Carling Cup Semi Finals

Tuesday 8th Jan 2008 7.45 GMT

Chelsea V Everton

Following a shock defeat at home to Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup last weekend, the high-flying Toffees, currently sitting 6th in the League, will be hoping for better things against Chelsea.

Phil Neville, Yakubu and Tim Howard are all set to return to Everton’s starting line-up, but Steven Pienaar has been forced to join up with South Africa for the African Nations Cup, despite Moyes’s efforts. Joseph Yobo and Yakubu Aiyegbeni have both been granted permission to play by Nigeria.

Chelsea, who beat Liverpool in the quarterfinals, enter the match without star striker Didier Drogba, Soloman Kalou (both Ivory Coast) and Michael Essien, again due to the African Nations Cup.

Cech is also a doubt, but full back Ashley Cole is back from injury.

The second leg takes place on 23 January 2008.

Carragher Provoked

Eye witnesses have supported claims that Jamie Carragher was provoked into launching at the Luton fans on Sunday. Pictured on the front pages of The Sun confronting fans link, its claimed he was spat at whilst signing autographs, but what really sent him into a rage was that he saw a fan with a curly black scouse wig on. link

Transfer Latest

Staying at the Kop, Liverpool are poised to complete a £6m deal for Zenit St Petersburg’s Slovakian defender Martin Skrtel. Rafa said “With Agger injured, I cannot rotate my central defence each game”.

If the move is completed, Skrtel will become the most expensive defender in Liverpool’s history. link

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