Liverpool hosts Chelsea in the Carabao Cup later at Anfield, and former Red Jamie Carragher feels there might be a weak link in the visitors' defense after being left unimpressed

Jamie Carragher has suggested there could be a weak link in Chelsea’s defense for Liverpool to exploit later as the two sides meet in the Carabao Cup.

The Reds will be looking for a place in the quarter-finals as they host their Premier League rivals, with Andoni Iraola going head-to-head with close friend Xabi Alonso as he aims to go a step closer to a first piece of silverware at Anfield.

With no European competitions to contend with this season, Chelsea may be free to name it strongest team later, although Alonso might be minded to make some changes following his side’s defeat at home to Tottenham at the weekend.

Among those who might be in danger of being dropped is summer signing Maxence Lacroix, who has failed to impress Carragher so far.

Lacroix made the $69 million (£52M) move from Crystal Palace and has started all but one of Chelsea’s games so far this season, but Carragher is not convinced he works in the Blues’ defense.

“I look at the signing of Maxence Lacroix, and I really liked him at Crystal Palace in a back three,” Carragher said on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet.

“But I was watching (Chelsea) against Tottenham and in other games this season, and I was seeing him pressing man-to-man, and everyone was jumping out, and he just didn’t look comfortable to me, or mobile enough to be in a back four and jumping out of man-to-man marking and jumping out to James Maddison.”

Liverpool will feel confident of scoring against its opponent at Anfield later, with Chelsea holding one of the worst defensive records in the Premier League so far this season.

Alonso’s side has conceded 15 goals in eight league games, with only Ipswich (16) and Crystal Palace (19) seeing more goals scored against them.

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“It just feels to me when I look at the defenders, I think I’ve said this a lot, if you look at every defender, they’re the same, six out of ten, seven out of ten,” Carragher said on the state of Chelsea’s defense.

“There’s still not that somebody you build your defense around or who can hold it all together. It just looks very average.”