United, Arsenal and Spurs kept apart

The three favourites for the English League Cup were kept apart when the draw for the quarter-finals was made yesterday.

Manchester United will host Blackburn Rovers in the only all Premier League clash while Arsenal, who will keep faith with their policy of fielding the reserves in the competition, will travel to Championship (second division) side Burnley, who beat Chelsea on penalties last Wednesday.

Holders Tottenham Hotspur, who have improved significantly under new manager Harry Redknapp, play at Championship strugglers Watford while Stoke City, in the quarter-finals for the first time in almost 30 years, are at home to Derby County.

United's tie against Blackburn Rovers will see manager Alex Ferguson up against his former midfield enforcer Paul Ince, who is enduring a difficult start to life as a top flight manager.

Rovers will be hoping for a different outcome to their last meeting in the competition when they lost to United in a two-legged semi-final in 2006.

The draw

Stoke City vs Derby County (I); Manchester United vs Blackburn Rovers; Burnley (I) vs Arsenal; Watford (I) vs Tottenham Hotspur.

Matches will be played in the week commencing Dec. 1.