The 2017–18 EFL Trophy, known as the Checkatrade Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 37th season in the history of the competition, a knock-out tournament for English football clubs in League One and League Two of the English football system, and also including 16 Premier League and Championship "B teams" with Category One status after the previous season's trial format was extended.
[1] Following the new format introduced in 2016–17, 64 teams entered the competition, including first time entries from the academy teams of Manchester City, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, who all declined to enter in the previous season.
[1] Coventry City were the reigning champions,[1] but were eliminated in the group stage on 7 November.
If scores are level after 90 minutes in Rounds 2, 3 and 4, the game will be determined by the taking of penalties.
Eight teams participated in this round with ties originally scheduled to take place in the week commencing 22 January 2018.