Chelsea set up a mouthwatering quarter-final clash with Manchester United after thumping Everton 4-1 in the Worthington Cup fourth round last night.

Two goals from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, together with strikes from Emmanuel Petit and Mario Stanic, put the Londoners into the last eight. Everton could only reply with a late consolation from Gary Naysmith, after teenage sensation Wayne Rooney had earlier missed a penalty.

Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers both cruised into the next round after humiliating lower division opposition.

Villa humbled first division Preston at Vila Park, England striker Darius Vassell particularly impressing with a goal either side of half-time. Dion Dublin, Juan Pablo Angel and Thomas Hitzlsperger were the other scorers in a 5-0 rout.

Blackburn beat Rotherham 4-0, scoring all their goals before half-time. Possibly reacting to the signing of Hakan Sukur earlier in the day, strikers Dwight Yorke (2) and Andy Cole both got on the scoresheet, with Damien Duff scoring the fourth in an easy home win.

Liverpool scraped through by beating Ipswich on penalties, after 120 minutes of football could not separate the sides. With the sides locked at 1-1, Jamie Clapham missed the decisive penalty for Ipswich, who had taken the lead in normal time through Tommy Miller. Liverpool, taking the opportunity to rest some of their first-team players, drew level thanks to a penalty from El Hadji Diouf.

In the night’s only shock, Second Division high-flyers Wigan Athletic dumped out Fulham, their third Premier League scalp of the competition, having already defeated West Brom and Manchester City in earlier rounds. Nathan Ellington was the hero, scoring both Wigan goals in the first half. Fulham pulled a goal back through Luis Boa Morte, but they could not manage an equaliser.

There were three matches played on Tuesday night that saw Manchester United, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace advance to the quarter-finals. Alex Ferguson’s side beatBurnley 2-0 at Turf Moor, with goals from Diego Forlan and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Sheffield United also won 2-0 against Premiership strugglers Sunderland, whilst 10-man Crystal Palace defeated Oldham 1-0 at Selhurst Park.

Quarter Final Draw
Aston Villa v Liverpool
Manchester United v Chelsea