The 2013/14 League Cup got underway on Monday evening, with Preston North End becoming the first team outside of the top tier to book their place in the second round after beating rivals Blackpool at Deepdale.

Few may take advantage of the 301.0 (300/1) on offer for the Lilywhites, though after last season’s outcome, money is sure to be placed on some of the outsiders in the competition.

Nevertheless, last season’s top three in the Premier League lead the market, with Chelsea and both sides of Manchester available at 8.0 (7/1) with most bookmakers.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur come next at a price of 11.0 (10/1), while Everton are a 21.0 (20/1) shot with Sky Bet.

Bet Victor offer odds of 41.0 (40/1) for Aston Villa, Newcastle United and holders Swansea City, with a variety of firms offering 51.0 (50/1) for Southampton, Sunderland, Fulham and West Ham United.

West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Norwich City are all 67.0 (66/1) with Sky Bet, ahead of the 81.0 (80/1) they offer for Cardiff City, while Bet 365 have Hull City and Crystal Palace at 101.0 (100/1) and 151.0 (150/1) respectively.

Outside of the Premier League, Queens Park Rangers and Reading can be backed at 81.0 (80/1), with three time winners Leicester City a 101.0 (100/1) chance with Sky Bet.

Last season’s finalists Bradford City, a 751.0 (750/1) shot with Bet Victor, begin this season’s campaign with a short but tough trip to Championship side Huddersfield Town, while the most successful of all the Football League clubs in this competition, Nottingham Forest, one of a number of sides available at 151.0 (150/1).

Forest are, along with Middlesbrough, the shortest priced of all of the favourites to win their first round match with both Championship sides facing League Two opposition at home.

Billy Davies’ side host former Reds defender Colin Cooper’s Hartlepool Untied while Boro, who are 201.0 (200/1) to lift the trophy ten years on from their one and only triumph in this competition, welcome Accrington to the Riverside Stadium.

Meanwhile, if you are looking for a shock in Tuesday’s fixtures, you could do worse than back Rotherham United, who are 3.0 (2/1) with Bet Victor to beat Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday in ninety minutes at the New York Stadium.