Alonso’s Anfield Homecoming as Liverpool Face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup

• Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield as Chelsea boss
• Watch free on ITV1; Sky Sports also showing; kick-off 8pm
• Team news: Wirtz a doubt; Palmer suspended; Pedro injured

Here we go again: Liverpool vs Chelsea under the lights, with the Carabao Cup offering a proper yardstick for both projects. Xabi Alonso heads back to Anfield for the first time in the away dugout, and you can bet the Kop will give him a welcome—before trying to knock his Chelsea side out. On the home bench, Andoni Iraola has started sharply, stitching together four straight wins after replacing Arne Slot. If you’re weighing up form like the punters on our football betting sites UK, this one’s a fascinating clash of styles as much as sentiment.

TV Details and How to Watch

Viewers have two options: Sky Sports Main Event from 7:00pm or ITV1 from 7:30pm. Kick-off is 8:00pm and the fourth-round draw follows. Crucially for neutrals, ITV1 is free-to-air in the UK, so you can watch without a subscription.

Team News and Likely XIs

Liverpool will make a late call on Florian Wirtz (ankle). Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz are major doubts, while rotation beckons—expect opportunities for Lewis Koumas, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha and Kostas Tsimikas. The Reds remain without Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Jeremie Frimpong.

Chelsea arrive licking wounds after a derby defeat, minus the suspended Cole Palmer and with Joao Pedro ruled out for a few weeks. Morgan Rogers led the line at the weekend, but Alonso could turn to veteran finisher Danny Welbeck, while prodigy Estevao may get more minutes. In goal, Mike Penders keeps his place with Emiliano Martinez sidelined by a fractured jaw. There’s extra spice with Jordan Henderson back at Anfield in Chelsea blue.

Possible XIs
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Araujo, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, Nyoni, Gakpo; Koumas.
Chelsea: Penders; Palestra, Lacroix, Colwill, Gusto; Henderson, Caicedo; Quenda, Estevao, Rogers; Welbeck.

On paper, Liverpool’s cohesion and Anfield’s edge make them favourites, but this is the Carabao Cup—rotate at the wrong time and you’re out. If Alonso’s front line clicks and Henderson sets the tempo, Chelsea have enough to turn this into a proper cup tie.

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