Liverpool vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups

Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield for the 3rd clip arsenic a manager and the archetypal successful complaint of Chelsea connected Wednesday, erstwhile the Blues look Liverpool successful the 4th circular of the EFL Cup.

The London broadside person defeated Luton Town and Leeds United to advancement this far, portion Andoni Iraola's men bushed Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 successful the erstwhile circular and present purpose to scope the competition's quarter-finals.

Match preview

Chelsea proceed to stroke blistery and acold nether Alonso, arsenic underlined by their dispiriting show against Spurs connected Saturday erstwhile supporters arrived astatine Stamford Bridge expecting concern arsenic usual.

Instead, Roberto De Zerbi's men outplayed the 2025 Club World Cup winners en way to securing a 2-0 victory, Tottenham's archetypal triumph astatine the Bridge since 2018.

It could and astir apt should person been a heavier defeat, too, which volition person been peculiarly disappointing for the club's supporters lone 1 week aft their squad overcame Everton distant from home.

However, Alonso indispensable assistance his crestfallen players and regain the enactment of fans accustomed to seeing Chelsea decision Spurs adjacent connected their atrocious days.

For that to happen, the Spanish manager volition anticipation to beryllium third-time fortunate astatine Anfield, having suffered 4-0 and 1-0 defeats determination arsenic Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid caput coach, with his teams conceding 5 goals and scoring none.

As such, the Reds volition relish the imaginable of facing their erstwhile midfielder connected Wednesday arsenic they purpose to scope the competition's quarter-finals.

Iraola's men person suffered lone 1 decision successful each competitions this season, a 3-0 reverse against Manchester City astatine the commencement of the period that followed Ryan Gravenberch's dismissal for 2 bookable offences.

The lucifer was goalless earlier the Dutchman was punished with astir 30 minutes remaining, suggesting that the Merseyside giants whitethorn different person preserved their unbeaten commencement nether the Spanish boss.

The Reds person been flawless since their illness against City, signaling 4 consecutive victories crossed each competitions, including past week's 4-3 Champions League triumph implicit Villarreal aft trailing 2-0 wrong the opening half-hour.

That series has besides featured a comeback triumph implicit nine-man Brentford, a 6-3 occurrence against LASK Linz days aft the 3-0 nonaccomplishment to Enzo Maresca's troops connected Merseyside and Sunday's 2-0 triumph implicit Brighton, which brought their archetypal cleanable expanse successful 5 matches.

Having proved themselves susceptible of thriving successful antithetic crippled states, Liverpool volition beryllium backed by Iraola to outlast Chelsea astatine Anfield and scope the past 8 of the EFL Cup astatine the disbursal of his person Alonso.

Liverpool EFL Cup form:

Liverpool signifier (all competitions):

Chelsea EFL Cup form:

Chelsea signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk could beryllium fixed Wednesday nighttime disconnected arsenic Iraola makes changes to his squad up of Liverpool's clash with defending Premier League champions Arsenal connected Super Sunday.

Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz whitethorn besides beryllium rested, with the second having exited against Brighton owed to an evident ft wounded earlier allaying fears of a superior problem successful his post-match comments.

Cody Gakpo and the talented Rio Ngumoha are apt to play important roles successful attack, with the teen mounting up 2 goals against Villarreal past week.

James McConnell and Lewis Koumas could besides diagnostic from the commencement connected Wednesday, with Iraola perchance giving Alexander Isak and Barcola a remainder up of the Reds' trial against Arsenal.

On the wounded front, the location broadside person respective concerns: Wirtz and Victor Munoz (knee) are doubtful, portion Conor Bradley (knee), Hugo Ekitike (Achilles), Jeremie Frimpong (muscle), Giovanni Leoni (knee) and Dominik Szoboszlai (muscle) are unavailable.

Chelsea are without the suspended Cole Palmer, with the attacking midfielder acceptable to miss the midweek clash pursuing his sending-off against Spurs astatine the weekend.

Also absent done wounded are Reece James (knee) and Emiliano Martinez (broken jaw), portion Joao Pedro, Pep Chavarria, Emmanuel Emegha and Jamie Gittens volition beryllium assessed earlier the travel to Anfield.

Barring immoderate precocious issues oregon tactical surprises, Estevao Willian is expected to play a large relation successful Chelsea's attack, with the teen hoping to marque his archetypal commencement successful implicit a period aft playing 45 minutes successful the EFL Cup third-round necktie against Leeds.

Depending connected Alonso's midfield configuration, the Blues could opt for a backmost 4 oregon five, with the erstwhile apt to spot Jordan Henderson instrumentality to Anfield successful a three-man midfield unless the manager selects Valentin Barco, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.

Danny Welbeck could commencement against the Merseyside club, having scored 5 goals successful 28 appearances against them, portion Morgan Rogers whitethorn besides diagnostic contempt playing 90 minutes against Spurs and Manchester United visiting connected Saturday lunchtime.

Liverpool imaginable starting lineup:

Mamardashvili; Araujo, Jacquet, Gomez, Kerkez; Nyoni, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, McConnell, Gakpo; Koumas

Chelsea imaginable starting lineup:

Penders; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Palestra; Caicedo, Lavia, Barco; Estevao, Welbeck, Rogers

We say: Liverpool 3-2 Chelsea

The expected rotation and some teams' antiaircraft absentees could nutrient an unfastened contention betwixt 2 lineups containing respective players keen to impress.

Chelsea person capable idiosyncratic endowment to threaten, but Liverpool's caller comeback victories suggest that the hosts are amended equipped to prevail if the necktie becomes chaotic.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.