Livestream: Liverpool vs Fulham Carabao Cup semi-finals
Jamie Carragher’s pleas have fallen on deaf ears regarding the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Manchester United v Newcastle United – Carabao Cup Final
The EFL have decided against a major Carabao Cup overhaul. (Image: Getty)
The EFL have decided against scrapping two-legged Carabao Cup semi-finals after Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher led calls to change the format. Chelsea overcame a first-leg deficit to defeat Middlesbrough and advance to the final, where they will face either Liverpool or Fulham at Wembley.
The football calendar at the top level is becoming increasingly congested and a frequent idea to reduce the number of games that professionals feature in is to make the semi-finals played over one leg at a neutral venue.
However, the EFL appear to be firmly against that suggestion at least until the Premier League can agree a financial distribution package to the lower leagues. More European games are set to be played next season as a result of the expanded Champions League, with the Premier League keen to reduce fixture congestion.
But after delaying a vote on an extra £125million-a-year settlement to the EFL, a change to either the Carabao Cup or FA Cup third and fourth round replays has been dismissed by chairman Trevor Birch.
Swansea City v Brentford – Sky Bet Championship Play Off Semi-final 1st Leg
EFL chairman Trevor Birch has shot down the idea of one-legged Carabao Cup semi-finals. (Image: Getty)
“Whilst the fixture calendar remains a shared asset across the EFL, Premier League and Football Association, additional pressures from revamped European competitions means that scheduling across the season remains challenging and complex, so it requires a whole game response to find a solution,” Birch said.
“As it stands there is no agreement in place to make any changes to the Carabao Cup’s two-legged semi-final format, which continues to provide significant financial benefit to EFL clubs.
“The League remains committed to a review of the calendar, but any significant changes cannot be made unilaterally, and would need to come with significant levels of compensation and adopted as part of any new distribution deal with the Premier League and its clubs.”
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AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool FC – Premier League
Jamie Carragher believes that the Carabao Cup semi-finals should be played over one leg. (Image: Getty)
The news will come as a major disappointment to Premier League teams but also Carragher, who previously called on the EFL to make a change to the current format. When asked by a social media follower whether two-legged ties should be scrapped, he responded: “Yes, one-off semi at a neutral ground midweek but not Wembley!”
Carragher then continued making his argument, though his suggestion has been batted away by the EFL: “Everton/Fulham and Chelsea/Newcastle straight to pens with no extra time, is a much better spectacle than an extra 30 mins of football when players are shattered & terrified of making a mistake. No more extra time in any competitions, please.
“There is more prestige in winning the FA Cup than the Carabao Cup, but the Carabao is a much better competition. No replays, no extra time, we know the draw right away, and the cup final is not competing with the end of PL season & CL final a week later.”
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