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Anfield, Liverpool
Wednesday 28 October, 8pm
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- Liverpool – Full Time Result
- Yes – Both Teams to Score
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Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield to face former club Liverpool as an opposition manager yet again, but this time with his vulnerable Chelsea side on Wednesday night in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.
The Blues boss will have to find a way of getting by without the suspended Cole Palmer, who was sent off against Tottenham Hotspur on the weekend, and another loss could add significantly more pressure on the head coach.
Preview: Liverpool vs Chelsea form and context
Liverpool made a slow start to life under Andoni Iraola, drawing their first two games of the season, with Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, but the hosts have since found form.
They have won eight of their last 10 games, including each of their last four, with those four wins including triumphs against LASK (6-3), Villarreal (4-3), Brentford (2-1) and Brighton (2-0).
Iraola will be particularly pleased to have kept Brighton at bay considering the Seagulls were the Premier League’s most productive team having netted 23 times in their first seven games, while the fact that the likes of Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola flourished on the weekend should be seen as a positive sign for things to come.
Liverpool currently find themselves fourth in the Premier League with 15 points from eight matchweeks, and though they trail second-placed Arsenal and first-placed Manchester City by six points, they are set to welcome the former to Anfield on Sunday.
Last time out in the EFL Cup, the Merseysiders emerged as 3-1 victors against Tottenham Hotspur, with Dominik Szoboszlai scoring an incredible ranged strike to seal the win in the third round.
No other team has won the EFL Cup more than Liverpool (10), and they have managed to reach the final three times in the last five seasons, so they will believe they have what it takes to go far in this iteration of the competition.
Alonso was widely linked with the Liverpool job in the summer, but Chelsea managed to bring the Spaniard to London, hoping he could restore the Blues to their place at the top of the table.
Fans understood that it would not be a quick process back to the top, though some are concerned about the team’s current placement of fifth, especially as they only have 13 points.
Their 2-0 defeat against Tottenham on Saturday at Stamford Bridge was unthinkable, and it was alarming to see Alonso’s midfield so easily outplayed, and a lack of defensive coverage has contributed to the club conceding 15 goals in the league.
At the other end of the pitch, the Londoners have scored 17 goals in the top flight, though striker Joao Pedro is set to be out for some weeks, and his absence will make earning a second win in nine visits to Anfield significantly more challenging.
In the EFL Cup’s second round, Chelsea emerged as 2-0 winners against Luton Town on August 27, but they had to come back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Leeds United 6-3 on September 9 in the third round.
Team news: Liverpool vs Chelsea predicted lineups
Liverpool team news
Florian Wirtz was forced off the pitch against Brighton due to an ankle injury, though Iraola was optimistic about his chances of featuring.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz have not been ruled out entirely, but the head coach has suggested that they are unlikely to make appearances, while right-back Jeremie Frimpong is sidelined due to a muscle injury.
Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Hugo Ekitike are long-term absentees, though the first two may return before 2027.
Ronald Araujo is expected at right-back, and Joe Gomez could come into the XI in place of Virgil van Dijk in defence.
Elsewhere, Trey Nyoni could partner Alexis Mac Allister in the middle of the pitch, while Rio Ngumoha is likely to feature on the right side of attack.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Chelsea
Mamardashvili; Araujo, Jacquet, Gomez, Kerkez; Nyoni, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, Gravenberch, Gakpo; Koumas
Chelsea team news
The two yellows that Palmer received against Tottenham means he will serve a one-game suspension on Wednesday.
It has been reported that a thigh injury will keep Joao Pedro out for a few weeks, and that could mean that Danny Welbeck is in line for a start up front.
Emiliano Martinez is out with a broken jaw, so Mike Penders is expected in goal.
Reece James is still sidelined, so if the Blues continue to deploy a back three, expect to see Josh Acheampong on the right.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Liverpool
Penders; Acheampong, Fofana, Colwill; Gusto, Caicedo, Lavia, Hato; Estevao, Welbeck, Rogers
Head-to-head: Liverpool vs Chelsea record
Liverpool lead the all-time record with 87 wins to Chelsea’s 66 and 47 draws from 200 meetings in all competitions.
The last meeting was a 1-1 draw at Anfield in the Premier League on May 9, with Chelsea winning the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge 2-1 in October 2025.
Liverpool have lost only two of their past 13 encounters with the Blues, winning five times and drawing six games in that period.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five league clashes with the Londoners at Anfield, drawing three and winning two.
Chelsea won the 2005 EFL Cup final 3-2 after extra time, but Liverpool won the 2022 final 11-10 on penalties, as well as the 2024 final 1-0 after Van Dijk’s 118th-minute winner.
Our Liverpool vs Chelsea prediction and betting tips
- Result: Liverpool to win inside 90 minutes, extending their current run to five victories in a row
- Chelsea scorer: Danny Welbeck, who has scored three times in two EFL Cup starts this season
- Both teams to score, with Liverpool having conceded in four of their last five games
Lewis is an avid writer and football fan, with years of experience working as a freelance journalist across text, audio and video.
As a Liverpool supporter, Lewis has frequently covered the club of his heart, though he has also branched out considerably, interviewing and writing about personalities across the football sphere.