Liverpool host Chelsea at Anfield tonight in a highly anticipated Carabao Cup fourth-round clash, marked by extensive squad rotation from home manager Andoni Iraola and an emotional return to Merseyside for Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso.
Iraola Makes Seven Changes for Reds
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With a packed fixture schedule including an upcoming Premier League fixture against Premier League champions Arsenal the Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has heavily rotated his starting XI following Sunday’s victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. Only **Ronald Araujo**, **Virgil van Dijk**, **Ryan Gravenberch**, and **Cody Gakpo** retain their starting positions.
Giorgi Mamardashvili steps into goal, shielded by a back four comprising Araujo, Joe Gomez, Van Dijk, and Kostas Tsimikas. In midfield, young talent Trey Nyoni pairs with Gravenberch in a deeper double pivot, allowing James McConnell to operate further forward in the attacking midfield No. 10 role.
In attack, academy starlet Rio Ngumoha starts on the right flank opposite Cody Gakpo on the left, with Lewis Koumas leading the line as the central striker. With Milos Kerkez absent from the squad, academy defender Luke Chambers takes a spot among a stacked substitutes’ bench that features first-team regulars Alisson, Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Alexis Mac Allister, and Bradley Barcola.
### Confirmed Starting Lineups
Xabi Alonso Returns to Anfield
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The fixture brings former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso back to Anfield for the third time as a visiting manager, having previously faced his former club with Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen. Alonso, who took charge of the Blues over the summer, addressed whether he would celebrate if Chelsea score against his former club:
**_“Of course, I will celebrate, for sure. With full respect because for sure, my warmth with Liverpool was there as a player. But now, I am in a different role, I need to support my team, I need to support my club, I fight for my club and if we score, I will celebrate with whole respect.”_**
Alonso enters the match facing a minor selection dilemma following an injury to key forward João Pedro, leading him to field Danny Welbeck alongside Pedro Neto and Morgan Rogers up front.
Match & Broadcast Info
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* **Kickoff:** Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 20:00 GMT
* **Venue:** Anfield, Liverpool
* **UK Live Stream / TV:** Sky Sports Main Event, ITV1, Sky Go, ITVX