Chelsea have included two academy players in their travelling squad for Wednesday’s EFL Cup clash with Liverpool. While the tie offers the Blues a chance to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat to Tottenham and book their place in the quarter-finals, it could also let Xabi Alonso assess two of the club’s brightest young prospects.

Chelsea will be without several senior players at Anfield, with Joao Pedro, Reece James, Emiliano Martinez and Jamie Gittens sidelined through injury. Cole Palmer is suspended following his red card against Spurs, while Pep Chavarria is a doubt. However, Emmanuel Emegha is in the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Chelsea include two academy stars in squad for Liverpool clash

Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli and Olutayo Subuloye have both travelled with Chelsea’s senior squad ahead of the EFL Cup fourth-round match against Liverpool. Nicoll-Jazuli has already made his first-team debut, coming off the bench against Brentford in September. The 16-year-old midfielder became the Blues’ youngest-ever player in the Premier League era.

Meanwhile, Subuloye could be in line for his first senior appearance. The 18-year-old centre-back has progressed through Chelsea’s youth ranks, captaining the Under-16s and Under-18s before taking on the Under-21s captaincy this season.

Like Nicoll-Jazuli, Subuloye has already trained regularly with the senior squad and featured in pre-season friendlies, including matches against Juventus and Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim. However, the defender is yet to make his first-team debut.

Nicoll-Jazuli and Subuloye’s inclusion in the travelling squad is another sign that Xabi Alonso is handing opportunities to Chelsea’s academy stars. 16-year-old midfielder Reggie Watson made his competitive debut in Chelsea’s 6-3 win over Leeds in the previous round of the EFL Cup in September.