Liverpool will play Fulham in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, while Championship side Middlesbrough will take on Chelsea.
Jurgen Klopp’s side progressed to the last four with a 5-1 victory over West Ham United at Anfield on Wednesday, while their opponents Fulham made it through via a 7-6 penalty shootout victory over Everton after a 1-1 draw in normal time.
Middlesbrough, meanwhile, are the only non-Premier League side in the semi-finals after beating Port Vale 3-0 away on Tuesday. Their opponents Chelsea beat Newcastle United 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw, with Mykhailo Mudryk scoring a dramatic late equaliser in stoppage time.
The semi-finals will be played over two legs in the weeks commencing January 8 and 21, with the final taking place on February 25 at Wembley Stadium.
The draw in full
- Middlesbrough vs Chelsea
- Liverpool vs Fulham
Will VAR be used in the semi-finals?
Previously, VAR has not been used in the Carabao Cup until the latter stages of the tournament.
There is no VAR system used in the Carabao Cup until the semi-finals, as not every club in the competition can facilitate the use of the technology.
Had there been four Premier League sides in the semi-final, VAR would have been used given it is already accessible at their grounds. However, with Middlesbrough beating Port Vale in the quarter-finals, an EFL club will be competing in the last four.
Therefore, the EFL board still need to decide whether VAR will be implemented, in accordance with Rule 12.6.
Rule 12.6 on the ‘Use of Technology’ says “where the venue at which any competition match is to be played has a goal line technology system installed and/or such equipment is necessary to enable the use of video assistant referees, the management committee shall be entitled to determine whether any such system(s) should be used, and its decision shall be final”.
The management committee may also mandate the installation of temporary systems for a semi-final at home grounds of league clubs.
GO DEEPER
Why VAR is not being used at Liverpool vs West Ham in the Carabao Cup
(John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)