Express & Star

Aston Villa draw Liverpool in Carabao Cup quarter-finals

Aston Villa have been handed a home draw against Champions League winners Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

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Dean Smith and Jurgen Klopp

The draw, which took place on BBC Radio 2, pitted Villa against Jurgen Klopp's side for the chance to battle on to the semi-finals of the competition.

The clash will be a repeat of this weekend's Premier League fixture between the two sides.

Villa bested a youthful Wolves side 2-1 at Villa Park to set up the tie, which is currently scheduled to take place on the week commencing December 16.

The Liverpool boss has threatened to pull out of the competition however, with his side set to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup the same week in Qatar.

Klopp stated that if a 'proper date' could not be found for the encounter that his side would not be playing.

"If they don't find a place for us, an appropriate place, not 3pm on Christmas Day or something, then we don't play. They have to make it. You have to think about these things - if you have a fixture list, where one team cannot be part of all the games, then you have to think about it." he said.

"Hopefully it starts now. I think it's fair that this problem is obvious now. We will not be the victim of this problem. We played tonight, we want to win it, if they don't find a proper date for us, we cannot play the next round and whoever our opponent is will go through, or Arsenal."

The Reds face a daunting Christmas schedule due to their involvement in numerous competitions this season, with Klopp's side currently set to play nine fixtures over 25 days following their Carabao Cup progress. They include two games in the Club World Cup and a trip to RB Salzburg in the Champions League.

Villa themselves now have eight games over 28 days in December, albeit with no lengthy international trips.

Elsewhere, Manchester City were handed a favourable draw at League One Oxford United, whilst Manchester United host League Two Colchester. Everton play host to Leicester City for a place in the last four.