Liverpool received the Coca-Cola Cup semi-final draw they wanted on Wednesday evening when they were paired with Division One leaders Middlesbrough.

It means Arsenal and Chelsea will meet in the other tie to guarantee a finalist from London against a team from the North at Wembley on March 29.

Roy Evans will relish the draw

The draw follows Liverpool's 2-0 win over Newcastle at St James's Park and Chelsea's 2-2 draw against Ipswich.

Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler were responsible for Liverpool's goals. Both were scored in the first half of extra-time.

After the game, Fowler said: "It's a chance to get our own back. But the standard of teams left in [the competition] is quality, so it's going to be a hard game."

Roy Evans's side now have the chance of revenge over 'Boro, who defeated the Merseysiders 2-1 in the fifth round on their way to last season's final, where they lost after a replay to Leicester.

Liverpool must play the first leg at Anfield in the week commencing January 26 and will want to take a useful advantage to the Riverside Stadium three weeks later.

Ruud Hullit: 2-2 draw with Ipswich enough

Arsenal, 2-1 conquerors of West Ham on Tuesday night, will entertain Chelsea in the first leg, Ruud Gullit's side having scraped through on penalties.

Ed De Goey was the spot-kick hero as Chelsea lived Coca-Cola Cup life on the edge once again.

Chelsea's international class of Frank Leboeuf, Gianfranco Zola and Roberto Di Matteo smashed home the first three of Chelsea's penalties and when De Goey saved shots from James Scowcroft and Mauricio Taricco, it gave Mark Hughes the chance to finish Ipswich off.

The bookmakers William Hill make Liverpool 7-4 favourites for the competition, with Arsenal second best at 9-4, Chelsea 11-4 and Middlesbrough 8-1 outsiders.

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