Carabao Cup semi-final draw – LIVE!
A place at Wembley is within reach of the four clubs still in the Carabao Cup. This afternoon we have already decided on the semi-final schedule and it is conceivable that the final will be a North London derby.
Arsenal booked their place in the quarter-finals with a thrilling win over Crystal Palace, while Gabriel Jesus returned to goalscoring form with a second-half hat-trick. The Gunners will face Newcastle in the semi-finals, with Eddie Howe’s side still ahead. To achieve their second Carabao Cup final in three years.
Liverpool, meanwhile, continued their sensational season under Arne Slot by easing past managerless Southampton. They will travel to Tottenham in the first leg of their semi-final tie, with the reverse fixture at Anfield. Spurs kept their trophy bid alive in dramatic fashion. They held a three-goal lead over United but still had to survive a major late scare before sealing a 4-3 win.
Carabao Cup semi-final draw
Tottenham will face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, while Arsenal have been drawn against Newcastle.
After surviving Manchester United in a seven-goal knockout thriller in the knockout stages on Thursday night, Spurs will now be at home for the first game of a two-legged tie against the current Premier League leaders in the second week of January. Then to Anfield for the second leg in early February.
Defending champions Liverpool booked their final semi-final place by beating long-suffering Southampton 2-1 after a scare at St Mary’s on Wednesday night, looking to secure their fifth trip to Wembley in the last three years.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will play the first leg at home in Newcastle before travelling to St James’ Park to make the decision.
Read more on that here!
Mikel Arteta believes winning the Carabao Cup can be the springboard for Arsenal to win bigger prizes in the months and years to come.
He said: “The fact that you win and go to the next round creates every other round in the team, and that is why those types of matches are so important.
“It is really helpful. It brings belief, trust, positive energy, touching the cup, and being in the semi-final and beating somebody in the final; it is that energy and it creates the right path to go and do something else.
“Especially at the moment and when the festival is in this country, it has that momentum. “
A reminder of what Ange Postecoglou said at the start of the season.
The Spurs boss commented: “I don’t win things regularly, I win things in my second year. Nothing has changed.
“It’s surprising, right? I just stated a fact. Do I intend to lie or just say it never happened?”
“But do you really think it’s me sort of boasting?
“It just baffles me that other people make such a big deal out of anything. I don’t know how I should respond to something that’s true. “
There are a few weeks left before Tottenham and Liverpool meet in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, but they will face others before then.
The two sides will face off in north London this weekend in the Premier League – 4:30pm kick-off on Sunday.
Chance for either of them to lay down a marker.
Arsenal will need to make the most of that first leg in north London against Newcastle.
The reverse fixture is not going to be easy at all, as Mikel Arteta will be fully aware of.
Arsenal were beaten at St James’ Park earlier this season when Alexander Isak’s goal was the only goal of the game.
Liverpool will be the favorites to overcome their semi-final against Liverpool, but it is safe to believe that Spurs will go through with everything in the Carabao Cup.
Might not be the case for Liverpool, as they challenge on all fronts.
If Spurs get this draw and Arsenal beat Newcastle, the final will be a derby in north London. . .
As a reminder, the first legs will take place the week of January 6 and the other the week of February 3.
Arsenal vs Newcastle
Tottenham-Liverpool
Arne Slot’s side will be at Anfield for the second leg
The Gunners at home in the first leg. . .
Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp are in place.
It’s time for the draw.
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