Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield on Wednesday evening as head coach of Chelsea, who will look to upset Liverpool's Carabao Cup apple cart

Xabi Alonso has admitted he won't hold back from celebrating if Chelsea beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup. The Reds host their Premier League counterparts in the fourth round of the competition, with Alonso returning to Anfield for the first time since taking up tenure in west London.

While the Spaniard is largely remembered as a legend by Reds fans, given he enjoyed an illustrious five-year stint in the north west between 2004 and 2009, the 44-year-old has run the risk of alienating them with his comments made in the build-up to Wednesday's encounter.

That's because he has refused to rule out celebrating in the event that Chelsea manage to put a goal or two past his former club. Speaking to the media this week, Alonso explained: "Of course, I will celebrate, for sure.

"With full respect because for sure, my warmth with Liverpool was there as a player. But now, I am in a different role, I need to support my team, I need to support my club.

"I fight for my club and if we score, I will celebrate with whole respect. That is the respect for my club and the respect for the opponent as well."

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It will mark the third match Alonso has overseen at Anfield as a visiting manager, having previously returned to the stadium for Champions League clashes against the Reds with Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid. It comes as Liverpool have seen a major boost in the build-up to the Carabao Cup tie, in the form of Joao Pedro being ruled out of action.

The Brazilian forward has been in flying form for Chelsea this season, racking up five goals and three assists across six Premier League appearances. However, Alonso will be without his main attacking output against the Reds, as the forward continues to recover from an injury picked up in training.

Alonso said: "He has an injury in his thigh and he’s going to be out for a few weeks. Let’s see how many; we don’t want to predict that. But he will not be ready for the next games.

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"He is a key player and we will miss him, but we have to be ready to deal with the injury, be competitive and try to win games with the players we have available, starting tomorrow against Liverpool, a cup game. This is the situation and we are ready to fight for it and prove we can show a good level."

However, Chelsea are not the only team harbouring injuries headed into the game. Dominik Szoboszlai is not expected to feature under Andoni Iraola until next month as a result of a tight hamstring, while Victor Munoz is still in the process of recovering from a knee issue.

Jeremie Frimpong, meanwhile, is not expected back until after the November international break as a result of a muscular injury. Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni also remain as long-term absentees who are not anticipated to be back to full fitness until the new year.