Liverpool through to league cup semi-finals

The semi-finals are due to take place on the weeks of the 4 January and 25 January, with the final set for 28 February at Wembley.

That should have signalled the opening of the floodgates, but Hull stubbornly fended off the Premier League leaders and their rearguard were not breached again until the 80th minute.

Liverpool were drawn to face Stoke City in the League Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, opening up the possibility of a final against either Manchester City or Merseyside rivals Everton.

Three Football League clubs had reached the quarter final stage, prompting hopes that one might be able to defy the odds go as far the final and match the achievements of Cardiff City and Bradford City in 2012 and 2013 respectively. They will have to overcome Stoke City over two legs to have a chance of setting that up.

The Potters moved into the Capital One Cup semi-finals by seeing off Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.

“The young guys that came in [have confidence], the experienced guys, and we just have to continue like this. But it’s in January, so we have to wait a little bit”.

The City side included a number of fresh faces from their league victory over Southampton on Saturday, but was still packed full of talent, including playmaker David Silva who was making his first start in nearly two months following injury.

The first tie is only three days after Everton host Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.