According to ESPN on Monday, October 26, 2026, Chelsea are preparing for a difficult trip to Anfield to face Liverpool in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

The Blues will enter the encounter hoping to recover from their disappointing 2-0 Premier League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge. Manager Xabi Alonso will be eager to see an improved performance from his players, with victory offering an opportunity to restore confidence and keep their hopes of winning silverware alive.

Alonso is also expected to make several changes to his starting lineup as he looks to find the right combination against Liverpool.

Here is how Chelsea could line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Goalkeeper: Mike Penders

Penders could retain his place between the posts despite his difficult performance against Tottenham. Alonso may prefer to maintain confidence in the young goalkeeper by giving him another opportunity to prove himself.

Defence: Josh Acheampong, Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill

Acheampong, Lacroix and Colwill are tipped to form Chelsea’s three-man defensive unit. The trio will need to maintain their organisation and communicate effectively to deal with Liverpool’s attacking threats.

Midfield: Pedro Neto, Moises Caicedo, Jordan Henderson and Marco Palestra

Neto could operate on the right flank, while Palestra is expected to occupy the opposite side. Both players will have important defensive responsibilities while also providing width and attacking support.

In central midfield, Caicedo could partner Henderson. Their energy, experience and ability to recover possession could help Chelsea compete for control of the game and disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm.

Attacking midfield: Estevao Willian and Morgan Rogers

Estevao and Rogers could feature behind the main striker, providing creativity, pace and movement in the attacking areas. Their ability to find spaces between Liverpool’s defensive and midfield lines could be crucial to Chelsea’s attempts to create scoring opportunities.

Forward: Danny Welbeck

Welbeck is tipped to lead the attack as Chelsea’s central striker. His experience, intelligent movement and ability to hold up the ball could make him an important option against Liverpool’s defence.

With a place in the next round at stake, Chelsea will need to deliver a much-improved display compared to their defeat against Tottenham.

Alonso will hope his expected tactical adjustments produce the desired response as the Blues attempt to overcome Liverpool at Anfield and move closer to another domestic trophy.