250508 General view of the Chelsea FC logo ahead of the UEFA Conference League semifinal second leg match between Chelsea and Djurgarden on May 8, 2025 in London. Photo: Petter Arvidson BILDBYRAN kod PA PA1025 fotboll football semi final soccer fotball uefa conference league conference league chelsea djurgarden bbeng semifinal genre logga logotyp *** 250508 General view of the Chelsea FC logo ahead of the UEFA Conference League semifinal second leg match between Chelsea and Djurgarden on May 8, 2025 in London Photo Petter Arvidson BILDBYRAN kod PA PA1025 fotboll football semi final soccer fotball uefa conference league conference league chelsea djurgarden bbeng semifinal genre logo PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSWExNORxFINxDEN Copyright: PETTERxARVIDSON BB250508PA002
250508 General view of the Chelsea FC logo ahead of the UEFA Conference League semifinal second leg match between Chelsea and Djurgarden on May 8, 2025 in London. Photo: Petter Arvidson BILDBYRAN kod PA PA1025 fotboll football semi final soccer fotball uefa conference league conference league chelsea djurgarden bbeng semifinal genre logga logotyp *** 250508 General view of the Chelsea FC logo ahead of the UEFA Conference League semifinal second leg match between Chelsea and Djurgarden on May 8, 2025 in London Photo Petter Arvidson BILDBYRAN kod PA PA1025 fotboll football semi final soccer fotball uefa conference league conference league chelsea djurgarden bbeng semifinal genre logo PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSWExNORxFINxDEN Copyright: PETTERxARVIDSON BB250508PA002
Chelsea face Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday at 8pm UK time in the Carabao Cup fourth round. The Blues will be without suspended Cole Palmer following their 2-0 defeat to Tottenham.
Liverpool head into the tie on the back of a 2-0 win over Brighton, their fourth consecutive victory under Andoni Iraola. The winner of the Liverpool vs Chelsea tie will progress to the quarter-finals.
Chelsea will also be without Joao Pedro, Emi Martinez and Reece James due to injuries. Liverpool have concerns over Florian Wirtz, who was forced off against Brighton with an ankle problem, while Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong remain sidelined with hamstring injuries.
Victor Munoz is a doubt, and Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are long-term absentees. Ahead of the tie, Chelsea have issued an official statement to their supporters.
A club statement read: “Ahead of our upcoming Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool, we want to remind ticket holders of their responsibilities when representing Chelsea and explain how to report discriminatory or abusive behaviour.
“We are incredibly proud of the role our supporters play in ensuring the team has fantastic support, both at home at Stamford Bridge and when travelling away.
“We know that the majority of our supporters continue to represent Chelsea in a respectful and positive way, and we thank all of you for the continued time and effort you show in backing the team.
“We understand that singing and chanting are an important part of the matchday experience, and we encourage all supporters to get behind the team in the passionate and vocal way we always experience.
“However, there have been incidents involving discriminatory or abusive behaviour, including reports of sectarian abuse and tragedy chanting. This behaviour has no place in football and only serves to cause hurt to others.
“This season, we have seen an increase in sectarianism at away fixtures. The club operates a zero-tolerance approach to chanting that creates division towards a particular religious or political group.
“Anyone found engaging in such behaviour will face the strongest possible action, which could include suspension from attending all Chelsea matches as well as potential police action.
“The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) considers tragedy-related abuse a prosecutable public order offence, which may result in the issuing of football banning orders.
“The CPS defines tragedy-related abuse as ‘when fans sing, chant or gesture offensive messages about disasters involving players or fans.’ The majority of our supporters share our commitment to ensuring Chelsea matches remain safe and welcoming for everyone.
“You can help by reporting any discriminatory language or abuse you hear at Anfield to your nearest steward or by texting the details to Liverpool’s reporting number, 07701 411048. Alternatively, you can report it directly to us after the game by clicking here to use our dedicated reporting form.
“Thank you for your continued support and for helping us represent Chelsea FC in a positive and respectful way. We look forward to seeing you at Anfield.”
Both teams are expected to rotate their squads amid a busy schedule. Iraola made 10 changes for Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Tottenham in the previous round, while Alonso made nine for Chelsea’s 6-3 victory over Leeds United.
Liverpool face Arsenal on Sunday, while Chelsea host Manchester United the previous day. The Reds sit fourth in the Premier League with 15 points, one place and two points ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea.
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