Manchester United and Arsenal were kept apart as the League Cup quarter-final draw was made yesterday with Aston Villa pitted against rivals Birmingham in the tie of the round (Nov. 30-Dec.1).
United, bidding to win the trophy for the third year in a row, will travel to Upton Park to take on West Ham for a place in the last four while Arsenal face Wigan at home.
The pick of the last-eight matches will be when Gerard Houllier’s Villa face local rivals Birmingham at St Andrews.
Birmingham squeezed into the quarter-finals after beating League One side Brentford on penalties. Villa needed extra-time to defeat Burnley in midweek.
West Brom face Ipswich, the only team from outside the Premier League left in the competition.