Chelsea will face former boss Antonio Conte in the Carabao Cup semifinals as the Blues were drawn against Tottenham Hotspur.
- ESPN+ viewers' guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more
- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- Don't have ESPN? Get instant access
The other two-legged semifinal will see Arsenal play Liverpool. The Gunners beat third-tier Sunderland on Tuesday, while the Reds needed penalties to eliminate Leicester City in a thriller on Wednesday.
The first legs will be the week of Jan. 3 with the second legs a week later. The final is set for Wembley on Feb. 27.(stream Carabao Cup matches on ESPN+).
A much-changed Chelsea side featuring three teenaged debutants beat west London rivals Brentford 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the semifinals. In the night's other London derby, hosts Tottenham beat West Ham United 2-1. Goals by Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura edged Antonio Conte's side past West Ham who had equalised through Jarrod Bowen.
Conte coached Chelsea from 2016-18 where he won the Premier League and the FA Cup. He took over at Spurs for Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked after a poor start to the campaign, and is trying to deliver the north London team's first trophy since winning this competition in 2008.
Amid concerns of fixture congestion due to rising COVID-19 cases in the Premier League, Conte called for January's Carabao Cup semifinals to be played over one match rather than two.
"Honestly, if I had to decide, maybe it would be to play one game and not two games -- especially, I repeat, for the situation we are living -- but we have to respect the rules," Conte said.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also gave his support for the semifinals to be played over match, as was the case last season.
"I think it would be better with one game absolutely, but obviously what I say is not too important," Klopp said.
"If there are two games, then we will play two games. But it would be helpful if there was only one. The draw has us at Arsenal -- I'm fine with that, we play there and see who is better and go for it."
Liverpool last won the Cup in 2012, while Arsenal have lost three finals since their last triumph in 1993. Holders Manchester City were eliminated in the previous round by West Ham.