Liverpool vs Chelsea: Can Alonso Stun Reds on Anfield Return Without Palmer?

by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath

image Liverpool vs Chelsea: Can Alonso Stun Reds on Anfield Return Without Palmer?
Anfield’s floodlights will provide the backdrop for a mouth-watering Carabao Cup fourth-round clash tonight. Xabi Alonso returns to familiar territory as Chelsea manager, but his reunion with his former club comes at a difficult time, with the Blues reeling from a 2-0 defeat to Spurs and without their talisman, Cole Palmer.
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Alonso Returns to Familiar Ground as Chelsea Face Squad Crisis

For Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, stepping back onto the Anfield touchline carries massive emotional significance, but there is little room for sentiment with a spot in the quarter-final of this season’s EFL Cup up for grabs.

As discussed in our Carabao Cup predictions, this is the 202nd encounter between the sides in all competitions. Now leading the Blues, Alonso faces a stern challenge after struggling to break down Tottenham over the weekend, with the defeat exposing tactical flaws that remain unsolved.

Chelsea’s recent struggles at Anfield make Alonso’s task all the more difficult!

The Blues have not won at Anfield since a narrow 1-0 victory in March 2021. Adding to Alonso’s concerns is his record against his compatriot Andoni Iraola, whom he has not beaten in six previous meetings, drawing four and losing two.

Iraola’s side enter this fourth-round tie with bags of confidence, having registered eight wins, three draws, and just one defeat across 12 matches in all competitions this season after beating high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

They have transformed Anfield back into an absolute fortress, recording four wins, two draws and a single defeat at home this term. More impressively, the Reds have suffered just three losses in 22 home games across the entire 2026 calendar year.

EFL Cup clashes between these two heavyweights have consistently delivered drama. Their last two meetings in the competition came in gripping 2022 and 2024 finals, both of which went beyond 90 minutes into extra time.

Liverpool vs Chelsea: Head-to-Head Results Since 2022 Carabao Cup Final

DateCompetitionVenueResult
9 May 2026Premier LeagueAnfieldLiverpool 1–1 Chelsea
4 Oct 2025Premier LeagueStamford BridgeChelsea 2–1 Liverpool
4 May 2025Premier LeagueStamford BridgeChelsea 3–1 Liverpool
20 Oct 2024Premier LeagueAnfieldLiverpool 2–1 Chelsea
25 Feb 2024EFL Cup (Final)Wembley StadiumChelsea 0–1 Liverpool (AET)
31 Jan 2024Premier LeagueAnfieldLiverpool 4–1 Chelsea
13 Aug 2023Premier LeagueStamford BridgeChelsea 1–1 Liverpool
4 Apr 2023Premier LeagueStamford BridgeChelsea 0–0 Liverpool
21 Jan 2023Premier LeagueAnfieldLiverpool 0–0 Chelsea
14 May 2022FA Cup (Final)Wembley StadiumChelsea 0–0 Liverpool (LFC won 6–5 on pens)
27 Feb 2022EFL Cup (Final)Wembley StadiumChelsea 0–0 Liverpool (LFC won 11–10 on pens)

Palmer Out! Estevao and Gakpo Ones to Watch in EFL Cup Fourth Round Clash

Estevao Willian

Chelsea face a significant tactical setback at Anfield, with Cole Palmer suspended and unavailable for selection after receiving two yellow cards against Tottenham Hotspur in the London Derby over the weekend.

Losing Palmer leaves Alonso facing a major headache. Having started all 10 of Chelsea’s games in all competitions this term, the England international has been a driving force behind the team’s attack, contributing to more than a third of their goals to date.

Palmer’s absence significantly changes how the Blues move the ball into the final third:

Chelsea Attacking OutletStat / Impact Without Palmer
Goal Contribution SharePalmer has been directly involved in 42% of Chelsea's goals.
Expected Assists (xA)Drops by a calculated 1.8 per 90 mins when Palmer sits out.
Likely Creative ReplacementEstêvão is tipped to occupy the central focal role.

The silver lining for travelling Blues fans is that Palmer’s forced omission opens the door for rising star Estevao Willian to finally step out of the shadows and command the central creative role in tonight’s EFL Cup blockbuster.

The highly-rated Brazilian has been underutilised under Alonso, often limited to brief cameos off the bench, but the high-pressure clash at Anfield offers him a chance to strengthen his case for a permanent starting role.

While Liverpool face their own selection issues - including managing the minutes of key man Florian Wirtz - Iraola still has plenty of squad depth at his disposal, as shown in the latest team news section of our Liverpool vs Chelsea prediction.

Cup specialist Cody Gakpo is expected to have a big role to play. The Dutchman has scored seven goals in his six League Cup appearances for Liverpool at Anfield, finding the net in every single home match he has played in the Carabao Cup.