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Liverpool will host Chelsea at Anfield on Wednesday evening in a high-profile last-16 encounter in the EFL Cup. The fixture, scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. GMT kickoff on October 28, will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports and ITV1, with digital streaming available on ITVX and the Sky Go app.
Team Form and Match Background
Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield with Chelsea seeking a response following a 2-0 home defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. That loss halted a two-game winning run in the league and saw key attacker Cole Palmer sent off after receiving two yellow cards in nine minutes. Without European competition this term, the domestic cup provides Chelsea an immediate opportunity for silverware. Alonso’s side reached this stage following victories over Luton Town and a 6-3 win against Leeds United.
Liverpool enter the fixture on the back of four consecutive wins across all competitions. Head coach Andoni Iraola guided his side to a 2-0 victory against Brighton on Sunday, secured by a Pascal Groß own goal and a strike from Alexander Isak. The result marked Liverpool’s first home league win of the season and moved them up to fourth in the standings, two points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea. Liverpool earned their place in the last 16 by defeating Tottenham 3-1 in the previous round.
Both teams face demanding schedules, with Chelsea hosting Manchester United on Saturday before Liverpool face Arsenal at home on Sunday. Iraola confirmed plans to alter his starting XI, stating: “There will definitely be changes, but we want to win the game. We want to be competitive.” He added: “We need to see where the legs are and make some changes game-to-game because it’s almost mandatory. We want to be in the next round. We have been unlucky in the draw because we are playing Chelsea. They have been unlucky, also.”
Injury Concerns and Squad News
Liverpool face fitness assessments for several first-team players. Florian Wirtz sustained an ankle issue against Brighton, while Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz remain doubts. Addressing squad fitness, Iraola said: “We still have to wait. We train later. With Florian I am quite optimistic that he will be available. Dom and Victor, I am not so sure.” He noted that for Szoboszlai and Munoz, “I don’t want to say no, but I think it’s going to be more difficult than Florian.”
The hosts remain without Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong, and Hugo Ekitike. Giorgi Mamardashvili is expected to feature in goal, with Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas also in line to start.
Chelsea will be without the suspended Palmer, while forward João Pedro is sidelined for a few weeks due to a knee injury. Goalkeeper Mike Penders is expected to retain his position despite an error against Tottenham, as Emiliano Martínez remains unavailable. Danny Welbeck and Estêvão Willian are in contention to replace Palmer and João Pedro in the attack. Marco Palestra, Valentín Barco, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, and Malo Gusto are also pushing for starting roles.
Predicted Lineups
Liverpool expected lineup: Mamardashvili; Gomez, Jacquet, Endo, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Ngumoha, Nyoni, Barcola; Koumas.
Chelsea expected lineup: Penders; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Palestra; Caicedo, Lavia, Barco; Estevao, Welbeck, Rogers.
Head-to-Head and Key Statistics
Wednesday’s match marks the 202nd competitive meeting between the two clubs. Liverpool hold the historical advantage with 87 victories compared to Chelsea’s 67. The sides last met in the EFL Cup during the 2022 and 2024 finals.
London clubs have featured prominently in Liverpool’s recent League Cup campaigns, accounting for eight of their past 12 ties in the tournament. Furthermore, Liverpool’s previous three League Cup defeats at Anfield were all inflicted by London opposition, losing to Chelsea in the 2018-19 season, Arsenal on penalties in 2020-21, and Crystal Palace in 2025-26.
In its match assessment, 101 Great Goals noted that Chelsea’s squad depth could give them a slight advantage, though the tie may extend beyond 90 minutes.
