Do away goals count in the Carabao Cup semi-finals and is VAR being used?
The Carabao Cup semi-final first legs take centre stage this week, with the four remaining sides just two games away from reaching the Wembley showpiece.
Arsenal host Newcastle at the Emirates on Tuesday night, with the Gunners looking to win the competition for just the third time in their history – and the first since 1992/93.
The Magpies, meanwhile, are aiming to reach the final for the second time in three seasons, having suffered defeat to Manchester United two years ago.
The other semi-final will see Tottenham taking on Liverpool, with the first leg set for the Tottenham Hotspur stadium the following night.
Arne Slot’s league leaders, who won the trophy last year under Jurgen Klopp, will start the clash as big favourites against injury-ravaged Spurs, who are aiming for their first trophy since winning the League Cup 18 years ago.
With rules varying from one competition to another, find out if away goals will count in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and whether or not VAR will be in use.
Do away goals count in the Carabao Cup semi-finals?
Away goals will not count in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Instead, should the scores be level after the second leg of the semi-final, the match will head to extra-time, and if required, penalties.
The English Football League (EFL) scrapped the away goals rule in 2018/19, which previously only came into effect after extra-time in the semi-finals.
Is VAR being used in the Carabao Cup semi-finals?
VAR will be in use for both semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, as well as for the final at Wembley in March.
This is the first time in this season’s competition that VAR will be utilised, with the technology absent from the earlier rounds.
This was aimed at providing a level of consistency across all matches to ensure that teams weren’t put at a disadvantage, given that not every side taking part in the competition has VAR technology installed at their stadium.
And for the first-time ever in English football, referees in both of this week’s games will make in-stadium announcements on the outcome of VAR reviews.
The two semi-finals are being used as pilots for the scheme, which could see English football eventually following in the footsteps of competitions around the world with regular in-match announcements from match officials.