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Carabao cup

Liverpool, Chelsea on course for Carabao cup final showdown

Liverpool and Chelsea are poised for a showdown in the final of the 2023/2024 Carabao Cup, having convincingly triumphed in their respective quarter-final clashes. Liverpool showcased their attacking prowess by routing West Ham United 5-1 at Anfield, with goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, and a Curtis Jones brace securing a commanding victory. Meanwhile, Chelsea advanced to the next stage after a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United, ultimately winning on penalties following Mykhailo Mudryk’s last-minute equalizer.

In the upcoming semi-finals, Championship side Middlesbrough is set to face Chelsea, while Liverpool will take on Fulham. Michael Carrick, the manager of Middlesbrough, aspires to guide his team to a historic final after dispatching League One’s Port Vale 3-0 in the previous round. Fulham, akin to Chelsea, relied on penalty kicks to eliminate Everton.

The first legs of the semi-finals are scheduled for the week commencing January 8, 2024, with the return legs set to occur during the week starting January 22. Assuming Liverpool and Chelsea navigate through the semi-finals without surprises, it would pave the way for a repeat of the 2022 final, which Chelsea won via penalties.

Given the remarkable goal-scoring form of both Liverpool and Chelsea, a high-scoring two-legged tie seems likely as these English football powerhouses vie for the first domestic trophy of the 2023/2024 season.