Carabao Cup semi-final draw LIVE: Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle await destiny after Tottenham v Manchester United
The Carabao Cup semi-final draw takes place with the last four sides waiting to discover their route to Wembley and the March final.
Newcastle United have high hopes of ending their 69-year wait for a major domestic trophy and the Magpies are joined in the draw by holders Liverpool and Arsenal. Tottenham and Manchester United play tonight for the last remaning semi-final place.
Newcastle defeated Brentford 3-1 on Wednesday night while Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick to help Arsenal to a 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace. Premier League leaders Liverpool continued their Carabao Cup defence by beating Southampton 2-1.
The semi-final ties take place over two legs –with the first leg in early January and the second leg in early February. The first silverware of the season is contested as the final takes place at Wembley on Sunday 16 March.
Follow the Carabao Cup draw with our live blog below:
Arsenal delighted as Gabriel Jesus ‘back at his best’
Mikel Arteta said Gabriel Jesus is “back at his best” after the Brazilian’s brilliant second-half hat-trick fired Arsenal into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Jesus headed into the last-eight fixture with only two goals this year, prompting Arteta to insist he would not be sold when the transfer window opens next month.
And Jesus repaid his manager’s faith with three goals that could breathe new life into not only his stuttering career, but Arsenal’s campaign too.
“I’m so pleased for him,” said Arteta. “It’s been a long period without goals and today, to score three goals, the three types of goals that he scored – and the many actions he was involved in – he looked very sharp.
“It’s a great thing for him and the team that we can rely on a player of such quality. Gabi at that level is a big asset for us. It is a big message for the team that we have Gabi back at his best. It’s now about consistency.
“This moment of spark will bring so much confidence to him. Now we need to take it and give him more games and chances. When a player is in that moment, it’s important for them to continue.”
Arne Slot rotates as Liverpool reach semi-finals
Arne Slot was happy with Liverpool’s progress to the semi-finals and the Dutchman said squad rotation, which included a full debut for 17-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni, was key during a busy period of the season.
“It would be normal if I play all the regular starters that we have a better team than we had tonight, otherwise I make every week the wrong decision,” said Slot.
“But we also trust these players because we know how much quality they have, so that’s the first reason to play these players, that we have a lot of confidence in them.
“Second of all, it’s not about a result on Sunday (away to Tottenham), it’s more for the long-term fitness of the players that we make the decision that the ones that played so many minutes to give them a bit of rest during this week because the schedule is going to be intense again in the upcoming weeks.”
Newcastle inch closer to ending seven-decade trophy drought
Sandro Tonali’s double helped Newcastle secure their spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Brentford.
Tonali put the Magpies ahead with a brilliant first-time strike and the Italy midfielder bagged his brace just before half-time from Anthony Gordon’s corner.
Fabian Schar extended the lead after the break with a tidy tap-in before Yoane Wissa earned a consolation for the Bees in added time.
Victory sends Newcastle one step closer to ending their 69-year wait for a major domestic trophy.
Gabriel Jesus offers timely solution to Arsenal’s goalscoring woes in Carabao Cup triumph
Gabriel Jesus scored a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal staged an impressive fightback to book their place in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 win against Crystal Palace.
The home side were staring at an underwhelming exit from the competition at half-time after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s opener for Palace inside just four minutes.
But Jesus, who had scored just once this season heading into Wednesday’s fixture, fired a treble in the second period with substitutes Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka both central to his haul.
Harvey Elliott returns to shine brightest as Liverpool sneak through Carabao Cup test
After a full and imposing pre-season under his belt, Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott had lofty ambitions this season. Could he crack a regular starting spot? The diminutive left-footed playmaker, signed amid so much promise from Fulham five years ago, certainly would not have anticipated his first start of the season coming in mid-December. But on a torrential night on the south coast, Elliott shone brightest as the Carabao Cup holders, ultimately, sneaked through at Southampton on Wednesday night.
When will the Carabao Cup semi-finals be played?
The Carabao Cup semi-finals will be played over two legs across the week commencing 6 January and the week commencing 3 February. The winners will battle it out at Wembley Stadium in the final on 16 March.
Carabao Cup quarter-final results
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
Newcastle 3-1 Brentford
Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace
Tottenham vs Manchester United
Carabao Cup semi-final draw: Ball numbers
- Arsenal
- Liverpool
- Newcastle United
- Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United
What time is the Carabao Cup semi-final draw?
So far Arsenal have beaten Crystal Palace, Newcastle United saw off Brentford, and Southampton, without a permanent manager after Russell Martin’s dismissal, were knocked out by Liverpool in a packed Wednesday night of football.
The final quarter-final sees Tottenham battle a Manchester United side bouncing off a thrilling derby win over Manchester City on Thursday night.
Sky Sports’ Carabao Cup presenter Mark Chapman hosts the draw following coverage of the final last eight tie with former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp and former Manchester City forward Izzy Christiansen assisting with the draw.
The draw itself should take place at around 10:30pm GMT.
