Table of Content
Liverpool host Chelsea in the last 16 of the EFL Cup at Anfield, with managers Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso naming their starting line-ups for the fixture.
Match Context and Recent Form
Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield aiming to guide Chelsea to a rebound following a 2-0 defeat against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, a match where Cole Palmer received a red card for two yellow bookings. Alonso previously brought Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid to Anfield and suffered defeat on both visits. Meanwhile, Liverpool enter the clash on a four-match winning streak across all competitions under Andoni Iraola, following a home victory over Brighton secured by a Pascal Groß own goal and an Alexander Isak strike.
Liverpool Team News
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola makes several changes from the weekend win against Brighton, retaining only Ronald Araujo, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Cody Gakpo in the starting XI. Youngsters James McConnell, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha, and Lewis Koumas enter the line-up. Liverpool remain without injured players Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong, and Hugo Ekitike.
Liverpool starting line-up: Mamardashvili; Gomez, Araujo, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; McConnell, Gravenberch, Nyoni; Gakpo, Ngumoha, Koumas
Liverpool substitutes: Alisson, Endo, Jacquet, Wirtz, Isak, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Barcol, Chambers
Chelsea Team News
Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso makes four changes from the Tottenham match, bringing in Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Romeo Lavia, and Danny Welbeck. Levi Colwill, Jorrel Hato, and Geovany Quenda drop to the bench, while Cole Palmer serves a suspension. Joao Pedro is sidelined for a few weeks with a knee injury, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez remains absent, allowing Mike Penders to retain his place in goal.
Chelsea starting line-up: Penders; Acheampong, Fofana, Lacroix; Gusto, Neto, Caicedo, Lavia, Henderson; Rogers, Welbeck
Chelsea substitutes: Sharman-Lowe, Colwill, Subuloye, Palestra, Barco, Nicoll-Jazuli, Estevao, Quenda, Emegha
Broadcast Details and Match Facts
The match kicks off at 8pm GMT on Wednesday, October 28, at Anfield. Viewers in the UK can watch the game live on Sky Sports and ITV1, with digital streaming available via ITVX and the Sky Go app, while international supporters can check local EFL Cup broadcasting rights.
The fixture marks the 202nd meeting between the two clubs across all competitions, with Liverpool holding 87 wins to Chelsea’s 67. The teams previously met in the EFL Cup finals of 2022 and 2024, and this represents Liverpool’s eighth appearance against a London opponent in their last 12 matches in the competition.
