There’s the mouth-watering prospect of a west London final in this year’s League Cup after Fulham and Chelsea won their respective quarterfinals following tense penalty shoot-outs.
The Whites have been drawn against nine-time winners Liverpool in the semis, while the Blues will face Middlesbrough.
Were Hammersmith & Fulham’s two Premier League teams to triumph after being kept apart in the semis, they would line up against each other at Wembley on Sunday, 25 February.
Fulham’s quarter-final win in the energy drink-sponsored trophy came after the match itself finished in a 1-1 draw.
The 7-6 penalty success was achieved at Goodison Park after defender Tosin Adarabioyo held his nerve to beat Jordan Pickford from the spot.
The Whites have never reached the semis of the League Cup before, although they did get to the semis of the FA Cup in 2002, when they were beaten by... Chelsea.
Chelsea also drew 1-1 in their quarter-final, eventually beating Newcastle at Stamford Bridge 4-2 on penalties, with Blues keeper Djordje Petrovic making a flying save to deny Matt Ritchie, while debutant Chris Nkunku, finally making an appearance for Chelsea after a long injury lay-off, was one of the home side’s scorers from the spot.
In the other quarters, Boro beat Port Vale 3-0 while Liverpool thumped West Ham 5-1 at Anfield.
Chelsea v Middlesbrough is a repeat of the 1998 League Cup final, when two extra-time goals by Frank Sinclair and Robbie Di Matteo clinched the win for the Blues.
Exact dates and times for the semi-final have still to be fixed, but both Chelsea and Fulham have the advantage of playing their first legs away at Boro and Liverpool respectively in the week beginning 8 January, with the second legs at Stamford Bridge and Craven Cottage in the week starting 22 January.
