Middlesbrough are the last non-Premier League team standing in the Carabao Cup after knocking out Port Vale in the last eight – but they must overcome Chelsea over two legs to reach Wembley for the first time since 1997.
The Blues beat them on that last trip to the capital – for that year’s FA Cup final – but Michael Carrick could well see this as a golden opportunity as Mauricio Pochettino’s side continue to struggle in the Premier League.
A cup win would bring some respite to what has largely been a miserable season at Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea will be among the favourites, though Liverpool are also contenders, facing Fulham in the last four. Liverpool got there by easing past West Ham in the quarter-finals, while Fulham beat Everton on penalties at Goodison Park.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are the only non-Manchester club to have lifted the trophy in the last eight years, beating Chelsea on penalties in the 2022 final.
Manchester United beat Newcastle in the 2023 showpiece, while Manchester City have won it five times between 2016 and 2021.
Here’s the draw in full:
Carabao Cup semi-final draw
- Middlesbrough Chelsea
- Liverpool vs Fulham
When are the semi-finals?
The semi-finals take place across two separate weeks in January – the first legs are to be played the week commencing 9 January, and the second legs are scheduled in for the week beginning 23 January.
Exact dates and kick-off times are still to be confirmed by the EFL.
The Carabao Cup final will be played at Wembley on Sunday, 25 February.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/fL5Qd1i
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