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      Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 19 – target Carabao Cup semi-finals after FA Cup lottery

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      GAMEWEEK 19 is a tricky one for Dream Team managers to negotiate.Attempting to predict the Premier League clubs’ starting line-ups for the FA Cup third round fixtures is a near-impossible task as it’s traditionally a weekend that involves extensive rotation.
      Looking at the schedule, it may be wise for gaffers to target the additional midweek games – in the form of the Carabao Cup semi-final first legs – in search of suitable returns in what could prove to be a banana skin of a Gameweek.

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      A popular recruit this weekCredit: Getty
      With that in mind, allow us to suggest some recommendations.
      Cole Palmer (£3.4m)
      Some Dream Team bosses will see this suggestion as a ship that’s already sailed given the 21-year-old banked 17 points against Luton last weekend.
      And sure, those who transferred him in prior to Gameweek 18 will be happy as Larry but given Chelsea are one of only three teams set to pull double duty in Gameweek 19, there could be plenty more points to come.
      Mauricio Pochettino may choose to rotate his preferred starting line-up but Palmer should get his fair share of minutes across games against Preston (FA Cup) and Middlesbrough (Carabao Cup).
      Both opponents are currently languishing in the middle of the Championship table with the former having conceded plenty of goals so the Blues’ in-form No20 should enjoy himself if given a decent run out.
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      After his Player of the Match display against the Hatters, Palmer has eight goals and seven assists to his name.
      The 21-year-old is now Chelsea’s top Dream Team performer too, having moved onto 124 points for the season.
      The Blues will fulfil their second semi-final leg against Boro next week, meaning consecutive double Gameweeks at a time when the schedule relaxes for most other teams.
      Trent Alexander-Arnold (£6m) and/or Joe Gomez (£3.4m)
      An affordable differential?Credit: Dream Team
      We try to avoid painfully obvious transfer recommendations in this weekly article and Alexander-Arnold certainly falls into that category as Dream Team’s top defender but he’s worth underlining this week in particular.
      Like Chelsea, Liverpool will be in action in both domestic cups in Gameweek 19 and while their games are against tougher opposition, the Reds themselves are considerably stronger than the Blues at present.
      Jurgen Klopp’s side face Arsenal on Sunday in what may end up a match-up between two second-string outfits before hosting Fulham in midweek.
      Again, the England international’s minutes are not guaranteed but he’ll probably feature in both fixtures in some capacity.
      On a similar theme, Gomez is a viable and potentially smart, value-for-money option.
      The 26-year-old doesn’t provide the same attacking threat as Alexander-Arnold – not many defenders do – but with Andy Robertson (£3.7m) and Kostas Tsimikas (£3.5m) both sidelined, he’s very much first-choice left-back for the time being.
      Some gaffers may not be able to afford Alexander-Arnold and so Gomez offers an affordable route into Liverpool’s defence ahead of back-to-back double Gameweeks.
      Pairing the two would be perfectly reasonable too – a clean sheet in either fixture would yield healthy returns.
      See also Virgil van Dijk (£4.3m), who splits the difference in terms of price.
      Darwin Nunez (£4.1m)
      An enigmatic figureCredit: AFP
      Seriously, Liverpool are a great team to back this month.
      Much of what applied to the defenders is also relevant when discussing the Uruguayan striker.
      Nunez can be a very frustrating Dream Team asset to own because he misses more than his fair share of chances but, on the other hand, he’s provided eight goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season.
      Only Dream Team’s top boy Mohamed Salah (£6.5m) has more goal involvements to his name among Anfield residents and with the Egyptian superstar off to AFCON, Nunez is arguably Klopp’s most-potent weapon.
      It’s not unthinkable that some combination of Luis Diaz (£3.3m), Cody Gakpo (£3.6m), Diogo Jota (£3.9m) and Harvey Elliott (£2.7m) will make up the starting front three at some stage but Nunez’s unique brand of chaos is irreplaceable.
      To ram the point home, Liverpool’s No9 squandered several chances against Newcastle last time out but he still added ten points to his total from just over an hour’s playing time.
      Kevin De Bruyne (£6.7m)
      Loading…Credit: Getty
      A tongue-in-cheek suggestion to finish.
      Manchester City’s brilliant Belgian was an unused substitute against Sheffield United and is therefore expected to get some minutes against Huddersfield this weekend.
      The sensible thing to do would be to wait for a glimpse of De Bruyne in action before deciding on his Dream Team viability but such is the enormity of the playmaker’s talent, the thought of even a 20-minute cameo against a relegation-threatened Championship outfit is enough to spark the embers of temptation.
      One thing’s for sure, if De Bruyne returns and resumes normal service, his ownership will increase sharply – there’s something to be said for getting in early.
      Read more on The Sun
      At the very least, he’s one to keep a close eye on this weekend.

      The deadline for Gameweek 19 is 6:15pm on Friday – don’t get caught out by Brentford v Wolves kicking-off at 7:15pm!

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      Which teams have the best fixtures this January? Dream Team managers to target cup competitions

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      THIS month is an intriguing one in the Dream Team calendar.With several players unavailable due to Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup commitments, plus a mini break for all 20 Premier League clubs, it might be wise for gaffers to target the cup competitions.
      The FA Cup third round is set to take place in Gameweek 19 with the fourth round fixtures scheduled for the end of month, in Gameweek 21.
      Then there’s the small matter of the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

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      Smart option for January?Credit: Dream Team
      Let’s take a look at the current January fixtures for every club currently in the top half of the table.
      LIVERPOOL

      Arsenal (a)
      Fulham (h)
      Bournemouth (a)
      Fulham (a)
      Chelsea (h)

      The Reds’ participation in the FA Cup fourth round is far from certain as their trip to the Emirates represents one of most-competitive third round match-ups.
      However, a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final against the Cottagers ensures Jurgen Klopp’s troops will be one of the busier teams this month.
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      Mohamed Salah (£6.5m) isn’t around to cash in but the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold (£6m), Darwin Nunez (£4.1m) and Virgil van Dijk (£4.3m) will be popular selections.
      ASTON VILLA

      Middlesbrough (a)
      Everton (a)
      Newcastle (h)

      The Villains’ home record is their great strength and so it may be a quieter month for Ollie Watkins (£4.4m) and company if they end up with just one game at Villa Park.
      Eddie Howe’s side battered Villa at St James’ Park earlier in the campaign but it’s a good time to play Newcastle with them having lost three games in a row amid their sustained injury crisis.
      The FA Cup results will impact City’s schedule considerablyCredit: AFP
      MANCHESTER CITY

      Huddersfield (h)
      Newcastle (a)
      Burnley (h)

      The treble-winners against a side battling relegation in the Championship is a huge mismatch on paper and one that could yield massive returns but predicting Pep Guardiola’s line-up is far from easy.
      Again, Howe’s side are vulnerable at present so City’s league fixtures look friendly enough and it would be a huge surprise if they weren’t in the hat for the FA Cup fourth round draw.
      There’s also a chance the postponed meeting with Brentford will be rearranged for this month.
      When will Erling Haaland (£7.9m) return to action? That’s the big question.
      ARSENAL

      Liverpool (h)
      Crystal Palace (h)
      Nottingham Forest (a)

      The Gunners will fancy their chances of stopping the rot in their league form although Forest are showing signs of Nuno Espirito Santo’s New Manager Bounce.
      It will be interesting to see how Mikel Arteta views the FA Cup with the Champions League knockout stages on the horizon.
      TOTTENHAM

      Burnley (h)
      Manchester United (a)
      Brentford (h)

      Ange Postecoglou will have to contend with the absences of Son Heung-min (£4.7m), Yves Bissouma (£2.5m) and Pape Matar Sarr (£2m) on top of those currently injured.
      That being said, Spurs have won four of their last five and their next three opponents have all been out of form lately.
      Son will be a big miss for Spurs this monthCredit: PA
      WEST HAM

      Bristol City (h)
      Sheffield United (a)

      At this point, the Hammers have just two fixtures scheduled for the rest of January but don’t be fooled, they host Bournemouth on February 1st which falls under Gameweek 21.
      Plus, they’re favourites to get past the Robins this weekend although their squad looks stretched thin suddenly.
      BRIGHTON

      Stoke (a)
      Wolves (h)
      Luton (a)

      A relatively favourable run of games for the Seagulls as it stands although Gary O’Neil’s outfit are no pushovers by any means.
      Joao Pedro (£3.6m) and Pascal Gross (£4.3m) are best placed to take advantage this month with Karou Mitoma (£3.4m) and Simon Adingra (£3.2m) away on international duty.
      MANCHESTER UNITED

      Wigan (a)
      Tottenham (h)

      Like West Ham, the Red Devils have a game on February 1st (a trip to Wolves) and should progress in the FA Cup.
      However, most Dream Team bosses will be understandably hesitant to back any Old Trafford resident right now.

      Newcastle are under pressureCredit: PA
      NEWCASTLE

      Sunderland (a)
      Manchester City (h)
      Aston Villa (a)

      A fierce derby followed by two of the most difficult Premier League fixtures – a tough ask on current form.
      CHELSEA

      Preston (h)
      Middlesbrough (a)
      Fulham (h)
      Middlesbrough (h)
      Liverpool (a)

      Despite their inconsistent form, now is a great time to back the Blues as their two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final against Boro means they’re busier than the vast majority of teams this month.
      Cole Palmer (£3.4m) appears to be the most likely player to capitalise – he’s Chelsea’s best asset this season having reached 124 points with a 17-point return against Luton in Gameweek 18.
      Read more on The Sun
      A trip to Anfield is a tough ask but it should be a productive few weeks nonetheless.
      It’s worth repeating that this weekend’s FA Cup results will shape the remainder of the January schedule so pay attention – there’s points to be had this month despite the disruption!

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      Liverpool’s Caomhin Kelleher forced to remove PIE from pitch after object appears to be thrown from West Ham end

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      LIVERPOOL star Caomhin Kelleher had to remove a pie from the pitch which appeared to come from the West Ham end.The Reds progressed to the Carabao Cup semi-final after thrashing David Moyes’ side 5-1 at Anfield.
      A pie appeared to be thrown onto the pitch from the away endCredit: PA
      Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was forced to remove the pieCredit: PA
      He threw it behind his goalCredit: PA
      It was a disappointing result for West Ham, who would have been the highest-placed team left in the competition if they had beaten Liverpool.
      But some amongst the unhappy travelling faithful seemingly came up with other ways to keep amused.
      A pie was thrown from the recently renovated Anfield Road End – which houses both home and away fans.
      It reached the six-yard box and Reds goalkeeper Kelleher was forced to pick up the piece of food before tossing it behind his goal.
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      Liverpool’s victory means they will battle it out with Fulham for a place at Wembley in February.
      The Cottagers beat Everton on penalties to progress and could face Chelsea or Middlesbrough in the final.
      Mauricio Pochettino’s side knocked out Newcastle in a penalty shoot-out while Boro overcame Port Vale.
      Fans were disappointed with the draw as Liverpool and Chelsea managed to avoid each other.
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      Should Chelsea and Liverpool progress as expected, that would set up a repeat of the 2022 Carabao Cup final, which Jurgen Klopp’s team won. More

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      Carabao Cup semi-final draw labelled the ‘most obviously rigged ever’ by fans as Chelsea get Championship tie

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      FANS moaned the Carabao Cup draw was fixed after Chelsea and Liverpool avoided each other in the semi-finals.The Reds thrashed West Ham 5-1 at Anfield to complete the final-four line-up.
      Jurgen Klopp had plenty to celebrate as Liverpool thrashed West Ham and got a favourable cup drawCredit: Getty
      Chelsea edged past Newcastle on penalties and will face Middlesbrough in the semi-finalsCredit: Alamy
      Chelsea and Fulham booked their places in the semis thanks to penalty shootout victories over Newcastle and Everton respectively on Tuesday while Middlesbrough saw off Port Vale.
      Father-and-son duo Harry and Jamie Redknapp conducted the draw live on Sky Sports after tonight’s game.
      And crucially the two big hitters avoided each other.
      Middlesbrough were pitted against Chelsea while Liverpool will take on Fulham.
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      And petulant supporters took to social media, ridiculously suggesting the draw was “most obviously rigged” which it clearly was not.
      There was just a 33 per cent chance of Chelsea and Liverpool drawing each other – and the same likelihood of it being Mauricio Pochettino’s side who got the one remaining Championship side.
      Sky presenter Mark Chapman even joked that Middlesbrough and Fulham fans would not be happy.
      But one fuming supporter complained: “That was the most obviously rigged draw ever.”
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      Another added: “Carabao Cup draw was fixed to get the big final. Middlesborough and Fulham never had a chance.”
      A third tweeted: “Come on Fulham and Boro upset the draw fix.”
      A fourth chipped in: “Surprise surprise Liverpool and Chelsea kept apart, that will please the sponsors. CORRUPT.”
      And a final user blasted: “I would have happily put £1,000 for that draw… so rigged for a Liverpool vs Chelsea final.”
      Should Chelsea and Liverpool progress as expected, that would set up a repeat of the 2022 Carabao Cup final.
      Following a 0-0 draw after extra-time, Kepa Arrizabalaga missed Chelsea’s 11th penalty before Caoimhin Kelleher scored to seal an 11-10 shootout win for the Reds.
      To make matters worse, Kepa – now at Real Madrid – had been subbed on in the 119th minute just to take part in the shootout. Yet Liverpool scored every kick against him.
      But Chelsea will hope they have a new goalkeeping hero now after Djordje Petrovic saved Matt Ritchie’s penalty to give them victory over Eddie Howe’s Magpies this week.
      Liverpool are going for a record-extending ninth success in the League Cup while the Blues have got their hands on the cup five times.
      Middlesbrough beat Bolton in the 2004 final for their only triumph but Fulham are into the semis for the very first time in the tournament’s history.
      The two-legged semi-finals will take place in the weeks beginning January 8 and January 22 ahead of the final at Wembley on February 25.
      Read more on The Sun
      Middlesbrough and Liverpool play at home first before Chelsea and Fulham host the second legs – with the two legs getting scrapped from next season as the EFL shakes up the competition.
      Manchester United are the holders, beating Newcastle to end their six-year goal drought in February.
      Fulham beat Everton on penalties to reach the Carabao Cup semis for the first timeCredit: Reuters
      Michael Carrick has led his Boro side to the final fourCredit: AFP
      Jamie and Harry Redknapp conducted the draw More

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      Carabao Cup semi-final draw LIVE: Chelsea and Liverpool separated as huge draw made – latest reaction

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      LIVERPOOL and Chelsea could meet in a mouthwatering Carabao Cup final after the big semi-final draw was made.The Blues take on Championship Middlesbrough while Liverpool face Fulham in the two-legged ties.
      Then all eyes will be on Wembley for the February 25 final.
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      Follow ALL of the latest updates below..
      Previous winners
      Who will join the list of previous League Cup winners when the final takes place in February?

      22/23 – Manchester United
      21/22 – Liverpool
      20/21 – Manchester City
      19/20 – Manchester City
      18/19 – Manchester City
      17/18 – Manchester City
      16/17 – Manchester United
      15/16 – Manchester City
      14/15 – Chelsea
      13/14 – Manchester City

      Read more on the draw
      Read our article for some more information on the draw and how everyone earned their place in the semi-finals.

      When will the semi-finals be held?
      The first leg of the semi-final ties will be played week commencing 8 January, 2024, with second leg fixtures taking place week commencing 22 January, 2024.
      The final will then take place at Wembley on February 25, 2024.
      Chelsea fans delighted
      Chelsea fans will be pleased to hear they have been handed a draw against Middlesbrough.
      Boro have done superb to get to the semi-finals, but as the only team from outside the Premier League, the Blues will be seen as clear favourites for a slot a Wembley.
      Draw in full
      Middlesbrough vs Chelsea
      Liverpool vs Fulham
      Draw complete
      And just like that the draw is complete.
      Middlesbrough and Liverpool will play host in the first leg of the fixtures before Fulham and Chelsea return the favour for the second leg.
      SEMI-FINAL NUMBER TWO
      LIVERPOOL vs FULHAM
      SEMI-FINAL NUMBER ONE
      MIDDLESBROUGH vs CHELSEA
      Here we go!
      We’re finally about to get underway for the short but important draw for the Carabao Cup semi-finals after a delay.
      Father and son duo Harry and Jamie Redknapp are present to pull the names out of the pot!
      One last reminder
      Before the teams are pulled from the hat here is one last reminder of the four sides that have made it in to the the semi-finals and their ball numbers.

      Chelsea
      Fulham
      Middlesbrough
      Liverpool

      Middlesbrough’s run
      Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough side are the only team left in the tournament from outside of the Premier League.
      The Championship outfit have put together a splendid run to earn themselves a spot in the semi-finals.
      Boro have beaten Huddersfield, Bolton, Bradford City, Exeter and Port Vale so far.
      Who will they take on next?
      Credit: Alamy
      Not far off now
      The draw is set to take place at around 10:15pm.
      Follow all of the action and reaction here.
      LIVERPOOL ENTER THE DRAW
      Liverpool have beaten West Ham 5-1 to secure their place in the semi-final draw.
      The final list of teams in the pot are as follows:

      Fulham
      Chelsea
      Middlesbrough
      Liverpool

      Moments away
      We’re now just moments away from the draw with the Liverpool vs West Ham game heading into injury time.
      It looks as if Liverpool are in the hat, but who will they face?
      All but over
      Just when West Ham looked to have a glimmer of hope of making a comeback, Liverpool have punished them.
      The Merseyside outfit have added another two goals to make the score 5-1 and look like they will inevitably be joining the others in the semi-final draw this evening.
      Ball numbers
      The ball numbers for tonight’s draw are as follows…

      Chelsea
      Fulham
      Middlesbrough
      Liverpool or West Ham

      Credit: Getty
      Hope for the Hammers
      It could be too little too late, but West Ham have pulled one back at Anfield.
      Jarrod Bowen has made it 3-1 to try and force his team through to the next round, but there’s not long left for David Moyes’ side.
      GOAL – Liverpool cruising to the semi-finals
      It looks like Liverpool will almost certainly be joining Fulham, Middlesbrough and Chelsea in the Semi’s now.
      The Red have bagged a third through Cody Gakpo and now lead West Ham 3-0.
      It’s heartbreak for the Hammers with just over 15 minutes left to play at Anfield.
      How did the teams earn their spot in the semi’s?
      Fulham, Middlesbrough and Chelsea all booked their places in the semi finals last night.
      The two Premier League clubs needed penalties to secure their way in to the next round while Boro comfortably saw off Port Vale.

      Everton 1-1 Fulham (PEN 6-7 )
      Port Vale 0-3 Middlesbrough
      Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle (PEN 4-2)
      Liverpool vs West Ham (ongoing)

      Credit: Getty
      LIVERPOOL BAG ANOTHER
      Liverpool are now 2-0 up and edging closer to securing their spot in the draw!
      It’s Curtis Jones who has netted this time and the Reds look to be brushing aside West Ham at Anfield.
      Credit: Reuters
      Liverpool on track for the semi-finals
      As things stand it will be Liverpool that join the other three teams in the pot for the semi-final draw.
      The Reds currently lead West Ham 1-0 at Anfield thanks to a Dominik Szoboszlai goal.
      Who’s in the pot?
      All but one of the teams has been decided with just four sides heading in to the semi-final pot.
      The last team will be decided when we have a winner between Liverpool and West Ham tonight.

      Fulham
      Middlesbrough
      Chelsea
      Liverpool/West Ham

      CARABAO CUP SEMI-FINAL DRAW
      We are right round the corner from this year’s Carabao Cup semi-final draw as we eagerly await to see who will face who.
      The draw will take place after Liverpool’s clash with West Ham with the pair fighting it out for a place in the pot. More

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      Carabao Cup semi-final draw in full: Liverpool handed tough trip to West London as Chelsea look to make it to Wembley

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      LIVERPOOL will play Fulham in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup with Middlesbrough up against Chelsea.The first legs of the semis will take place in the week commencing January 8.
      Liverpool will play Fulham and Chelsea will play MiddlesbroughCredit: Getty
      The ties will be decided in the second leg in the week commencing January 22.
      Liverpool and Middlesbrough were both handed home draws for the first leg of their semi-finals.
      Chelsea will have to travel to Teeside before a home second leg at Stamford Bridge, while Fulham visit Anfield.
      It’s the last time the semi-finals will be decided over two legs – with the semis becoming one legged next season to reduce fixture congestion.
      Liverpool were the standout performers in the cup’s quarter-finals, producing a stunning 5-1 victory over West Ham this evening.
      Chelsea, meanwhile, needed penalties to make it past Newcastle on Tuesday evening.
      That was also the case for Fulham, who had to go the distance with Everton at Goodison Park to make it to the semis, winning their shoot-out 7-6.
      Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough are the only Championship team left in the competition, and will be looking to produce an upset over two legs.
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      Chelsea’s form this season has been patchy at best, but manager Mauricio Pochettino will be desperate to win his first piece of silverware in England with The Blues.
      Liverpool will be overwhelming favourites for the trophy given their performances in the league this season, which could see them top at Christmas if they beat Arsenal on Saturday.
      Chelsea’s historic pedigree with silverware will have them favoured by some, but they’re only one point above Fulham in the Prem.
      Middlesbrough will be massive outsiders as the only Championship club remaining.
      But Michael Carrick will fancy a chance to show Man Utd what he can do at the highest level after being snubbed for the permanent Old Trafford job when he was caretaker.
      Both Chelsea and Liverpool will likely be grateful to have been kept apart, and will have their fingers crossed that the other will lose in their respective semi-final ties.
      Father and son duo Harry and Jamie Redknapp conducted the draw live on Sky Sports after analysing Liverpool’s rout of West Ham. More

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      Liverpool 5-1 West Ham LIVE SCORE: Jones on the double after Salah strike as Reds cruise into Carabao Cup semi-final

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      LIVERPOOL have sailed into the Carabao Cup semi-final after thrashing West Ham 5-1.Curtis Jones was on the double as Jurgen Klopp’s much-changed Reds battered the Hammers.
      Sub Mo Salah also scored as Klopp looks ahead to the huge visit of Premier League leaders Arsenal this weekend.

      Result: Liverpool 5 West Ham 1
      Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Gomez, Quansah, Virgil, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, Endo, Jones, Elliott, Nunez, Gakpo
      West Ham XI: Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Johnson, Alvarez, Soucek, Fornals, Kudus, Benrahma, Bowen
      Carabao Cup semi-final draw latest updates

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      Confidence sky-high for crunch clash
      Liverpool now head into their huge clash with Arsenal at Anfield on the weekend full of confidence.
      In their last two games, The Reds have had 63 shots, which is an insane stat.
      Mikel Arteta will know his side will certainly have their title credentials tested Saturday evening.
      Carabao Cup semi-final draw
      Middlesbrough vs Chelsea
      Liverpool vs Fulham
      Opportunity missed for West Ham
      With the chance to get into the last four of a domestic trophy, The Hammers really failed to turn up today.
      David Moyes rotated his side and they were left wanting.
      It will disappoint the manager as he would have seen this as a chance to cause an upset at Anfield this evening.
      Boss pleased with team performance
      After the disappointment of the draw on the weekend, you can guarantee that Jurgen Klopp set his players the challenge of proving their worth this evening.
      He will have wanted a response from them, to show everyone that the Man Utd result was just a bad day at the office.
      They listened to their manager’s thoughts and went out and put in a display against West Ham tonight.
      Credit: Getty
      Credit: AFP
      Reds book place in semi-finals
      Liverpool will now go into the draw for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, which will take place soon.
      The final four will consist of Jurgen Klopp’s side along with Chelsea, Fulham and Middlesbrough.
      In the next round there will be two legs to be played.
      The Reds go into the draw as favourites to win the trophy with the bookies.
      Curtis brings the gifts to Anfield
      Liverpool-born Curtis Jones put in one of his best performances for the club in this quarter-final this evening.
      From start to finish, he put in a polished display and looked to get forward and score goals whenever the chance presented itself.
      He showed the wider footballing world why the manager rates him so highly.

      FT: Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
      After that goalless draw with Man Utd, that will be just what the doctor ordered for Liverpool.
      Klopp’s side were dominant from start to finish.
      West Ham just could not handle them today.

      FT: Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
      The referee brings the game to a close.
      It will be a long trip home for the West Ham fans.
      Liverpool have been dominant today and deserve their victory.
      Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
      90+2. Curtis Jones has been awarded man of the match today.
      The Reds pass the ball around, looking to create another opening.
      Salah tries to cross but it is deflected wide for a corner.
      Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
      90. This has been a great team performance by Liverpool.
      You cannot pick out a player who has not played well really.
      Nunez is shown a yellow card as he catches the West Ham defender in the face as he tries to flick the ball.
      We are going to have four minutes added.
      Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
      88. Liverpool do not seem done with this scoreline.
      They are continuing to pile forward, looking to punish the visitors every time they attack.
      David Moyes does not look happy with what he is seeing from his team.
      Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
      86. It seems crazy to think West Ham were back in this now.
      Curtis Jones weaves his way through The Hammers defence and slots the ball into the bottom corner.
      What a performance it has been by the local lad.
      Credit: Getty
      Goal – Curtis Jones (West Ham)
      Liverpool 4-1 West Ham
      84. As West Ham are attacking, Alexander-Arnold clears the ball to set Salah clear through on goal.
      He holds off the defenders and slots the ball past Areola.
      That puts the game to bed for Jurgen Klopp’s side now surely.
      Goal – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
      Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
      82. As Liverpool come forward, looking to find a goal to kill the game off, Nunez lets fly from outside the box.
      His shot rattles the inside of the post with Areola at full stretch.
      Somehow, Salah fails to knock the rebound into an empty net as it just goes wide.
      In all fairness, it did come at him rather sharply.
      Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
      80. Liverpool have brought Luis Diaz on for a run out.
      Another goal for the visitors and this could be a nervy finish.
      As we saw in yesterday’s ties, late goals have completely changed some of these quarter-final results.
      Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
      78. We may have a game on our hands after all.
      The ball is played up to Bowen, he squares Quansah up and cuts onto his right foot.
      Bowen unleashes a bending right-footed shot into the top corner.
      Great strike.
      Goal – Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)
      Liverpool 3-0 West Ham
      76. The Reds force another corner.
      West Ham win the initial header but fail to clear their lines.
      As a result, they have to resort to hacking clear.
      Liverpool regain possession and come forward once again.
      Credit: Getty
      Liverpool 3-0 West Ham
      74. West Ham have both Paqueta and Ward-Prowse on now.
      It is a big ask of them to repair the damage that has already been done.
      Liverpool are continuing to pile on the pressure, looking for more goals.
      Liverpool 3-0 West Ham
      72. Just after Kudus narrowly sends one over the bar with their first attempt on goal of the game, Liverpool offer the ultimate sucker punch.
      Konate picks the ball up and runs through the middle of the park, the visitors just watching him.
      The defender feeds it to Gakpo, who steadies himself before burying his shot in the bottom corner of the goal from outside the box.
      Game over for The Hammers.
      Goal – Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
      Liverpool 2-0 West Ham
      70. Not a bad first touch from Bradley as he cushions it into the path of Salah in the box.
      He allows it to bounce and it just gets away from him slightly as he stretches to shoot.
      As a result he does not trouble the West Ham keeper.
      Liverpool 2-0 West Ham
      68. The travelling fans will be disappointed with this performance.
      It begs the question whether their side have failed to turn up or Liverpool have just not allowed them to get into their groove.
      Either way, time is running down and they need to find goals.
      Bradley is coming on for Tsimikas for The Reds.
      Credit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Liverpool 5 West Ham 1: Reds run riot to book Carabao Cup semi-final spot as Moyes’ team selection backfires horribly

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      THAT is more like it.After a record 34 unconverted shots at Anfield against Manchester United on Sunday, Liverpool finally got their reward for their scattergun approach to finding the net.
      Dominik Szoboszlai broke the deadlock with a brilliant strikeCredit: Getty
      Szoboszlai now has four goals this seasonCredit: PA
      Curtis Jones squeezed a second in from a tight angleCredit: Getty
      Jones scored a brace on a fine evening for the young midfielderCredit: Reuters
      Liverpool dominated West Ham across the 90 minutes
      Jones produced some hugely impressive stats against West Ham
      Seven more wayward attempts and 28 minutes into their Carabao Cup quarter final against West Ham, the net rippled at the eighth attempt with a 25-yard scorcher from Dominik Szoboslai.
      With their shooting boots laced up, the hosts found their killer instinct at long last – Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah adding the extras after the break. This time, 28 shots, five goals.
      Far from perfect, but the sort of shot-to-goal ratio that would have easily seen off Man Utd, and will definitely have title rivals Arsenal taking note ahead of their Saturday night visit.
      A semi-final for Liverpool in a competition they are looking to win for a record 10th time is nothing to be scoffed at, even if they continue to search for their vibrant, brilliant, heavy-metal best.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      But boss Jurgen Klopp will hope these are signs his Reds are only just warming up this campaign, having told the Kop faithful in his pre-match programme notes to keep the faith.
      Not that they were given any sort of contest by West Ham, and David Moyes left the red half of Merseyside without a win for the 21st time in his career – and counting – even with Jarrod Bowen’s consolation curling beauty.
      With June’s Europa Conference League final victory firmly in the memory bank, the Hammers fans could have been afforded more silverware dreaming with another semi in sight.
      But there is a reason the East Londoners have now won just once in their last 56 attempts away at Liverpool – an unwanted streak stretching back 60 years.
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      Szoboszlai was everywhere for Liverpool on Wednesday evening
      Cody Gakpo added a third for Jurgen Klopp’s sideCredit: AFP
      It did not help that Moyes made half a dozen changes from their impressive 3-0 dismantling of Wolves at the weekend, including dropping Lucas Paqueta, James Ward-Prowse, Emerson and skipper Kurt Zouma.
      Illness has been an unwelcome presence hampering the West Ham squad recently.
      Regardless, this sort of performance is one of the reason Moyes remains on thin ice with some sections of the fanbase.
      In the end, it was an embarrassing display.
      Liverpool will not have an easier evening all season, ensuring they remain unbeaten at home, winning 13 out of 12. Ominous form with Mikel Arteta’s Gunners shortly in town.
      Klopp also took this as a chance to rotate, leaving the likes of Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz and Ibrahima Konate among the substitutes.
      Harvey Elliott – keen to prove he is more than a super sub having started just one Premier League match so far this season – produced a hat-trick of attempts inside the first 20 minutes with only one on target.
      VAR was unplugged for this one, and Darwin Nunez looked to break West Ham’s offside trap with Vladimir Coufal seemingly too deep, but a debatable flag saved the Czech full-back’s blushes.
      Liverpool were utterly dominant with plenty of chances but none forcing visiting keeper Alphonse Areola into a meaningful save.
      Sound familiar? Anfield certainly felt so, the groans becoming louder.
      Mo Salah got in on the act as he scored Liverpool’s fourthCredit: Getty
      Those groans were soon interrupted by a screamer.
      Poor by Said Benrahma, a weak attempt at a counter attack giving Szoboslai the time and space to pick his spot, and then some.
      It was a knuckleball technique by the Hungarian that sparked memories of Cristiano Ronaldo during his prime Man Utd years.
      In response, Klopp clenched his knuckles with a cheesy grin.
      How Liverpool would love Szoboslai to make that a trademark finish on a regular basis, adding to the four goals in a red shirt he has so far.
      West Ham really were living off scraps, Bowen – on his 27th birthday – barely able to show the qualities he possesses that make him a player heavily admired by Klopp.
      Gakpo’s header on the brink of half-time should have nestled in Areola’s bottom corner – a warning sign the visitors did not take heed of in the second half with some woeful defending.
      Tomas Soucek decided to let Jones wander into the box unmarked in the 56th minute and was duly punished as the midfielder produced a neat finish from a tight angle through Areola’s legs.
      Paqueta was brought on moments later, out of desperation more than anything, while Klopp threw on Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Konate.
      West Ham’s night got worse in the 71st minute.
      More Soucek dallying and another long range hit, this time by Gakpo with stunning precision, before an equally fine hit by Bowen at the other end eight minutes later.
      Yet Liverpool were keen to make up for missed chances against United.
      Read more on The Sun
      After missing an open-goal sitter, Salah got in on the act thanks to an Alexander-Arnold tee-up in the 82nd minute.
      Less than two minutes later, Jones had his second, and Liverpool’s last of a superb night, even if West Ham’s disastrous backline had all but given up at this point.
      The Egyptian already has 15 goals in all competitions this seasonCredit: Getty More