After downing Championship pace-setters AFC Bournemouth quite comfortably at Dean Court earlier in the day, Liverpool have a stiffer test to come with the Reds set to face-off against Premier League rivals Chelsea in the choice tie of the League Cup semi-finals.
The Blues made quick work of Championship side Derby County yesterday at the iPro Stadium in their own quarter-final encounter, running out easy winners with goals from Eden Hazard, Filipe Luis and Andre Schürrle making Craig Bryson’s consolation strike midway through the second half irrelevant. Before finding out who they’d meet in the final four, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho played down talk of the league leaders winning an unprecedented four trophies in one season, insisting that his side aren’t dreaming big quite yet.
“We don’t speak about it. You [the media] spoke a few weeks ago about being unbeatable in the Premier League and we never did it” said the Blues manager with a notable air of disdain. “Now you speak about the quadruple. We have our feet on the ground.”
Although the Blues are flying in the Premier League, the Portuguese boss has good reason to be realistic about his sides chances. When these two sides last met in this competition, Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners at Stamford Bridge en route to claiming this particular piece of silverware for a record eighth time. While there’s no guarantee the Reds will be able to do it again, they’ll have a shot when the two-legged tie kicks-off during the weeks beginning January 19 and January 26 of 2015.
