Capital One Cup semi-final draw

Everton won 2-0 at Middlesbrough in the previous round, while Stoke beat Championship opposition in Sheffield Wednesday, winning 2-0 at home.

The competition favourites have been kept apart in the semi-final stage of the Capital One Cup.

Manchester City also advanced to the semifinals on Tuesday, beating Hull City 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium. Everton goals from Gerard Deulofeu and Romelu Lukaku sent Boro packing, while the Owls were beaten by Stoke by the same score-line.

Liverpool have faced Stoke five times in their League Cup history, with a record of four wins and one draw.

The first-leg of the League Cup semi-finals will be held the week of January 4th 2016 with the return leg commencing in the week of January 25th, two weeks later.

“Some people might criticise their defence but they’ve got a great squad and their players are not at a team like Man City for no reason”.

They’re now just two games away from the final and a chance to win the trophy for the first time since 2012. Stoke City’s sole League Cup triumph came in 1971-72.

Stoke have been drawn against Liverpool in the last four but Wollscheid says his side are looking no further ahead than this weekend’s Premier League clash against pacesetters City at the Britannia Stadium.

The victor of each semi-final will then contest the final at Wembley on Sunday 28th February for the first silverware of the 2015/16 season.