Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has been urged to start Danny Welbeck against Liverpool in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash if Joao Pedro remains unavailable following the Blues’ disappointing defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

According to a report by Football London on Monday, October 26, 2026, Welbeck should lead the line at Anfield after Alonso’s decision to deploy Morgan Rogers as a striker failed to deliver in the 2-0 loss to Tottenham.

Chelsea struggled throughout the London derby, with their attacking approach coming under scrutiny after they failed to create enough meaningful opportunities.

The defeat was a significant setback for Alonso, who will now be looking to secure a response against his former club Liverpool.

Pedro missed the Tottenham match through injury, forcing Alonso to consider alternative options in attack.

However, the decision to use Rogers as the central striker proved ineffective, with the England international struggling to influence proceedings.

According to Sofascore, Rogers managed just one shot, which was blocked, and completed 16 of his 22 passes, recording a pass accuracy of 73 per cent.

Welbeck, meanwhile, has made a strong case for greater involvement in the Carabao Cup. The experienced forward has scored three goals in two appearances in the competition this season, demonstrating his ability to provide a reliable attacking option.

His movement, experience and ability to hold up the ball could offer Chelsea a different dimension against Liverpool, particularly if Pedro is unable to return in time.

The report also highlighted that Welbeck’s arrival was expected to provide valuable experience to a relatively young Chelsea squad.

However, his continued absence from the starting line-up has raised questions about how Alonso intends to use him during a demanding run of fixtures.

Chelsea must now prepare for Wednesday’s encounter knowing that another underwhelming performance would increase the pressure on their new manager.

Liverpool will present a difficult challenge, making the selection of an effective centre-forward particularly important.