Liverpool and Chelsea renew their rivalry at Anfield on Wednesday night in a blockbuster Carabao Cup fourth-round encounter, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
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Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool head into the contest in excellent form, having won four consecutive matches across all competitions, while Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-0 Premier League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
The clash also marks Alonso’s return to Anfield, where he enjoyed considerable success as a player, adding another intriguing storyline to an already fascinating encounter.
Betting Preview
Liverpool have rediscovered their momentum after a difficult spell earlier in the season, and the Reds will be confident of extending their winning streak when they welcome Chelsea to Anfield.
Iraola’s side secured a 2-0 victory over Brighton on Sunday to move into fourth place in the Premier League, continuing a run of four consecutive victories across all competitions.
Their improvement has been particularly encouraging after a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City earlier this month raised questions about their consistency.
Liverpool booked their place in the fourth round with an impressive 3-1 victory over Tottenham, with Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai finding the net.
However, injuries and a demanding fixture schedule could complicate Iraola’s preparations.
Florian Wirtz is doubtful after suffering an ankle problem against Brighton, while Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are among those unavailable.
With a crucial Premier League showdown against Arsenal looming on Sunday, Iraola could rotate his squad significantly, potentially giving opportunities to several fringe players.
Chelsea, meanwhile, arrive on Merseyside looking to recover from Saturday’s disappointing home defeat to Tottenham.
Alonso’s side struggled to create meaningful opportunities in the 2-0 loss, with goalkeeper Mike Penders scoring an own goal before Mathys Tel sealed the victory for Spurs.
The Blues’ problems were compounded by Cole Palmer’s dismissal, which rules the England international out of Wednesday’s encounter through suspension.
Joao Pedro is also unlikely to feature because of a knee injury, while Reece James, Jamie Gittens and Emmanuel Emegha are among the other fitness concerns.
Nevertheless, Chelsea have demonstrated their attacking potential in this competition, particularly during their remarkable 6-3 victory over Leeds United in the previous round.
The Londoners recovered from a two-goal deficit to secure progression, with Palmer and Danny Welbeck both scoring twice.
Chelsea also have an encouraging recent record against Liverpool, remaining unbeaten in their last three meetings, although they have not won at Anfield since March 2021.
The hosts will draw confidence from their strong recent form and home advantage, but Chelsea’s attacking quality means this could be a much closer contest than their contrasting weekend results suggest.
With both managers potentially making changes and neither side boasting a particularly convincing defensive record, an entertaining encounter with goals at both ends looks likely.
Recent Form & Stats
- Liverpool’s winning streak: The Reds have won four consecutive matches across all competitions and six of their previous seven.
- Liverpool’s latest result: A 2-0 Premier League victory over Brighton at Anfield on Sunday.
- Chelsea’s latest result: The Blues suffered a disappointing 2-0 home defeat against Tottenham on Saturday.
- Liverpool’s Carabao Cup campaign: Iraola’s side defeated Tottenham 3-1 in the third round, with Mac Allister, Gakpo and Szoboszlai scoring.
- Chelsea’s Carabao Cup campaign: The Blues defeated Luton Town 2-0 before producing a remarkable comeback to beat Leeds United 6-3.
- Recent head-to-head: Chelsea are unbeaten in their last three meetings with Liverpool, recording two victories and one draw.
- Carabao Cup history: Liverpool have won the competition a record 10 times, while Chelsea have lifted the trophy five times.
- Recent cup finals: Liverpool defeated Chelsea in the 2022 and 2024 Carabao Cup finals, winning on penalties and after extra time respectively.
- Chelsea’s defensive struggles: The Blues have kept just one clean sheet in their previous eight matches across all competitions.
Best Bets & Prediction
Prediction: Liverpool to win at 2.26.
Best Bet: BTTS – Yes at 1.43.
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