Liverpool to host Chelsea at Anfield in Carabao Cup fourth round, with a quarter-final place at stake

Liverpool host Chelsea in the Carabao Cup fourth round at Anfield on 28 October 2026, with a quarter-final place at stake. Kick-off is at 21:00 in Warsaw (8pm BST), and the quarter-final draw follows the final whistle.

A return to Anfield for Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso, who is 44, will be on the visiting bench as Chelsea manager after joining the club this summer. It is his third return to Anfield as a coach, following trips with Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid, and he is still seeking a first win there in that role. Alonso played for Liverpool, and he was asked whether he would celebrate if Chelsea scored against his former club. He told BBC Sport that he would, while stressing that his role has changed.

“Of course I will celebrate it, for sure. With all due respect, because my affection for Liverpool was always there as a player.”

He added that his current duty is to back his own team and club, and that a celebration would show respect for both his club and the opponent.

Form and standings

Liverpool under Andoni Iraola sit fourth in the Premier League with 15 points, after four straight wins in all competitions. The latest was a 2-0 home victory over Brighton, and before that Liverpool beat Tottenham 3-1 in the previous Carabao Cup round. Chelsea are fifth with 13 points, and they lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham on Saturday, 24 October. The standings are as reported after eight Premier League rounds.

Liverpool15

Chelsea13

Liverpool

15 points

Chelsea

13 points

Data from the article text

Chelsea are missing Cole Palmer, who is suspended, and Joao Pedro, who will be out for a few weeks with a thigh injury. Mike Penders is expected to keep his place in goal ahead of Emiliano Martinez, who is out with a broken jaw. For Liverpool, Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley and Dominik Szoboszlai are ruled out, while Florian Wirtz, forced off against Brighton, is thought to be fit.

Team news and possible debuts

Emmanuel Emegha, a Dutch striker who joined from Strasbourg in July, could make his Chelsea debut after Alonso confirmed he would be available. He has not yet played a competitive match for the club. Olutayo Subuloye, an 18-year-old defender and Chelsea Under-21s captain, has travelled with the squad and could be on the bench. A 16-year-old midfielder who came off the bench in last month's 3-0 defeat to Brentford has also made the trip.

Liverpool's predicted lineup from the Evening Standard is a 4-2-3-1 with Alexander Isak leading the line. Lewis Koumas, Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni are expected to get chances among the youngsters, and Giorgi Mamardashvili is likely to start in goal.

Quarter-final draw

Arsenal were knocked out on Tuesday, 27 October, when Fleetwood Town drew 1-1 with them at Highbury and then won 5-3 on penalties. The quarter-final draw follows the Liverpool and Chelsea tie and is expected shortly after 22:00 UK time. Dave Jones hosts it, with Conor Coady and Graeme Le Saux conducting the draw, and it is broadcast live on Sky Sports and ITV1. Liverpool or Chelsea is ball number 6, and all quarter-final ties will be played in the week commencing 14 December.