Carabao Cup semi-final draw LIVE: Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle await fate after Tottenham v Manchester United

Gabriel Jesus admitted he was under pressure to deliver for Arsenal prior to his goal blitz which sealed his side’s progression to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Heading into Wednesday’s last-eight fixture with Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium, Jesus had scored just once this season – in the previous round against Preston – and only twice in 2024.

But Jesus rolled back the years to score a 27-minute second-half treble as Arsenal staged a fightback to see off Palace and book their place in the final four.

It marked the first time Jesus has managed to score more than one goal in a game in 20 months, and it was also his maiden hat-trick in an Arsenal shirt following his move from Manchester City in the summer of 2022.

Manager Mikel Arteta claimed afterwards that Jesus is now “back to his best” and hopes it is a turning point in his career – a week after the Brazilian spurned a number of good chances in Arsenal’s Champions League win against Monaco.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot admits it will likely take time for summer signing Federico Chiesa to hit top form following his long-awaited return from injury.

Italy forward Chiesa played the second half of Wednesday evening’s 2-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final win at Southampton, having been sidelined for almost three months.

The 27-year-old has been restricted to just four appearances since moving to Anfield from Juventus in a deal which could eventually be worth £12.5million.

Slot felt there were encouraging signs from Chiesa at St Mary’s as he challenged the player to provide competition for Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.

Eddie Howe hailed “two great finishes” from Sandro Tonali as Newcastle reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Reflecting on the win over Brentford, Howe said: “I think it’s a good performance, tough game. I think the goals were hugely important. Sandro’s first one is an unbelievable strike and the second one is very difficult to do what he did in that moment.

“Two great finishes from him and I think those early goals really helped us, could’ve been more in the second half but we’re delighted to get through.

“I think it’s brilliant to see from my perspective. He’s a big signing and you want your big signings to do well and settle quickly,” Howe added.

“He’s been here a while, but has had very little football. Nights like tonight will build connections with him and the supporters even stronger, I’m just really pleased for him on a personal level.”

Mikel Arteta said Gabriel Jesus is “back at his best” after the Brazilian’s brilliant second-half hat-trick fired Arsenal into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Jesus headed into the last-eight fixture with only two goals this year, prompting Arteta to insist he would not be sold when the transfer window opens next month.

And Jesus repaid his manager’s faith with three goals that could breathe new life into not only his stuttering career, but Arsenal’s campaign too.

“I’m so pleased for him,” said Arteta. “It’s been a long period without goals and today, to score three goals, the three types of goals that he scored – and the many actions he was involved in – he looked very sharp.

“It’s a great thing for him and the team that we can rely on a player of such quality. Gabi at that level is a big asset for us. It is a big message for the team that we have Gabi back at his best. It’s now about consistency.

“This moment of spark will bring so much confidence to him. Now we need to take it and give him more games and chances. When a player is in that moment, it’s important for them to continue.”

Arne Slot was happy with Liverpool’s progress to the semi-finals and the Dutchman said squad rotation, which included a full debut for 17-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni, was key during a busy period of the season.

“It would be normal if I play all the regular starters that we have a better team than we had tonight, otherwise I make every week the wrong decision,” said Slot.

“But we also trust these players because we know how much quality they have, so that’s the first reason to play these players, that we have a lot of confidence in them.

“Second of all, it’s not about a result on Sunday (away to Tottenham), it’s more for the long-term fitness of the players that we make the decision that the ones that played so many minutes to give them a bit of rest during this week because the schedule is going to be intense again in the upcoming weeks.”

Sandro Tonali’s double helped Newcastle secure their spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Brentford.

Tonali put the Magpies ahead with a brilliant first-time strike and the Italy midfielder bagged his brace just before half-time from Anthony Gordon’s corner.

Fabian Schar extended the lead after the break with a tidy tap-in before Yoane Wissa earned a consolation for the Bees in added time.

Victory sends Newcastle one step closer to ending their 69-year wait for a major domestic trophy.

Gabriel Jesus scored a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal staged an impressive fightback to book their place in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 win against Crystal Palace.

The home side were staring at an underwhelming exit from the competition at half-time after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s opener for Palace inside just four minutes.

But Jesus, who had scored just once this season heading into Wednesday’s fixture, fired a treble in the second period with substitutes Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka both central to his haul.

After a full and imposing pre-season under his belt, Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott had lofty ambitions this season. Could he crack a regular starting spot? The diminutive left-footed playmaker, signed amid so much promise from Fulham five years ago, certainly would not have anticipated his first start of the season coming in mid-December. But on a torrential night on the south coast, Elliott shone brightest as the Carabao Cup holders, ultimately, sneaked through at Southampton on Wednesday night.

The Carabao Cup semi-finals will be played over two legs across the week commencing 6 January and the week commencing 3 February. The winners will battle it out at Wembley Stadium in the final on 16 March.

Southampton 1-2 Liverpool

Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace

Tottenham vs Manchester United