Carabao Cup semi-final draw: Holders Liverpool drawn against Tottenham in last four of 2024/25 competition

The draw for the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup was made on Thursday night following Tottenham's 4-3 win over Manchester United.

After reaching the semi-finals for the fourth time in the last seven seasons, Ange Postecoglou's Spurs the guardians side will take Liverpool in the last four, with the first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Arne Slot's Reds beat Southampton 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Newcastle – who beat Brentford 3-1 in the quarter-finals – will play Arsenal – who saw off Crystal Palace thanks to Gabriel Jesus' hat-trick – with the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.

The draw leaves the possibility of a north London derby final.

The Carabao Cup semi-finals take place over two legs over the week commencing 6 January and the week commencing 3 February.

Every match from this season's competition can be seen live Sky Sports.

Arsenal game headache

Just like many teams fighting on both sides, Arsenal's commitments in January do not read favourably. Eight games in three different competitions, and that's before the Carabao Cup semi-final date is confirmed, bringing the total to nine.

How Mikel Arteta copes with such a busy schedule could make or break their season. The new year begins with a visit Brentford and Brightonbefore a consecutive run of four home, away games Man Utd in the FA Cup, Tottenham in the north London derby, Aston Villa and Dinamo Zagreb in the European League.

The month ends with trips to wolves and finally Girona.

It's a frustrating program for a squad that is not yet blessed with a definite strength in depth. The Gunners' second string needed reinforcements off the bench – Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka – to see off Crystal Palace in the quarters and you suspect that there wouldn't be enough firepower in a similar XI, without the two named, to reach the March showdown.

Arteta must strike the perfect balance to stay away.

Arsenal games in January

Brentford (a) – 1 January
Brighton (a) – 4 January – Live on Sky Sports
Newcastle (h) – w/c 6 January (Carabao Cup) – Live on Sky Sports
Man Utd (h) – January 12 (FA Cup)
Tottenham (h) – 15 January
Aston Villa (h) – 18 January – Live on Sky Sports
Dinamo Zagreb (h) – January 22 (Champions League)
Wolves (a) – 25 January
Girona (a) – 29 January (Champions League)

Can Liverpool keep a move going in January?

Liverpool do not have the toughest January of the Carabao Cup semi-finals on paper, but they face a trip to Brentford which is still undisturbed on home and away soil Man Utd – who just won at the Etihad – in their first game of 2025.

Nottingham Forest there are no mugs in the City Ground, either. But there could also be some opportunities to convert – Accrington Stanley, Ipswich and Lille visit Anfield and although there was a Champions League final group game at PSV It's not the easiest way, Liverpool could have taken first place in the first tier by then – and they can use a few squad players again.

There's also the small matter of the Merseyside derby being rescheduled – although in an already packed January, it looks like that will have to wait until February at least.

Liverpool games in January

Man Utd (h) – January 5 – Live on Sky Sports
Newcastle (a) – w/c 6 January (Carabao Cup) – Live on Sky Sports
Accrington (h) – January 11 (FA Cup)
Nottingham Forest (a) – 14 January
Brentford (a) – 18 January
Lille (h) – January 21 (Champions League)
Ipswich(h) – 25 January
PSV (a) – 29 January (Champions League)

Tottenham's difficult run has already been stretched

Tottenham's selection problems in key areas, particularly defence, have done little to help Postecoglou move up in north London and he now faces a punishing January as the club look for his their first silverware in 16 years.

Newcastle visit London before there should be a normal visit Tamworth in the third round of the FA Cup, but then a derby with Arsenalvisiting him Everton and Hoffenheimand home games with Leicester and Elfsburg the end of a busy month.

Tottenham games in January

Newcastle (h) – 4 January
Liverpool (h) – w/c 6 January (Carabao Cup) – Live on Sky Sports
Tamworth (a) – January 12 (FA Cup)
Arsenal (a) – 15 January
Everton (h) – 19 January – Live on Sky Sports
TSG Hoffenheim (a) – January 23 (Europa League)
Leicester (h) – 26 January
IF Elfsborg (h) – January 30 (Europa League)

The edge could be given to Newcastle

Unlike their semi-final rivals, Newcastle have no European football to contend with in January and that could be a marginal advantage that Eddie Howe will be looking to exploit over the other three teams.

Even after their first trip to Arsenalhe is Bromleyof Sky Bet League Two, at home in the FA Cup at St James' Park, meaning Howe will be able to move accordingly if required. Premier League home games against wolves and Bournemouth continue It could be much worse.

Newcastle games in January