisher=Soccerway |date=30 August 2022 |accessdate=30 August 2022}}

|goals1 =

Fitzpatrick {{goal|83}}

|goals2 =

|stadium =Firhill Stadium

|location =Glasgow

|attendance=1,960

|referee =John Beaton

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date =30 August 2022

|time =19:45

|team1 =Rangers

|score =3–1

|team2 =Queen of the South

|report ={{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/30/scotland/league-cup/rangers-fc/queen-of-the-south-fc/3891907/ |title=Rangers vs. Queen of the South - 30 August 2022 |publisher=Soccerway |date=30 August 2022 |accessdate=30 August 2022}}

|goals1 =

Ure {{goal|10}}
Arfield {{goal|24||86}}

|goals2 =

Connelly {{goal|17}}

|stadium =Ibrox Stadium

|location =Glasgow

|attendance=30,569

|referee =David Dickinson

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date =31 August 2022

|time =19:45

|team1 =Heart of Midlothian

|score =0–1

|team2 =Kilmarnock

|report ={{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/31/scotland/league-cup/heart-of-midlothian-fc/kilmarnock-fc/3891913/ |title=Hearts vs. Kilmarnock - 31 August 2022 |publisher=Soccerway |date=31 August 2022 |accessdate=8 September 2022}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

Cameron {{goal|21}}

|stadium =Tynecastle Park

|location =Edinburgh

|attendance=11,071

|referee =Don Robertson

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date =31 August 2022

|time =19:45

|team1 =Livingston

|score =1–2

|team2 =Dundee United

|report ={{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/31/scotland/league-cup/livingston-fc/dundee-united-fc/3891910/ |title=Livingston vs. Dundee United - 31 August 2022 |publisher=Soccerway |date=31 August 2022 |accessdate=8 September 2022}}

|goals1 =

Guthrie {{goal|78}}

|goals2 =

Fletcher {{goal|15}}
Harkes {{goal|34}}

|stadium =Almondvale Stadium

|location =Livingston

|attendance=1,497

|referee =David Munro

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date =31 August 2022

|time =19:45

|team1 =Motherwell

|score =4–0

|team2 =Inverness Caledonian Thistle

|report ={{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/31/scotland/league-cup/motherwell-fc/inverness-caledonian-thistle-fc/3891909/ |title=Motherwell vs. Inverness CT - 31 August 2022 |publisher=Soccerway |date=31 August 2022 |accessdate=8 September 2022}}

|goals1 =

Van Veen {{goal|9||38|pen.|67|pen.}}
Devine {{goal|26|o.g.}}

|goals2 =

|stadium =Fir Park

|location =Motherwell

|attendance=3,982

|referee =Kevin Clancy

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date =31 August 2022

|time =19:45

|team1 =Ross County

|score =1–4

|team2 =Celtic

|report ={{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/31/scotland/league-cup/ross-county-fc/celtic-fc/3891914/ |title=Ross County vs. Celtic - 31 August 2022 |publisher=Soccerway |date=31 August 2022 |accessdate=8 September 2022}}

|goals1 =

Iacovitti {{goal|68}}

|goals2 =

McGregor {{goal|21}}
Giakoumakis {{goal|25}}
Maeda {{goal|73}}
Forrest {{goal|90}}

|stadium =Victoria Park

|location =Dingwall

|attendance=4,801

|referee =Willie Collum

}}

=Quarter-finals=

The draw took place on 31 August 2022, following the Ross County v Celtic match.{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/premier-sports-cup-r2-this-midweek |title=Premier Sports Cup R2 this midweek |publisher=SPFL |date=30 August 2022 |access-date=30 August 2022}}

==Matches==

{{Football box collapsible

|date =18 October 2022

|time =19:45

|team1 =Kilmarnock

|score =2–1

|team2 =Dundee United

|report ={{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2022/10/18/scotland/league-cup/kilmarnock-fc/dundee-united-fc/3948684/ |title=Kilmarnock vs. Dundee United - 18 October 2022 |publisher=Soccerway |date=18 October 2022 |accessdate=18 October 2022}}

|goals1 =

Lafferty {{goal|8|pen.}}
Armstrong {{goal|73}}

|goals2 =

Middleton {{goal|10}}

|stadium =Rugby Park

|location =Kilmarnock

|attendance=5,144

|referee =Kevin Clancy

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date =19 October 2022

|time =18:15

|team1 =Motherwell

|score =0–4

|team2 =Celtic

|report ={{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2022/10/19/scotland/league-cup/motherwell-fc/celtic-fc/3948687/ |title=Motherwell vs. Celtic - 19 October 2022 |publisher=Soccerway |date=19 October 2022 |accessdate=19 October 2022}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

Abada {{goal|44||56}}
Hatate {{goal|60}}
Furuhashi {{goal|76}}

|stadium =Fir Park

|location =Motherwell

|attendance=8,370

|referee =Don Robertson

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date =19 October 2022

|time =19:45

|team1 =Aberdeen

|score =4–1

|team2 =Partick Thistle

|report ={{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2022/10/19/scotland/league-cup/aberdeen-fc/partick-thistle-fc/3948686/ |title=Aberdeen vs. Partick Thistle - 19 October 2022 |publisher=Soccerway |date=19 October 2022 |accessdate=19 October 2022}}

|goals1 =

Duk {{goal|16}}
Holt {{goal|31|o.g.}}
Coulson {{goal|35}}
Duncan {{goal|85}}

|goals2 =

Brownlie {{goal|53}}

|stadium =Pittodrie Stadium

|location =Aberdeen

|attendance=9,323

|referee =David Munro

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date =19 October 2022

|time =20:15

|team1 =Rangers

|score =1–0

|team2 =Dundee

|report ={{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2022/10/19/scotland/league-cup/rangers-fc/dundee-fc/3948685/ |title=Rangers vs. Dundee - 19 October 2022 |publisher=Soccerway |date=19 October 2022 |accessdate=19 October 2022}}

|goals1 =

Davis {{goal|10}}

|goals2 =

|stadium =Ibrox Stadium

|location =Glasgow

|attendance=37,107

|referee =Willie Collum

}}

=Semi-finals=

The draw took place on 19 October 2022, following the Rangers v Dundee match.{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/semi-final-draw-date-confirmed |title=Semi-final draw date confirmed |publisher=SPFL |date=17 October 2022 |access-date=19 October 2022}} VAR was used for the first time in the tournament when it was introduced at the semi-final stage.{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/var-to-be-introduced-this-month |title=VAR to be introduced this month |publisher=SPFL |date=12 October 2022 |access-date=20 October 2022}}

==Matches==

{{Football box collapsible

|date =14 January 2023

|time =17:30

|team1 =Celtic

|score =2–0

|team2 =Kilmarnock

|report ={{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/01/14/scotland/league-cup/celtic-fc/kilmarnock-fc/3976771/ |title=Celtic vs. Kilmarnock - 14 January 2023 |publisher=Soccerway |date=14 January 2023 |accessdate=14 January 2023}}

|goals1 =

Maeda {{goal|18}}
Giakoumakis {{goal|90+5}}

|goals2 =

|stadium =Hampden Park

|location =Glasgow

|attendance=45,787

|referee =Willie Collum

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date =15 January 2023

|time =15:00

|team1 =Rangers

|score =2–1

|aet =yes

|team2 =Aberdeen

|report ={{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2023/01/15/scotland/league-cup/rangers-fc/aberdeen-fc/3976770/ |title=Rangers vs. Aberdeen - 15 January 2023 |publisher=Soccerway |date=15 January 2023 |accessdate=15 January 2023}}

|goals1 =

Jack {{goal|61}}
Roofe {{goal|94}}

|goals2 =

Miovski {{goal|41}}

|stadium =Hampden Park

|location =Glasgow

|attendance=47,562

|referee =Nick Walsh

}}

=Final=

{{Football box

|date =26 February 2023

|time =15:00

|team1 = Rangers

|score = 1–2

|team2 = Celtic

|report =https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64688959

|goals1 =

Morelos {{goal|64}}

|goals2 =

Furuhashi {{goal|44||56}}

|stadium =Hampden Park

|location =Glasgow

|attendance=49,529

|referee =Nick Walsh

}}

Media coverage

The domestic broadcasting rights for the competition are held exclusively by Premier Sports, who will broadcast between 12 and 16 live matches per season, as well as highlights.{{cite web|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/premier-sports-becomes-league-cup-title-sponsor |title=Premier Sports to sponsor League Cup |date=27 April 2021|work=SPFL|accessdate=27 April 2021}}

The following matches were broadcast live on UK television:

class="wikitable"
Round ! Date ! Match
rowspan=6\| Group stage \| 10 July 2022 \| Peterhead v Aberdeen{{cite web \|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/premier-sports-cup-fixtures \|title=Premier Sports Cup fixtures \|publisher=SPFL \|date=27 May 2022 \|access-date=27 May 2022}}
12 July 2022 \| Falkirk v Hibernian
13 July 2022 \| Kilmarnock v Partick Thistle
17 July 2022 \| Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic v Hibernian
19 July 2022 \| {{strike\|Airdrieonians v St Mirren}}
24 July 2022 \| Aberdeen v Raith Rovers
rowspan=2\| Second round \| 30 August 2022 \| Rangers v Queen of the South{{cite web \|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/premier-sports-cup-r2-fixture-details \|title=Premier Sports Cup R2 fixture details \|publisher=SPFL \|date=25 July 2022 \|access-date=25 July 2022}}
31 August 2022 \| Ross County v Celtic
rowspan=3\| Quarter-finals \| 18 October 2022 \| Kilmarnock v Dundee United{{cite web \|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/premier-sports-cup-quarter-final-fixtures \|title=Premier Sports Cup quarter-final ties \|publisher=SPFL \|date=5 September 2022 \|access-date=5 September 2022}}
rowspan=2\| 19 October 2022 \|Motherwell v Celtic
Rangers v Dundee
rowspan=2\|Semi-finals \| 14 January 2023 \|Celtic v Kilmarnock{{cite web \|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/premier-sports-cup-semi-final-details-48741 \|title=PREMIER SPORTS CUP SEMI-FINAL DETAILS \|publisher=SPFL \|date=21 October 2022 \|access-date=21 October 2022}}
15 January 2023 \|Rangers v Aberdeen
Final \| 26 February 2023 \|Rangers v Celtic{{cite web \|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/viaplay-cup-final-202223 \|title=VIAPLAY CUP FINAL 2022/23 \|publisher=SPFL \|date=16 January 2023 \|access-date=3 February 2023}}

class="wikitable"

Round

! Date

! Match

rowspan=6| Group stage

| 10 July 2022

| Peterhead v Aberdeen{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/premier-sports-cup-fixtures |title=Premier Sports Cup fixtures |publisher=SPFL |date=27 May 2022 |access-date=27 May 2022}}

12 July 2022

| Falkirk v Hibernian

13 July 2022

| Kilmarnock v Partick Thistle

17 July 2022

| Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic v Hibernian

19 July 2022

| {{strike|Airdrieonians v St Mirren}}

24 July 2022

| Aberdeen v Raith Rovers

rowspan=2| Second round

| 30 August 2022

| Rangers v Queen of the South{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/premier-sports-cup-r2-fixture-details |title=Premier Sports Cup R2 fixture details |publisher=SPFL |date=25 July 2022 |access-date=25 July 2022}}

31 August 2022

| Ross County v Celtic

rowspan=3| Quarter-finals

| 18 October 2022

| Kilmarnock v Dundee United{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/premier-sports-cup-quarter-final-fixtures |title=Premier Sports Cup quarter-final ties |publisher=SPFL |date=5 September 2022 |access-date=5 September 2022}}

rowspan=2| 19 October 2022

|Motherwell v Celtic

Rangers v Dundee

rowspan=2|Semi-finals

| 14 January 2023

|Celtic v Kilmarnock{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/premier-sports-cup-semi-final-details-48741 |title=PREMIER SPORTS CUP SEMI-FINAL DETAILS |publisher=SPFL |date=21 October 2022 |access-date=21 October 2022}}

15 January 2023

|Rangers v Aberdeen

Final

| 26 February 2023

|Rangers v Celtic{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/viaplay-cup-final-202223 |title=VIAPLAY CUP FINAL 2022/23 |publisher=SPFL |date=16 January 2023 |access-date=3 February 2023}}

Top goalscorers

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

!Rank{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/scottish-league-cup/top-scorers |title=Scottish League Cup Top Scorers |website=BBC Sport |access-date=26 February 2023}}

!Player

!Club

!Goals

rowspan="5"|1

|align="left"|{{flagicon|NED}} Vicente Besuijen

|align="left"|Aberdeen

|rowspan="5"|4

align="left"|{{flagicon|IRL}} Conor Sammon

|align="left"|Alloa Athletic

align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Alex Jakubiak

|align="left"|Dundee

align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Oli Shaw

|align="left"|Kilmarnock

align="left"|{{flagicon|KEN}} Jonah Ayunga

|align="left"|St Mirren

|colspan=2 |21 players

References

Category:Scottish League Cup seasons

League Cup

Cup

Round ! First match date ! Fixtures ! width=100\| Clubs
class="wikitable"
align=center \|align=left \|Group stage	align=left \|9 July 2022{{cite web \|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/premier-sports-cup-202223 \|title=Premier Sports Cup 2022/23 \|publisher=SPFL \|date=4 May 2022 \|access-date=15 May 2022}}	80	45 → 16
align=center \|align=left \|Second round	align=left \|30 August 2022	8	16 → 8{{0}}
align=center \|align=left \|Quarter finals	align=left \|18 October 2022	4	8 → 4
align=center \|align=left \|Semi finals	align=left \|14 January 2023	2	4 → 2
align=center \|align=left \|Final	align=left \|26 February 2023	1	2 → 1

2022&ndash;23 Scottish League Cup

Schedule

Format

=Bonus point system=

Group stage

= Group A =

= Group B =

= Group C =

= Group D =

= Group E =

= Group F =

= Group G =

= Group H =

=Best runners-up=

Knockout phase

=Second round=

==Draw and seeding==

==Matches==

=Quarter-finals=

==Matches==

=Semi-finals=

==Matches==

=Final=

Media coverage

Top goalscorers

References

2022–23 Scottish League Cup