Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool's Carling Cup semi-final showdown with Manchester City has the potential to evoke all the drama of a European tie.

The Reds defender is excited by the prospect of playing the second leg at a floodlit Anfield and has shrugged off suggestions they could have had an easier last four draw.

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"A lot of the people you speak to in the street say it's a tough draw," Carragher told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"But it's similar to when we played Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final a few years ago. The other two teams were West Ham and Middlesbrough. People said you'd want to face them.

"But if we'd have got one of the lower league sides this year, with respect to them, you'd be expecting to face Man City in the final.

"So, if you want to win this competition you are probably going to have to beat Manchester City at some point anyway."

He added: "I'm looking forward to it. The second leg is going to be like a European night, especially if the first leg goes well.

"The minimum Liverpool should be looking at is getting to one of the semi-finals each year, either the FA Cup or the Carling Cup. We haven't done that enough recently which has been disappointing but we've done it this year and hopefully we can go on now."