Liverpool host Chelsea at Anfield on Thursday, 28 October 2026 at 20:00 GMT, with a place in the EFL Cup quarter-finals at stake. The Reds have won their past four matches in all competitions, while Chelsea must respond after a 2-0 defeat by Tottenham.

Cameroonian sports betting expert and journalist Arthur Wandji has outlined his selections for the tie, including a 3.25 price on Bradley Barcola to score.

Liverpool arrive in strong form after victories over Villarreal, which they won 4-3 in the LDC, and Brighton, beaten 2-0 in the Premier League. Their attacking play has produced a regular supply of chances, although defensive concerns remain after conceding 10 goals across their past five matches.

The home side will look to establish control early at Anfield and move closer to a quarter-final place. Their recent sequence of results reads: V/V/V/V/D.

Chelsea’s form has been less consistent. The Blues scored six times in a 6-3 victory over Leeds in the previous round, but have also suffered significant defeats by Brentford, losing 3-0, and Tottenham, who won 2-0. Cole Palmer is suspended and expected to miss the match, potentially affecting Chelsea’s creativity, while the availability of several other players remains under review.

Chelsea will need to be more effective in the final third and limit Liverpool’s attacking threat if they are to progress. Their recent form is recorded as: D/V/V/D/N.

Recent meetings and key figures

The last meeting between the sides at Anfield, on 9 May 2026, ended 1-1. Across the past five encounters, Liverpool and Chelsea have each recorded two victories, with one draw.

Liverpool have scored at least twice in four of their last five games, including six against LASK and four against Villarreal. The teams’ latest Anfield draw underlines the generally competitive nature of the fixture, with close scorelines and alternating periods of control.

The ability to convert chances and manage transitions could prove decisive in this knockout match. Liverpool’s recent attacking momentum may be balanced by Chelsea’s potential to exploit spaces behind the home defence.

Betting selections

The recommended goalscorer selection is Barcola to score at odds of 3.25, subject to him starting. The Liverpool winger scored a hat-trick in the 6-3 win over LASK and later assisted Alexander Isak in the victory against Brighton. His pace and movement into attacking spaces could trouble a Chelsea defence that may be changed for the cup match.

The corners selection is over 9.5 at 1.62. Liverpool’s wide players can create repeated crossing opportunities, while Chelsea’s attacking options may force the Reds to defend and concede set pieces. A fast-paced contest could produce enough attacking sequences to take the total beyond that line.

The exact-score-related selection is for the match to reach 1-1 at odds of 2.16, either in the first or second half. Both teams possess the attacking quality to respond after conceding, and the previous 1-1 draw at Anfield supports that possibility.

Other statistical options are Liverpool to score over 1.5 goals at 1.79, both teams to score at 1.4, and over 2.5 goals at 1.44. The exact score of 2-1 is priced at 9.

Odds may change.