Liverpool vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League heavyweights clash in Carabao Cup fourth round
Liverpool host Chelsea in the Carabao Cup fourth round as Blues manager Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield where he enjoyed plenty of success as a player.
The former Liverpool midfielder will be in the away dugout this evening as his Chelsea team look to inflict defeat on his former side and advance into the quarter-finals of the league cup.
Chelsea flew past Leeds in the previous round with a 6-3 victory at Stamford Bridge but the Blues come into the game on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham in the Premier League where they now trail Liverpool by two points.
For Liverpool, new manager Andoni Iraola looks to have gotten his team into good form following four consecutive victories across all competitions and the Reds will bring confidence into the contest after defeating Premier League high-flyers Brighton on Sunday.
Alonso’s isn’t the only homecoming to happen tonight as former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson makes his return to Anfield and could likely start in Chelsea’s midfield.
Follow all the action from the Carabao Cup with our live blog below:
Liverpool v Chelsea live
Liverpool host Liverpool host Chelsea in the Carabao Cup as Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield as Blues boss for the first time.
Former midfielder Alonso became a Liverpool great at a time when their rivalry with Chelsea was at its peak but moved to Stamford Bridge in the summer rather than waiting to see if the Anfield hotseat became available.
Instead, fellow Basque Andoni Iraola took over at Liverpool following the sacking of Arne Slot, with the former Bournemouth boss overseeing four consecutive wins for the first time following Sunday’s victory over Brighton.
Alonso’s side suffered a derby defeat to rivals Tottenham on Saturday and will be without the suspended Cole Palmer, while striker Joao Pedro has been ruled out for a “few weeks” with an injury.
Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, meanwhile, will also make his return to Anfield as part of the Chelsea midfield, with a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals up for grabs.
Good evening!
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Carabao Cup action as Liverpool host Chelsea in the fourth round.
This all Premier League tie has the makings of a classic with Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso returning to Anfield where he spent his playing days with the Reds.
Also making the trip back down memory lane is former Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson who could feature in midfield for Chelsea tonight.
Liverpool are in better form than there counterparts but in a one game shootout for a place in the league cup quarter-finals anything can happen.
We’ll have all the coverage of tonight’s match throughout the evening so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 8pm.
