Sandro Tonali’s double helped Newcastle secure their spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Brentford.

Tonali put the Magpies ahead with a brilliant first-time strike and the Italy midfielder bagged his brace just before half-time from Anthony Gordon’s corner.

Fabian Schar extended the lead after the break with a tidy tap-in before Yoane Wissa earned a consolation for the Bees in added time.

Victory sends Newcastle one step closer to ending their 69-year wait for a major domestic trophy.

Gabriel Jesus scored a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal staged an impressive fightback to book their place in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 win against Crystal Palace.

The home side were staring at an underwhelming exit from the competition at half-time after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s opener for Palace inside just four minutes.

But Jesus, who had scored just once this season heading into Wednesday’s fixture, fired a treble in the second period with substitutes Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka both central to his haul.

After a full and imposing pre-season under his belt, Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott had lofty ambitions this season. Could he crack a regular starting spot? The diminutive left-footed playmaker, signed amid so much promise from Fulham five years ago, certainly would not have anticipated his first start of the season coming in mid-December. But on a torrential night on the south coast, Elliott shone brightest as the Carabao Cup holders, ultimately, sneaked through at Southampton on Wednesday night.

The Carabao Cup semi-finals will be played over two legs across the week commencing 6 January and the week commencing 3 February. The winners will battle it out at Wembley Stadium in the final on 16 March.

Southampton 1-2 Liverpool

Newcastle 3-1 Brentford

Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace

Tottenham vs Manchester United

1. Arsenal
2. Liverpool
3. Newcastle United
4. Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United

So far Arsenal have beaten Crystal Palace, Newcastle United saw off Brentford, and Southampton, without a permanent manager after Russell Martin’s dismissal, were knocked out by Liverpool in a packed Wednesday night of football.

The final quarter-final sees Tottenham battle a Manchester United side bouncing off a thrilling derby win over Manchester City on Thursday night.

Sky Sports’ Carabao Cup presenter Mark Chapman hosts the draw following coverage of the final last eight tie with former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp and former Manchester City forward Izzy Christiansen assisting with the draw.

The draw itself should take place at around 10:30pm GMT.