Israel Saria
Eurosport
Five-time winners Liverpool will play Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals while Manchester United face Roma and Chelsea take on Fenerbahce.
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The all-English tie is the highlight of the last eight draw, with the two legs coming either side of a league game between the two at the Emirates Stadium.
With four Premier League teams still in the competition, and English ‘civil war’ was always on the cards and so it proved, with Arsenal and Liverpool the first two names to come out of the hat.
Officials from both clubs quickly said they would have preferred to play foreign opponents, and the winners may face another English side in the last four – Chelsea.
United will play their fifth and sixth matches against Roma within 12 months, having played the Serie A side in last year’s quarter-finals and in the group stage earlier this season.
There will be inevitable concerns about clashes between the opposing sets of fans after problems marred the match in Rome in March 2007, with the Italian police accused of heavy-handed treatment of United fans.
United thrashed Roma 7-1 at Old Trafford last season, but Luciano Spalletti’s side are on a high after winning at home and away against Real Madrid.
Chelsea will be more than happy to play Turkish champions Fenerbahce after beating Olympiacos in the last 16, but are sure to face English opposition in the last four if they prevail.
Fener overcame UEFA Cup holders Sevilla on penalties after a thrilling 5-5 aggregate draw.
The Blues lost two semi-finals to Liverpool under Jose Mourinho, and could face the Merseyside club for a third time in four years.
2006 winners Barcelona will be big favourites to see off Bundesliga side Schalke, and could face United in a mouthwatering semi-final.
Barça won both legs against Celtic and look certain to pose the biggest threat to English domination of the competition.
Schalke reached the last eight on penalties after drawing 1-1 on aggregate with 2004 winners Porto.
QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Arsenal v Liverpool
Roma v Manchester United
Schalke v Barcelona
Fenerbahce v Chelsea
Quarter-final matches to be played on 01/02 and 08/09 April.
SEMI-FINAL DRAW
Schalke/Barcelona v Roma/Manchester United
Arsenal/Liverpool v Fenerbahce/Chelsea
Semi-finals on 22/23 and 29/30 April.
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