Andoni Iraola will come up against his childhood friend Xabi Alonso when Liverpool meets Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, although the Reds boss is determined to claim bragging rights

The pleasantries have ended for Andoni Iraola now as he prepares to come up against his childhood friend and former teammate Xabi Alonso for the first team as a head coach.

The pair have known each other for years, having grown up in the Basque Country, Spain, and played alongside each other for the same youth team, Antigouko, in the San Sebastian area.

Not only that, but they also shared a dressing room on the international stage, and when they came together, they would discuss Liverpool, with Alonso having developed into one of the biggest names on the global stage at Anfield before going on to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Now that they’re opponents though, their friendship has been placed on the backseat. Iraola previously indicated during the summer that he wouldn’t be communicating with Alonso or Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta - who he also played alongside at Antigouko - as much, and it seems he’s sticking by his promise.

Asked about his friendship with Alonso before Liverpool’s Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea, Iraola told a press conference on Tuesday: “I think already I've done maybe 25 interviews talking about our relationship! And I can talk again, but I think at this moment everyone knows.

“We were close friends, we grew up together, we played in the same team, we played as football players against each other, we played together in the national team, with Spain and the Basque Country.

“But now he is the opposition, and we want to beat him, in the same way he will do with us. After the game, we can talk, definitely.

“I said the other day with Inigo (Perez, Villarreal boss), it’s the same with Xabi. Once we are playing against each other, the relationship is not good because you stop talking to the other! But he is a very good friend and I wish him all the best, definitely.”

Liverpool will have the chance to book a place in the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, and take Iraola a step closer to a first piece of silverware in charge of the Reds.

The Spaniard has confirmed he will be making changes to his side following the 2-0 win over Brighton on Sunday, with the hectic schedule putting his players’ fitness to the test. Nevertheless, the aim remains the same.

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"There will definitely be changes, but we want to win the game," Iraola said. "We want to be competitive. We need to see how the legs are.

"Not just in the Carabao Cup but in the Champions League, we've been trying to make some changes from game to game because I think it’s almost mandatory.

"We want to be in the next round. We have been unlucky in the draw, playing Chelsea, and they've been unlucky also. But we want to earn the right to be in the draw again and that can only happen if you win."