Liverpool and Chelsea meet at Anfield on Wednesday night with a place in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on the line, as Xabi Alonso returns to one of football’s most familiar venues for the first time as Chelsea head coach.

Both clubs remain ambitious on multiple fronts this season, but cup competitions offer a realistic route to silverware, meaning neither manager is likely to treat this tie lightly despite expected rotation.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 131/100

Bookmaker: 20bet

Liverpool

Liverpool enter the contest in excellent spirits following a strong run of results under Andoni Iraola.

The Reds have responded impressively to their only defeat of the season, the 3-0 home loss to Manchester City, by winning four consecutive matches in all competitions. Those victories have highlighted the adaptability developing within Iraola’s side, who have shown an ability to recover from setbacks and win games in different ways.

Perhaps the best example came in the Champions League last week when Liverpool overturned a 2-0 deficit to defeat Villarreal 4-3. Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Brighton was equally important, as it delivered a first clean sheet in five matches and maintained momentum ahead of a demanding fixture schedule.

Team News

Rotation is expected with Arsenal looming in the Premier League. Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk could be rested, while Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha, Lewis Koumas and James McConnell may all receive opportunities.

There are injury concerns, however. Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley remain unavailable, while Florian Wirtz and Victor Munoz face late fitness assessments.

Chelsea

Chelsea arrive on Merseyside looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.

The result represented a significant setback for Xabi Alonso, whose side had appeared to be building momentum after victories over Bournemouth and Everton. Instead, Spurs exposed several weaknesses and handed the Blues their first major disappointment for some time.

The EFL Cup now offers an immediate opportunity for a response.

Chelsea’s route to this stage has included victories over Luton Town and Leeds United, but a trip to Anfield represents a much tougher challenge. The venue has not been kind to Alonso as a manager, with defeats there during spells at Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid.

Team News

The visitors are also dealing with a number of absentees. Cole Palmer is suspended following his red card against Tottenham, while Reece James and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez remain unavailable. Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Emmanuel Emegha and Pep Chavarria will all be assessed before kickoff.

Teenage winger Estevao Willian is pushing for a rare start, while Morgan Rogers and Danny Welbeck could be included as Alonso balances squad rotation with the need for a strong response.

Key Factors to Consider

• Liverpool have won four consecutive matches in all competitions.
• The Reds have suffered only one defeat all season.
• Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by Tottenham at the weekend.
• Cole Palmer is suspended for the visitors.
• Liverpool have already demonstrated strong comeback ability this season.
• Xabi Alonso has lost both previous managerial visits to Anfield.

Conclusion

Both managers are likely to rotate, which should create an open and entertaining encounter between two talented squads.

Chelsea possess enough attacking quality to trouble Liverpool, particularly if Estevao, Rogers and Welbeck are involved, but Palmer’s absence removes a significant creative influence. Liverpool, meanwhile, have built momentum over recent weeks and continue to find solutions regardless of the circumstances of a match.

With home advantage, superior recent form and growing confidence under Iraola, Liverpool appear slightly better positioned to progress.