The draw for the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup took place on Thursday evening, following Tottenham's 4-3 win over Manchester United.
After reaching the semi-finals for the fourth time in the last seven seasons, Ange Postecoglou is Spurs side will take over holders Liverpool in the last four, with the first match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Arne Slott's Reds beat Southampton 2-1 on Wednesday night.
Newcastle – who beat Brentford 3-1 in the quarter-finals – will play Arsenal – who saw off Crystal Palace thanks to Gabriel Jesus' hat-trick – with the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
The draw left open the possibility of a North London derby final.
The Carabao Cup semi-final matches will be played over two legs during the week commencing 6 January and the week commencing 3 February.
Every match from this season's competition is available to watch live Sky Sports.
Arsenal's headache
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Highlights of the Carabao Cup quarter-final between Arsenal and Crystal Palace
Just like many teams struggling on all fronts, Arsenal's January signings do not speak very positively. Eight games in three different competitions, and that's before the Carabao Cup semi-final date is confirmed, bringing the total to nine.
How Mikel Arteta copes with such a congested schedule could make or break the season. The new year begins with a visit Brentford and Brightonbefore a four-game home streak, the host Man Utd in the FA Cup, Tottenham in the north London derby, Aston Villa and Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.
The month ends with trips to Wolves and finally Girona.
It's a grueling schedule for a team that hasn't yet had a particularly compelling strength in depth. The Gunners' second row needed reinforcements from the bench – Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka – to do so see off Crystal Palace in the quarters and you suspect that a similar XI, without the aforementioned two, would not have enough firepower to reach the March showpiece.
Arteta will have to strike the perfect balance to stay afloat.
Arsenal's January fixtures
- Brentford (a) – January 1
- Brighton (a) – 4 January – Live on Sky Sports
- Newcastle (h) – w/c 6 January (Carabao Cup) – Live on Sky Sports
- Man Utd (h) – 12 January (FA Cup)
- Tottenham (h) – January 15
- Aston Villa (h) – January 18 – Live on Sky Sports
- Dinamo Zagreb (h) – January 22 (Champions League)
- Wolves (a) – January 25
- Girona (a) – January 29 (Champions League)
Can Liverpool keep the momentum going in January?
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Highlights from the Carabao Cup quarter-final clash between Southampton and Liverpool
Liverpool on paper do not have the toughest of January Carabao Cup semi-finalists but face a trip to Brentford who are still undefeated at home and hosts Man Utd – who have just won at the Etihad – in their first game of 2025.
Nottingham Forest there are no cups at the City Ground either. But there may also be some chances of rotation – Accrington Stanley, Ipswich and Lille visiting Anfield and although the final group game of the Champions League in PSV isn't the easiest, Liverpool could have topped the first stage by then – and can use a few of the squad's players again.
There's also the small matter of the Merseyside derby needing to be re-arranged – although in an already packed January, that will probably have to wait until February at least.
Liverpool's January matches
- Man Utd (h) – 5 January – Live on Sky Sports
- Newcastle (a) – with January 6 (Carabao Cup) – Live on Sky Sports
- Accrington (h) – 11 January (FA Cup)
- Nottingham Forest (a) – January 14
- Brentford (a) – 18 January
- Lille (h) – January 21 (Champions League)
- Ipswich (h) – 25 January
- PSV (a) – January 29 (Champions League)
Tottenham's already stretched tricky run
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Highlights from the Carabao Cup quarter-final clash between Tottenham and Manchester United
Tottenham's selection issues in key areas, particularly defensively, have done little to help Postecoglou build upward momentum in north London and he now faces a punishing January as the club seek their first silverware in 16 years.
Newcastle visit London before what should be a routine trip Tamworth in the third round of the FA Cup, but then the derby with Arsenalvisits Everton and Hoffenheimand home games with Leicester and Elfsburg round off a busy month.
Tottenham's January matches
- Newcastle (h) – January 4
- Liverpool (h) – w/c 6 January (Carabao Cup) – Live on Sky Sports
- Tamworth (a) – 12 January (FA Cup)
- Arsenal (a) – January 15
- Everton (h) – January 19 – Live on Sky Sports
- TSG Hoffenheim (a) – January 23 (Europa League)
- Leicester (h) – 26 January
- IF Elfsborg (h) – January 30 (Europa League)
Freshness could give Newcastle the edge
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Highlights from the Carabao Cup quarter-final between Newcastle United and Brentford
Unlike their semi-final rivals, Newcastle have no European football to contend with in January, which could be a marginal gain Eddie Howe will be looking to exploit over the other three teams.
Even after their first trip to Arsenalit is Bromleyfrom Sky Bet League Two, at home in the FA Cup at St James' Park, meaning Howe will be able to rotate accordingly if necessary. Home matches in the Premier League against Wolves and Bournemouth to follow. It could be a lot worse.
Newcastle's January fixtures
- Tottenham (a) – January 4
- Arsenal (a) – with January 6 (Carabao Cup) – Live on Sky Sports
- Bromley (h) – 12 January (FA Cup)
- Wolves (h) – January 15
- Bournemouth (h) – 18 January
- Southampton (a) – January 25