The semi-finals of the Capital One Cup kick off at Anfield this evening where eight times winners Liverpool face a Chelsea side who have lifted the trophy on four occasions.

The hosts have lost just one of their last fourteen games in all competitions, a run which includes the 3-1 win at Championship leaders Bournemouth, which booked their place in the last four of this competition.

Captain Steven Gerrard is set to be recalled after being rested for Saturday’s win over Aston Villa, while Adam Lallana, who recently recovered from a thigh problem, could also feature after making the bench at the weekend.

Raheem Sterling is priced at 8.0 (7/1) to get the first goal of the game with most firms, while Gerrard is 15.0 (14/1) shot with Bet Victor.

The home win is as highly priced as the 3.6 (13/5) on offer from Ladbrokes, with the visitors favourites at the widely available price of 2.2 (6/5). The draw is 3.5 (5/2) with a number of bookmakers.

Like their opponents, Jose Mourinho’s men edged past high-flying Championship opposition in the quarter finals, as they beat Derby County 3-1 at the iPro Stadium last month while they go into this game having extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a 5-0 win at Swansea City.

Didier Drogba and Cesar Azpilicueta should recover from illness and injury in time to be considered for selection, leaving Mourinho with a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Top scorer Diego Costa is unsurprisingly favourite to get the first goal of the game at 6.5 (11/2) with Ladbrokes, ahead of Eden Hazard who is widely available at 8.0 (7/1).

The two sides, who met in the 2005 League Cup final, last faced each other on Merseyside back in November with the Premier League leaders winning by two goals two one.

That was the sixth time from the last seven clashes where both teams have scored, and that outcome this time around can be backed at 1.84 (16/19) with 888 Sport, while the same firm offer 1.34 (10/29) for there to be at least two goals scored as there has been in each of the last eighteen times they have faced each other.