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Liverpool versus Chelsea kicks off at 8pm GMT on Wednesday, October 28 at Anfield.
The match is live on Sky Sports and ITV1 in the UK, with streaming also available on ITVX and the Sky Go app.
Supporters overseas should check their local EFL Cup TV rights holders.
Xabi Alonso returns to Liverpool on Wednesday night, but he would probably have hoped for a better build-up. Chelsea arrive for this EFL Cup last-16 tie on the back of a painful home defeat to Tottenham, without Cole Palmer, and facing a Liverpool side that has found its form.
Andoni Iraola’s side made it four wins in a row in all competitions with a 2-0 victory over Brighton on Sunday. A Pascal Groß own goal and a close-range finish from Alexander Isak settled it in the first half, and the result finally gave Liverpool their first Premier League home win of the season. It also lifted them to fourth, two points above fifth-placed Chelsea.
Iraola is set to rotate his side given the number of matches at this congested stage of the season.
He said: “There will definitely be changes, but we want to win the game. We want to be competitive.
“We need to see where the legs are and make some changes game-to-game because it’s almost mandatory.
“We want to be in the next round. We have been unlucky in the draw because we are playing Chelsea. They have been unlucky, also.”
Chelsea’s afternoon at Stamford Bridge on Saturday was one to forget. Tottenham won 2-0, ending Chelsea’s run of two straight league wins, and goalkeeper Mike Penders was at fault for one of the goals. To make matters worse, Palmer was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in the space of nine minutes.
With no European football this season, the EFL Cup represents Chelsea’s first chance of domestic silverware, and Alonso may take it more seriously than some of his rivals. Chelsea reached this stage by beating Luton Town and then Leeds United 6-3, despite Alonso making nine changes for the Leeds game. Liverpool, meanwhile, made 10 changes and still beat Tottenham 3-1 in the last round.
It’s a busy week for both sides. Chelsea host Manchester United on Saturday, and Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Sunday.
Florian Wirtz is the main doubt for Liverpool after coming off against Brighton with an ankle knock while Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz are unlikely to play.
“We still have to wait,” said Iraola. “We train later. With Florian I am quite optimistic that he will be available. Dom and Victor, I am not so sure.
“I don’t want to say no, but I think it’s going to be more difficult than Florian.”
Liverpool are still without Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Hugo Ekitike. Giorgi Mamardashvili is expected to start in goal, and Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas could also be given starts.
For Chelsea, Palmer serves a one-match ban after his red card against Spurs, and João Pedro is out for a “few weeks” with a knee injury. Emiliano Martínez is still absent, so Penders will keep his place in goal despite his error on Saturday.
Danny Welbeck and Estêvão Willian are the likely replacements for Palmer and João Pedro. Marco Palestra is pushing for a start, and Valentín Barco and Romeo Lavia could come into midfield. Wesley Fofana and Malo Gusto are also hoping for a chance.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Gomez, Jacquet, Endo, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Ngumoha, Nyoni, Barcola; Koumas
Chelsea: Penders; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Palestra; Caicedo, Lavia, Barco; Estevao, Welbeck, Rogers
Recent Results : Liverpool
Chelsea’s greater squad depth means they may just have the edge, although don’t be surprised if this goes beyond 90 minutes.
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