Liverpool v Chelsea preview: kick-off time, team news and form
Liverpool host Chelsea at Anfield on Wednesday 28th October 2026, with kick-off at 8.00pm UK time, as the two sides meet in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
A place in the next round is on the line, and for Liverpool there's an added layer of interest given the opposition dugout. Liverpool.com and the Liverpool Echo both note that Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso previously worked with Liverpool's Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen, with Alonso saying "I'm following him" when asked about his old charge (Liverpool Echo) (Liverpool.com). The Liverpool Echo also reports on the relationship between Alonso and Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola, close friends who go head to head at Anfield (Liverpool Echo), while This Is Anfield points out this will be Alonso's third attempt at Anfield as he becomes the eighth different Chelsea manager Liverpool have faced in six years (This Is Anfield). BBC Sport reports Alonso has said he will celebrate if Chelsea score against his former club (BBC Sport).
There's also a personal subplot involving Jordan Henderson, who returns to his old club with Chelsea. The Liverpool Echo and Liverpool.com both cover the former Liverpool captain's comments on facing his old side, with Henderson insisting his love for Liverpool will never change (Liverpool Echo) (Liverpool.com).
In terms of form, Liverpool's last League Cup outing was a 3-1 win over Spurs at home on 15 September, giving them a W in the competition this season. Chelsea have played twice in the League Cup, beating Luton 2-0 at home on 27 August and then Leeds 6-3 at home on 9 September, for a WW run. Liverpool currently sit 4th in the Premier League. In all competitions, Liverpool go into the game on the back of a LWWWW run, including a 2-0 win over Brighton at Anfield in their last outing, which the Liverpool Echo described as the Iraola era's biggest statement performance to date (Liverpool Echo). Chelsea's recent run in all competitions reads DLWWL, with their last match a 2-0 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur.
Team news is a significant talking point for Liverpool heading into this one. This Is Anfield report three doubts and four injuries among the available squad (This Is Anfield), while Liverpool.com suggest as many as 13 players could miss the game, with Iraola facing a decision on Wirtz and Ronald Araujo among others (Liverpool.com). A separate Liverpool Echo piece puts the number of potential absentees as high as twelve (Liverpool Echo). Iraola spoke to the media before the game with updates on Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai among the key headlines, as covered by Liverpool.com (Liverpool.com).
Elsewhere, This Is Anfield have published likely lineups and TV information ahead of the tie (This Is Anfield), while Liverpool.com have a full guide on how to watch the match for free in the US and UK (Liverpool.com).
Kick-off at Anfield is 8.00pm UK time on Wednesday 28th October 2026.
Written with the help of AI, using the match facts and the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.