Liverpool vs Chelsea: Rotation, Redemption and a Place in the Last Eight
A cup tie between Liverpool and Chelsea carries its own history, but this meeting also presents a practical test of how well each squad can adapt when regular starters are rested or unavailable. Liverpool enter the fourth round after beating Tottenham Hotspur 3–1 in the previous round, while Chelsea booked their place with a 6–3 victory over Leeds United. The reward is a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, and neither side can afford to treat the evening as merely a chance to give younger players minutes. With Liverpool preparing for another demanding stretch of fixtures, selection decisions may shape the contest as much as the headline names.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has publicly confirmed that changes will be made, explaining that rotation is necessary when teams play every few days. That does not mean the hosts intend to lower their competitive level: Iraola has emphasised that he wants the side to remain competitive while using players who are ready to contribute. Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha are among the attacking options highlighted ahead of the tie, while James McConnell and Lewis Koumas could receive opportunities. The challenge for Liverpool will be maintaining their pressing intensity and defensive organisation even if the starting XI looks different from the team that beat Brighton at the weekend.
Chelsea arrive with a different question to answer. Their 2–0 home defeat against Tottenham has placed greater importance on a disciplined response, and Xabi Alonso must reshape his attacking plans without Cole Palmer, who is suspended, and João Pedro, who is sidelined by a thigh injury. Alonso has also spoken about finding the right balance between the qualities of the players available and how they connect in the attacking structure. Estevão and Danny Welbeck are in contention, while Emmanuel Emegha has been included in the squad and could be approaching his Chelsea debut. The visitors need to combine forward ambition with enough midfield protection to prevent Liverpool from attacking open spaces.
The tactical contest may be decided by how each side handles transitions. Liverpool’s younger or less frequently selected players will need to press in unison rather than chase individually, while Chelsea must avoid leaving too much room between their midfield and defensive lines when possession changes hands. There is also an emotional angle: Chelsea manager Alonso returns to Anfield, where he played as a Liverpool midfielder, but the occasion offers no guarantee of an easy night for his team. Chelsea’s own official preview notes that the club have been unbeaten in their last four cup visits to this part of Merseyside, an encouraging historical detail rather than a prediction. The focus now is on execution, not reputation.
🩺 Injury Report and Confirmed Absences
The following tables prioritise the clubs’ published team updates. Liverpool’s official report, updated on 27 October, identifies four long-term absentees and gives a separate update on Florian Wirtz, Victor Muñoz and Dominik Szoboszlai. Chelsea have confirmed João Pedro’s thigh injury and Cole Palmer’s suspension; the table distinguishes a suspension from an injury rather than describing it as a medical problem. A player is listed as questionable only where the available pre-match reporting describes their availability as uncertain.
| Liverpool — Availability Report |
| Category |
Player |
Injury / Status |
| Long-Term / IR |
Conor Bradley |
Significant knee injury requiring surgery; Liverpool describe his recovery as long-term. |
| Long-Term / IR |
Hugo Ekitike |
Achilles tendon rupture; still some way from a return according to the club’s published update. |
| Long-Term / IR |
Giovanni Leoni |
ACL and associated knee damage; recovery has taken longer than initially planned. |
| Out / Ruled Out |
Jeremie Frimpong |
Muscle injury; the club said a return before the November international break would be difficult. |
| Questionable |
Florian Wirtz |
Twisted ankle against Brighton; Iraola was optimistic he would be available for the Chelsea tie. |
| Questionable |
Dominik Szoboszlai |
Muscle problem; availability remained uncertain in the manager’s pre-match update. |
| Questionable |
Victor Muñoz |
Knee problem; the manager said his chances of returning were less promising than Wirtz’s. |
| Chelsea — Availability Report |
| Category |
Player |
Injury / Status |
| Long-Term / IR |
Emiliano Martínez |
Broken jaw, listed as unavailable in pre-match team reporting. |
| Out / Ruled Out |
João Pedro |
Thigh injury; Alonso confirmed he will miss the match and be sidelined for a few weeks. |
| Out / Ruled Out |
Reece James |
Knee injury, listed as unavailable in the latest pre-match team report. |
| Out / Ruled Out |
Cole Palmer |
Suspended following his sending-off against Tottenham; this is a disciplinary absence, not an injury. |
| Questionable |
Jamie Gittens |
Ankle issue; his status was listed for assessment in pre-match reporting. |
| Questionable |
Pep Chavarría |
Availability was listed as uncertain in the pre-match injury report. |
| Questionable |
Emmanuel Emegha |
Recovering from a hamstring issue; Alonso confirmed he is in the squad and could make his debut. |
📋 Projected Elevens and Players to Watch
The teams below are **predicted lineups**, not confirmed starting XIs. Liverpool have explicitly indicated that they will rotate, and the final team sheets may differ depending on late fitness checks and tactical choices. Chelsea’s lineup is also a projection based on the available pre-match reporting.
| Liverpool — Predicted Starting XI |
| Position |
Player |
Role / Match Focus |
| Goalkeeper |
Giorgi Mamardashvili |
Projected cup goalkeeper if Alisson is rested. |
| Defender |
Ronald Araújo |
Right-side defensive option; could help Liverpool build from the back. |
| Defender |
Jérémy Jacquet |
Projected central defensive selection. |
| Defender |
Joe Gomez |
Defensive cover and experience in a rotated back line. |
| Defender |
Milos Kerkez |
Left-back option offering width and forward support. |
| Midfielder |
Trey Nyoni |
Young midfield option who could bring energy and forward running. |
| Midfielder |
Alexis Mac Allister |
Ball circulation and control of the central areas. |
| Attacker |
Rio Ngumoha |
Direct running and creativity from the wide areas. |
| Attacker |
James McConnell |
A possible advanced midfield role in a rotated team. |
| Attacker |
Cody Gakpo |
Attacking movement, link play and finishing threat. |
| Forward |
Lewis Koumas |
Potential central attacking option if Liverpool rest senior forwards. |
| Chelsea — Predicted Starting XI |
| Position |
Player |
Role / Match Focus |
| Goalkeeper |
Mike Penders |
Confirmed by Alonso as the goalkeeper for the tie. |
| Defender |
Malo Gusto |
Right-sided defensive cover and overlapping option. |
| Defender |
Wesley Fofana |
Central defending and recovery pace. |
| Defender |
Levi Colwill |
Left-sided centre-back and first-pass option. |
| Defender |
Marco Palestra |
Projected full-back selection. |
| Midfielder |
Moisés Caicedo |
Ball-winning and protection in front of the defence. |
| Midfielder |
Roméo Lavia |
Possession retention and resistance to Liverpool’s press. |
| Midfielder |
Valentín Barco |
Left-footed distribution and creative support from midfield. |
| Attacker |
Estêvão Willian |
One-on-one threat and attacking initiative. |
| Forward |
Danny Welbeck |
Movement across the front line and experience in the final third. |
| Attacker |
Morgan Rogers |
Could connect midfield to attack and help replace some of Palmer’s creativity. |
Match Details and Talking Points
- Competition: Carabao Cup, fourth round.
- Date: Wednesday, 28 October 2026.
- Venue: Anfield, Liverpool.
- Kick-off: 8:00 p.m. UK time.
- Liverpool’s previous round: Beat Tottenham Hotspur 3–1.
- Chelsea’s previous round: Beat Leeds United 6–3.
- Liverpool’s recent form: Four consecutive wins across all competitions heading into this tie.
- Chelsea’s recent result: Lost 2–0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
- Main tactical issue: Can Chelsea protect the middle of the pitch while creating enough threat without Palmer and João Pedro?
- Selection note: The predicted lineups are not official starting XIs. Check the club match centres for the confirmed teams.
