League Cup: Holders Tottenham face Reds peril in cup

The Carling Cup holders, Tottenham, face a tough task in the fourth round of the competition after being pitted against the seven-times winners Liverpool in one of three all-Premier League ties.

Spurs, who defeated Chelsea 2-1 to lift the trophy last season, took a break from their league troubles to dump Newcastle out in the previous round and must beat top-flight opposition again if they are to progress.

Liverpool travel to White Hart Lane as the most successful side in League Cup history, last winning the competition in 2003.

Arsenal's much-vaunted youngsters, who demolished Sheffield United 6-0 in the last round, will get another chance to impress, against Premier League opponents Wigan at the Emirates Stadium.

Sunderland and Blackburn, managed by former Manchester United players Roy Keane and Paul Ince respectively, will face each other at the Stadium of Light.

Chelsea have been handed a home draw against a Burnley side who accounted for Fulham with a 1-0 win in the third round, while United are also paired with a side capable of giant-killing. Sir Alex Ferguson's men face Iain Dowie's Queen's Park Rangers, who came out 1-0 winners over Aston Villa on Wednesday, ending a sequence of three consecutive wins for Martin O'Neill's team.

The remaining Premier League side in the draw, Stoke, will host Rotherham, and Championship sides Swansea and Watford will meet at the Liberty Stadium. Leeds visit Brighton or Derby, who play their third-round tie on 4 November.

Carling Cup fourth-round draw (ties to be played week commencing 10 November): Sunderland v Blackburn Rovers; Arsenal v Wigan Athletic; Chelsea v Burnley; Swansea City v Watford; Manchester United v Queen's Park Rangers; Stoke City v Rotherham United; Brighton or Derby County v Leeds United ; Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool.

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