The head coach made six changes for the Champions League win over Villarreal last midweek, then four alterations as Brighton & Hove Albion were beaten in the Premier League on Sunday.

Match three of four in a row at Anfield sees the Blues visit Merseyside for an 8pm GMT kick-off and Iraola said ‘there will definitely be changes’.

Discussing rotation at his pre-match press conference, he added: “It’s not that we have a lot of options – [it’s that] we need to rotate. Every top team that plays every three days needs to rotate.

“Sometimes they are forced rotations because you don’t have players available and it’s more difficult for me.

“And sometimes it’s because we consider that for different games we have different demands and we have to go differently tactically.

“But I’m happy because I see the team, everyone is involved, and when we’ve had the need to use someone that was not playing for one game, for 10 minutes, he has been there and has helped us.

“The more players we can have in a good place, the easier is going to be my selection. Even if it’s hard in terms of leaving players out, I prefer those problems than not having players ready.”

Florian Wirtz, who sustained a twisted ankle versus Brighton, could be involved in the tie with Chelsea.

But Victor Munoz and Dominik Szoboszlai may be sidelined again as they continue to recover from injuries.

“He was quite fine, Florian – I’m quite optimistic that he will be available,” said Iraola. “With Dom and Victor, I’m not so sure. I don’t want to say no, but I think it’s going to be more difficult than Florian, yes.”

Jayden Danns – a Carabao Cup winner with Liverpool in 2024 – has been named on the senior bench three times this season.

The striker was a goalscorer for the U21s in their Premier League 2 game at Chelsea last weekend.

“With Jayden, the problem has been until now this season the availability,” said Iraola.

“He got injured just before starting pre-season here. He was here with the U21s and has had some setbacks and has been in and out.

“I think he is now building some good minutes, he scored also the other day. He is in a good place. He has been with us mostly in the European games.

“I hope he continues progressing and pushes to fight for minutes.”

Jeremie Frimpong is currently sidelined with a muscle problem, while Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are long-term absentees.

A yellow card for either Ronald Araujo or Milos Kerkez will see them miss the quarter-finals if Liverpool progress.

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, now Chelsea boss, returns to Anfield for a third time in the opposition dugout.

He will be without Cole Palmer, who is suspended for the trip to Merseyside as a result of being sent off last weekend against Tottenham Hotspur.

Striker Joao Pedro is also unavailable due to a thigh injury.

Alonso was asked at his pre-match briefing if Estevao and Danny Welbeck will be involved against the Reds after being substitutes last time out.

He replied: “They are in the squad, so every player in the squad can play.”

Summer signing Emmanuel Emegha is in line to make his Blues debut in L4 as he completes rehabilitation of a hamstring issue.

“Emegha is in the squad,” said Alonso. “For sure it’s important that we have him available because he has special qualities.

“He needs to feel fully fit, he has been training for the last couple of weeks, 10 days, in a good way that has allowed him to build a strong base for his fitness.

“Now, gradually we want to see him. Maybe tomorrow he has the chance to play.”

On adapting his attacking set-up in the absence of the likes of Palmer and Pedro, he added: “There are the strikers but there are other players that can play in that position.

“We need to find the right balance between the things that they are good at and how they connect with the other ones.

“We tried with Morgan [Rogers] playing close to Cole. We will have to sometimes be creative and sometimes to try a few things to see if this is going to work well.”

Last match

Liverpool 2-0 Brighton (October 25): Alisson, Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Barcola, Gakpo, Isak.

Chelsea 0-2 Tottenham (October 24): Penders, Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill, Hato, Caicedo, Henderson, Neto, Palmer, Quenda, Rogers.