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Derby haven't been in the top flight since 2008 but actually played Chelsea at home just 11 months ago.

A rare goal from John Mikel Obi helped Jose Mourinho's side to a comfortable enough 2-0 FA Cup win. I'm sure the Blues would settle for a repeat performance tonight.

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Derby manager Steve McClaren on Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho: "Sir Alex has retired so he's probably the best around at the present moment. Carlo Ancelotti would argue with that and there are a lot of good managers out there throughout the world. He's got to be up there in the top three.

"I've come across him many times and we've had our glasses of wine. He's excellent. It's like Sir Alex - what you see through the TV and the media is not the real person.

"What we see behind the scenes are very warm friendly people who just want to build a team and win football games."

What are your predictions for tonight's League Cup matches?

Freddy, external smells an upset: Derby to win 2-1 tonight. I think Chelsea will underestimate them and the Rams have been great this season.

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Tonight's other League Cup quarter-final sees League One Sheffield United take on Southampton in the battle of the red-and-white stripes.

The Blades went all the way to the FA Cup semi-finals last year and are in good cup form again. With Southampton losing their last four games, can Nigel Clough's side capitalise?

Image source, Southampton

Southampton on Twitter:, external Southampton will wear their navy away strip this evening against Sheffield United in the Capital One Cup.

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Tonight's main game sees Premier League leaders Chelsea face a potential banana skin at Championship high-fliers Derby.

Jose Mourinho's side have lost just once in all competitions this season, but the Rams will provide a tough test. Steve McClaren's men were top of the second division until a 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough at the weekend and remain one of the favourites to win promotion back to the top flight.

Can they cause a Cupset this evening?

The Premier League sides are here...

Chelsea FC on Twitter, external We've arrived at the iPro Stadium, home of Derby County. It's a cold and crisp evening in the East Midlands.

Image source, Chelsea FC

Southampton FC on Twitter:, external The scene is set for tonight's Capital One Cup tie at Bramall Lane.

Image source, Southampton FC

Chelsea make five changes but still field a very strong side. Very strong indeed. Cesc Fabregas is among those returning, while Didier Drogba starts up front.

Derby make two changes with the highly-rated Will Hughes back in the fold.

Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Terry (c), Filipe Luis; Mikel, Matic; Schurrle, Fabregas, Hazard; Drogba

Derby: Grant, Christie, Buxton, Keogh (c), Forsyth, Hughes, Mascarell, Bryson, Russell, Martin, Dawkins

Manchester City won the Capital One Cup last season in a cracking final against Sunderland.

But we will have a new winner this season after City crashed out against Newcastle in the last round - almost two months ago. To jog your memories, here are the four quarter-finals:

Derby v Chelsea (19:45 GMT)

Sheffield United v Southampton (19:45 GMT)

Tottenham v Newcastle (19:45 GMT on Wednesday)

Bournemouth v Liverpool (19:45 GMT on Wednesday)

Image source, AP

Under the radar. Off camera. Out of the spotlight.

The Capital One Cup may not have registered highly in the footballing world's collective conscience so far this season, but all of a sudden we have arrived at the business end of the competition.

The eight sides still standing are now just three games away from Wembley. It's all about to get very serious.

Image source, PA

One side from League One, two from the Championship and five Premier League clubs remain. Who will be the new champions in March?