Chelsea entertain Tottenham tonight in the first leg of our 57th major semi-final, 15th in the League Cup and fourth in this competition against the Lilywhites. In Britain this evening is ‘twelfth night’ – Three Wise Men and all that – so which of the Blues’ magi will deliver against one of our ancient rivals before the tinsel comes down?

This is the first of three successive cup fixtures for both tonight’s combatants. Before next Wednesday’s second leg, Chelsea welcome non-League opponents Chesterfield in the FA Cup, while Tottenham take on League One strugglers Morecambe.

Both sides have beaten Premier League opponents in the three previous rounds of this season’s Carabao Cup but form across all competitions is fitful. Spurs are on a run of two wins in seven on the road, while Chelsea have won three in nine, and a victory at the Bridge is overdue.

The holders of this trophy, Manchester City, are already out. They beat Spurs in last season’s final, which took place six days after Jose Mourinho’s dismissal. Each team’s last League Cup final success – Chelsea’s in 2015 and Tottenham’s in 2008 - came at the expense of the other.

Chelsea team news

Whether it was safe standing, the quality of the game against a main rival, a reaction to the Romelu Lukaku situation, or all of the above, the atmosphere for Sunday’s thrilling comeback against Liverpool was sensational.

Pointedly, Thomas Tuchel said it is now ‘very important the stadium supports the team’ during tonight’s semi-final, and Lukaku’s best route back into fans’ good books is clear: continue his fine form since returning to fitness against one of the Blues’ deadliest rivals.

Even without the Belgian star, Chelsea set an incredible tempo against Klopp’s men, with more one-touch play than for a while. Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante popped up everywhere and were outstanding, driving the team forward.

The pair helped secure the lion’s share of possession with 55 per cent – ensuring Liverpool’s lowest lot in any game this season of 45 per cent. Kova won the most tackles and spectacularly netted the Blues’ first goal in response. For his part, NG not only played in Christian Pulisic for a spine-tingling equaliser but set up two other chances.

Elsewhere there was an immensely composed display from Thiago Silva at the back and some excellent saves by Edou Mendy. His departure for the Africa Cup of Nations means Kepa Arrizabalaga will don the gloves until much-fancied Senegal’s participation ends. In six previous appearances in all competitions this campaign, Kepa has thwarted 20 shots and conceded five times with a 77 per cent save rate.

Those performances include his heroism off the bench in the Super Cup shootout, the 3-0 top-flight thrashing of Spurs on their own ground in September and a clean sheet in the previous round at Brentford. He has also been working on his domination of the area, claiming more high balls compared to 2019/20 when he was last the Blues’ incumbent.

Naturally, Mendy’s temporary absence will elevate former Fulham man Marcus Bettinelli to the bench. The former England Under-21 has been a substitute for seven games this campaign but is yet to figure.

With non-League opposition next up in the FA Cup it seems likely Thomas Tuchel will use his strongest available team in this competition, especially with the luxury of five substitutes on call.

That may mean Lukaku leading the line with Timo Werner, if back to full health, likely to see some action and rested players such as Jorginho involved. Trevoh Chalobah, injured against Liverpool, is out alongside the longer-term wounded wing-backs, and Andreas Christensen remains a doubt.

Teenagers Harvey Vale and Lewis Hall, both midfielders capable of playing at wing-back, were on the bench against Liverpool but the youngsters are more likely to have a run-out against Chesterfield.

*after penalty shoot-out

Conte’s contenders

‘It won’t be easy for us to fight for something this season,’ Antonio Conte has said but the coach, who returns tonight to the club with whom he won the Premier League and FA Cup, is already having an effect across town.

For a start Tottenham have covered more ground than every opponent since the Italian was at the helm. The personnel are different, but the approach we know: work hard, dominate the ball, stretch play across the pitch, and deliver crosses into the penalty area.

In the weekend win at Watford Spurs enjoyed 74 per cent possession, their highest in the league since August 2019 under Mauricio Pochettino. The Hornets, though, have had an even lower percentage twice this season, and stood off the Lilywhites as a strategy.

Spurs’ wing-backs, Sergio Reguilon or Emerson Royal, have greater licence to attack now than under Nuno Espirito Santo.

The widemen are the primary target of long diagonals fired by middle centre-back Eric Dier and midfield hub Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Left centre-half Ben Davies is also allowed to range forward, leaving two at the rear. The idea there is to outnumber the opposition on the flank, or draw the defence over to create space on the right for Royal or winger Lucas Moura.

Against defences with a high defensive line and forwards who press (such as Chelsea) the back four are happy to launch the ball front to back, aiming for Moura or Heung-min Son, who have had a hand in five and six goals respectively in half-a-dozen appearances.

Under Conte, Harry Kane has managed three goals in five matches, and rarely drops deep as he did earlier this season, conserving energy for the danger areas. Spurs’ forwards tend not to press defenders in any concerted fashion.

Conte has said he may lose two players to Covid but Matt Doherty, Bryan Gil, Joe Rodon, Japhet Tanganga and Harry Winks are among those bidding for a start.

Carabao Cup regulations

The away goals rule does not apply in League Cup semi-finals. If the aggregate scores are level at the end of stoppage time in the second leg the tie will be decided in extra time or, if necessary, with penalty kicks.

The VAR system will be in operation tonight. Yellow cards only count in the competition they are received. In the Carabao Cup, two yellow cards result in a one-match suspension. The cut-off point is the quarter-finals, so no player can miss the final through cumulative yellows.

Seven substitutes can be named and five used in the normal course of events, with up to six allowed if extra time is needed. Two concussion replacements are also permitted.

London and the League Cup

Chelsea were the first club from the capital to lift the League Cup in 1965 and have won it more than any local rival. Our first ever fixture in 1960, a 7-1 away victory against Millwall, remains a club record in this competition.As Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte beat his current team 4-2 in the FA Cup semi-final meeting of April 2017. The two sides have been paired seven times previously in the League Cup competition, twice in the final, with the honours shared one apiece. The Blues have prevailed four times and Spurs three.

Fifty years ago at the same stage John Hollins netted the winner from the spot towards the end of a pulsating first leg at the Bridge. Peter Osgood had opened the scoring after Jennings and Naylor collided, but Spurs hit back through Naylor then Chivers. Chris Garland’s header levelled the score, his first strike since joining the Blues. A fortnight later the west Londoners drew 2-2 at White Lane to reach the final.

Last season the west Londoners outplayed the hosts for long periods and led through Timo Werner’s slammed opener, but debutant Edou Mendy was beaten by Erik Lamela’s late leveller. Mason Mount’s missed shoot-out penalty allowed Spurs to progress.

Early yellows

Sadio Mane’s caution 15 seconds into Sunday’s top-three clash is the earliest in a Premier League game since OPTA began recording seconds in 2006/07. The 29-year-old striker raised an elbow to the head of Cesar Azpilicueta that pole-axed the Blues’ skipper and was widely regarded as a red card offence. Eight minutes later insult added to injury as the Senegalese went on to open the scoring for the Reds.

The most cautioned Premier League player ever, Gareth Barry, received his first ever yellow card on 9 December 1998 playing against Chelsea for Aston Villa.

In February 1992, before precise time-keeping, Chelsea midfielder Vinnie Jones beat his own record with a yellow card offence three seconds into an FA Cup tie against his former Sheffield United team-mates.

Earliest yellow cards in Premier League since 200615 secs         Sadio Mane (Liverpool) vs Chelsea 2 Jan 202224                 Scott McTominay (Man United) vs Newcastle 26 Dec 201925                 Liam Cooper (Leeds) vs West Bromwich 23 May 202126                 Stephen Warnock (Blackburn) vs Hull 1 Mar 200928                 Anthony Knockaert (Brighton) vs Crystal Palace 9 Mar 2019

Cameroon calling

Sunday’s match was the last for Edou Mendy for the foreseeable future as two-time runners-up Senegal attempt to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time. Their group fixtures are against Zimbabwe (Mon 10 Jan, 1pm UK time), Guinea (Fri 14 Jan, 1pm) and Malawi (Tue 18 Jan, 4pm).

The group stage ends on 20 January but players involved in the final will remain in Cameroon until 6 February. The only affected club that Chelsea are scheduled to play in that timespan are Manchester City (though round four of the FA Cup is at the start of February). Tottenham have no squad members away with their country.

Carabao Cup first leg semi-final fixtures

WednesdayChelsea v Tottenham 7.45pm (Sky Sports)

ThursdayArsenal v Liverpool - postponed