Carabao Cup Semifinal Draw: Liverpool Vs Fulham, Middlesbrough Vs Chelsea

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is optimistic that the team will achieve success in the Carabao Cup. (X/@ChelseaFC)

JAKARTA - Liverpool avoided a meeting with Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semifinals. From the draw, Thursday, December 21 in the morning WIB, Liverpool met Fulham and Chelsea faced Middlesbrough.

Liverpool are the last team to qualify for the Carabao Cup semifinals or the English League Cup after beating West Ham United 5-1 at Anfield Stadium on Thursday.

The result made Liverpool one of the three English Premier League teams that qualified for this third caste competition.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough is the only team from the Champions Division or Division One that lasts until the semifinals. In the quarter-finals, Michael Carrick's side eliminated League One's team or Port Vale's Second Division 3-0.

Despite coming from the lower division, Boro took the top spot and last season was supposed to return to the Premier League after being ranked fourth. But in the play-offs, they had to admit the superiority of City's Coventry.

From the draw, Boro met Chelsea's tough opponent who beat Newcastle United on penalties. In the first match, they acted as hosts by hosting the Blues at Sungai Stadium.

If currently still fighting in the Championship Division, but Boro has outstanding achievements. They were recorded to have reached the final three times during eight seasons from 1997 to 2004.

In the 2004 issue, they emerged as champions after defeating Bolton Wanderers. During that time span, namely in 1998, Boro met Chelsea in the final. At that time Chelsea needed more time to beat Boro through goals from Frank Sinclair and Roberto Di Matteo.

In another semifinal, Liverpool, who have won the League Cup nine times, met Fulham. In the first match, Liverpool hosted their rivals. In the second match, it was Fulham's turn to act as the host.

The first semifinal match will be held on January 8, 2024. While the second match will be held on January 22, 2024. The final will be held at Wembley Stadium, February 25, 2024.

Chelsea have ambitions to win the Carabao Cup to make up for failures over the past two seasons. Mykhailo Mudryk winger is optimistic the Blues can do it.

"We are ready for the next match. Our target is to win the championship title. We have a chance because we are a strong team. Sometimes if we want to win a big trophy, we need time," said Mudryk.