Carabao Cup draw LIVE: Liverpool, Chelsea, Fulham and Middlesbrough learn semi-final fate

Liverpool will play Fulham in the Carabao Cup semi-finals while Middlesbrough face Chelsea.

Liverpool, who defeated Chelsea to win the League Cup in 2022, put West Ham to the sword in a 5-1 thrashing at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side are favourites for the Carabao Cup as they look to win the tournament for a record-extending 10th time.

Fulham are into the League Cup semi-finals for the first time in the club’s history and are yet to win a major domestic trophy. Marco Silva’s side defeated Everton on penalties and would play in their first major final since finishing runners-up in the 2009 Uefa Cup should they reach Wembley.

Middlesbrough, the only non-Premier League team through to the last four, were winners of the League Cup in 2004 - in what was also the last time the club won a major honour. Michael Carrick’s team beat Port Vale in the quarter-finals and are currently 13th in the Championship table.

They will play Chelsea, who stunned Newcastle United, last season’s runners-up, at Stamford Bridge. The Blues were rescued by Mykhailo Mudryk’s late equaliser before winning 4-2 on penalties. Mauricio Pochettino’s side have struggled in the Premier League this season but the young Blues could get lift-off in the Carabao Cup.

The Carabao Cup semi-final ties will take place over two legs and will be played across 9/10 and 16/17 January. Follow our live blog below for the latest updates from the Carabao Cup and to see who will face who in the semi-finals

Carabao Cup semi-final draw

• Liverpool vs Fulham; Middlesbrough vs Chelsea

• When will the Carabao Cup semi-finals take place?

• Liverpool and Middlesbrough to host first-leg ties

• Liverpool thrashed West Ham 5-1 to complete semi-final line-up

• Chelsea reached last four after penalty-shootout victory over Newcastle

• Fulham in semi-finals for the first time after beating Everton on penalties

• Championship Middlesborough only non top-flight team left after cruising past Port Vale

Liverpool and Chelsea avoid each other as Carabao Cup semi-final draw confirmed

22:45 , Jamie Braidwood

Liverpool will host Fulham at Anfield in the first leg before traveling to Craven Cottage for the return leg, while Middlesbrough will be at home first when they play Chelsea before going to Stamford Bridge. Liverpool defeated Fulham 4-3 at Anfield in the Premier League last month, in one of the games of the season so far.

Only four teams - Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United - have won the Carabao Cup since Swansea City’s surprise victory in 2013, and now Fulham and Middlesbrough are looking to end that run.

Liverpool and Chelsea avoid each other as Carabao Cup semi-final draw confirmed

Reaction from a delighted Jurgen Klopp

22:36 , Mike Jones

“The performance, the scoresheet, the result and the individual performances put together to make a team on the pitch.

“We were brave in our positioning, our second ball game was exceptional. It was a really, really good performance from start to finish.

“It is really tough for all of us, there’s a lot of games and the boys played a lot of football already. It was a game both teams had to win, it will be the same on Saturday and all the time. It is how it is so really nice to have a nice like that.

“The boys enjoyed it a lot, they worked hard but enjoyed it too with joyful football in moments. Nice to see.”

Carabao Cup semi-final full draw

22:30 , Mike Jones

Middlesbrough vs Chelsea

Liverpool vs Fulham

The first legs will be played on week commencing 8th January.

Carabao Cup semi-final draw

22:29 , Mike Jones

Jamie Redknapp pulls out Middlesbrough who are playing Chelsea.

In the second semi-final, Liverpool will be at home (for the first leg) against Fulham.

Carabao Cup semi-final draw

22:28 , Mike Jones

Here we go then, it’s time for the draw.

Harry and Jamie Redknapp are performing the draw for the last four teams.

Carabao Cup semi-final draw

22:26 , Mike Jones

Jurgen Klopp is giving some post match reaction and says that he enjoyed Curtis Jones’ performance. The semi-final draw will be taking place shortly after this interview.

Curtis Jones’ post match reaction

22:19 , Mike Jones

“I just want to play, whether it is the Carabao Cup, Europa League or Premier League, I just want to play.

“I want to score goals and help the team. It is okay playing well but you need to score goals, I’ve scored two so a big smile on my face!

“There is energy in the team. Mohamed Salah didn’t start but came on and scored. Trent came on and assisted. It shows the quality of the team. It is an exciting season.”

Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, speaking to Sky Sports:

22:15 , Mike Jones

“An important game to get through. We did our best and it was a good game in the end.

“We have a good team, we have amazing players. The only thing we have to do is stay focused and stay together and keep working hard and then the quality will come out.

“We have to keep calm and stay focused and keep going.”

Liverpool demolish West Ham as goals arrive at just the right time

22:12 , Mike Jones

A policy of shooting on sight can work after all. After Liverpool spent Sunday accumulating shots without scoring, the floodgates opened in the Anfield rain. Their 34 efforts brought no goals against Manchester United.

Three days later, they tried and tried and tried again and 29 attempts yielded five goals, each courtesy of a fine finish. Persistent, determined, enterprising and excellent, they demolished West Ham, exorcising some of their frustration from Sunday’s stalemate. They surged into a semi-final as the favourites to win a second Carabao Cup in three years.

They performed with the elan of a team who can sense glory, West Ham with the ineptitude of one whose manager has never won at Anfield.

David Moyes’ streak stretches back more than two decades and 21 matches, but this was his heaviest defeat to Liverpool. On a near-perfect night for Klopp, Curtis Jones struck twice with Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah also scoring high-class goals for a team who were dominant and ambitious from the off. But an eventual shot count of 29-2 was an indictment of the Hammers.

Liverpool demolish West Ham as goals arrive at just the right time

Liverpool defeat West Ham at Anfield

22:08 , Mike Jones

Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones (x2), Mo Salah, and Cody Gakpo all got on the scoresheet as Liverpool hammered West Ham 5-1 at Anfield.

Charlie Adam backs Reds to win cup

22:05 , Mike Jones

Former Liverpool midfielder, Charlie Adam, is backing the Reds to go on and lift the trophy after they reached the semi-finals.

Speaking on BBC 5 Live he said: “That is a big win.

“There is an opportunity to go on and win it. Manchester City are out of it now and they really have the chance to go and win it. A cup tie at Anfield is special.”

Liverpool reach semi-finals

22:01 , Mike Jones

Liverpool’s hammering of West Ham means they complete the final four line-up and go into the draw alongside Middlesbrough, Fulham and Chelsea.

The draw is due to take place at 10.15pm which is when the remaining teams will discover who they face in the next round.

Chelsea eyeing up another date at Wembley

21:58 , Ben Fleming

Only three clubs have won the tournament more times than Chelsea, with the Blues’ most recent triumph coming back in 2015.

Since then, Chelsea have made the final on two occasions - in 2019 and 2022 - but lost both on penalties after drawing 0-0 with Manchester City and Liverpool respectively.

Full time! Liverpool 5-1 West Ham

21:57 , Jamie Braidwood

Liverpool cruised into the Carabao Cup semi-finals as the nine-time winners thrashed toothless West Ham 5-1 at Anfield.

The Reds were much improved from their blunt display in Sunday’s stalemate with Manchester United and dominated throughout, with goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and a brilliant double from Curtis Jones.

West Ham boss David Moyes belatedly brought on Lucas Paqueta and James Ward-Prowse with his side three goals down and Jarrod Bowen pulled one back with the visitors’ first shot on target.

But Salah came off the bench to deny any hopes of an unlikely comeback before Jones added his second after a wonderful run and finish.

Jurgen Klopp’s side now join Chelsea, Fulham and Middlesbrough in the semi-finals as the Reds await the results of the Carabao Cup draw.

Fulham in uncharted territory

21:53 , Ben Fleming

Marco Silva’s side, meanwhile, are the only club left in the draw who will be making their debut appearance in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. The west London club have got past Tottenham, Norwich, Ipswich and Everton to get to this point and their fans will be hoping they can go one further to reach the final next year.

Underdogs Middlesbrough looking to roll back the clocks

21:49 , Ben Fleming

Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough are the only non-Premier League team left in the draw but they have got history in the competition.

Captained by Gareth Southgate at the time, Boro triumphed 2-1 over Bolton Wanderers to win the tournament back in 2004. This will be their first time back in a semi-final since that edition - who will they face?

Middlesbrough book place in Carabao Cup semi-final draw with win over Port Vale

21:44 , Ben Fleming

Middlesbrough cruised into the Carabao Cup semi-finals after breezing past Port Vale 3-0.

Jonny Howson, Morgan Rogers and Matt Crooks fired the 2004 winners in to the last four with a comfortable win at Vale Park.

Boro had not made a major domestic semi-final since losing to West Ham in the last four of the FA Cup in 2006. Vale’s big night – their first League Cup quarter-final – was ruined by the incisive and efficient visitors within 23 minutes.

Gavin Massey missed the hosts’ best chance but Boro boss Michael Carrick, a two-time winner with Manchester United, ultimately navigated a tricky tie with ease given their injury problems.

Middlesbrough book place in Carabao Cup semi-final draw with win over Port Vale

21:43 , Jamie Braidwood

Goals galore at Anfield! After Jarrod Bowen pulled one back, Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones make it 5-1 to Liverpool. Thrashing.

Liverpool vs West Ham LIVE: Latest Carabao Cup latest updates

Fulham beat Everton on penalties to make Carabao Cup semi-finals

21:37 , Ben Fleming

Fulham captain Tosin Adarabioyo scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out against Everton which put the club into their first Carabao Cup semi-final.

The Toffees’ hero from their second-round comeback win at Doncaster, Beto came off the bench to score a late equaliser after Michael Keane’s own goal but in sudden death in the spot-kicks, Idrissa Gana Gueye hit the post and Adarabioyo scored to send the Cottagers through 7-6.

It was the fourth time in the last six seasons Everton had exited the competition on penalties and brought to end a four-match winning run as their hopes of a first semi-final appearance in seven years were dashed.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s save from Bobby De Cordova-Reid in front of the Gwladys Street gave Amadou Onana the chance to win it with their fifth and final penalty in regulation but the Belgium international, who had been relatively ineffective all game, chose placement over power and placed the ball too close to Bernd Leno.

Fulham’s victory also saw them become the first club to win at Goodison Park three times in a calendar year, while their former Toffees boss Marco Silva, who reached the FA Cup quarter-finals last season, returned to haunt his old club once again.

Report courtesy of PA

21:36 , Jamie Braidwood

Another one! I think we can put Liverpool’s name in the hat now...

Liverpool lead 3-0 and it’s Cody Gakpo who cuts inside on the edge of the box before fizzing a shot between the legs of Konstantinos Mavropanos and nestling it into the far bottom corner.

Chelsea joy and Newcastle misery come from unlikely sources in Carabao Cup drama

21:30 , Ben Fleming

A moment to savour and delight, finally, for Mauricio Pochettino, who will dance long into the southwest London night. His Chelsea into the Carabao Cup semi-finals and a cruel exit on penalties for a brave Newcastle United. It was so nearly more of the same for the Blues: plenty of promise but ultimately heading for a miserable conclusion to another 90 minutes in this lavish project.

Desperately searching for inspiration, it arrived in unlikely circumstances, with not only another calamitous error from Kieran Trippier, but their much-maligned £88.5m man Mykhailo Mudryk doing the damage. He prodded into the corner in stoppage time and followed it with a calmly-converted penalty in the shootout. Chelsea may just have lift-off under Pochettino on this most thrilling of nights in the Carabao Cup.

Jack Rathborn’s report from Chelsea’s dramatic penalty-shootout victory against Newcastle:

Chelsea joy and Newcastle misery come from unlikely sources in Carabao Cup drama

Carabao Cup semi-final draw

21:25 , Ben Fleming

As the second half of Liverpool vs West Ham rolls on, let’s take a look back at Tuesday’s fixtures and how the first three teams secured their place in tonight’s draw.

Carabao Cup semi-final draw

21:19 , Jamie Braidwood

There’s the second at Anfield and Liverpool are in total control!

It’s a belter from Curtis Jones too. He brings the ball forward down the inside left and plays a one-two before sprinting into the box. Jones carries the ball towards goal, looks for a teammate but there’s no-one around.

Instead he shoots, beats the goalkeeper on his left and sneaks the ball into the box off the inside of the far post!

Carabao Cup semi-final draw - when will the fixtures take place.

21:19 , Ben Fleming

The first legs will take place on the week commencing 8th January.

The second legs will take place on the week commencing 21st January.

When is the Carabao Cup final?

The league cup final will take place on Sunday 25 February 2024 at Wembley.

Carabao Cup semi-final draw

21:12 , Ben Fleming

We are still waiting to find out who the final team in the hat will be and so the draw, right now, looks like this:

Fulham

Chelsea

Middlesbrough

Liverpool or West Ham

Carabao Cup semi-final draw - when is the draw?

21:05 , Ben Fleming

The draw will take place on Wednesday 20 December following the conclusion of Liverpool vs West Ham United. It is expected to start around 10pm GMT. You can see the latest odds and tips for that quarter-final match here.

How to watch the draw?

The draw will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. The coverage starts at 7pm ahead of Liverpool vs West Ham and the draw will be shown on the same channel following the game.

Good evening!

21:00 , Ben Fleming

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live blog for the Carabao Cup semi-final draw!

Liverpool and West Ham are the final two teams looking to punch their ticket into the final four, with their game still taking place.

Chelsea, Fulham and Middlesbrough are already in the draw following their respective wins on Tuesday night. Fulham have never reached this stage of the competition, while Championship Middlesbrough are the only non-top-flight team left in the competition and have not reached this stage of the tournament since they won the League Cup back in 2004.

The draw will take place following the conclusion of Liverpool vs West Ham but stay with us here for all the build-up!