Manchester United will meet Aston Villa in the League Cup final after a 3-1 semi-final second leg home win over Manchester City saw them go through 4-3 on aggregate.
The match seemed destined for extra time before a late Wayne Rooney header gave holders United the win.
Chelsea have gone back to the top of the Premier League with a 3-nil win over Birmingham in London, two strikes from Frank Lampard and one Florent Malouda goal putting them a point above United and two above Arsenal.
The Gunners missed the chance to go level with Chelsea after a nil-all draw at Villa while Ryan Nelsen's Blackburn Rovers have beaten Wigan 2-1 at home.
In Liverpool the 150th league meeting of Everton and Sunderland went the way of the home side, Everton winning 2-nil with their imports doing the business.
Socceroo Tim Cahill headed in the first goal and laid on the second for US international Landon Donovan, who scored his first Premier League goal.
