According to a report by Football London on Monday, October 26, 2026, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed that goalkeeper Mike Penders will retain his place in the starting lineup when the Blues face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday night.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper endured a difficult Premier League debut against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, making a costly mistake as Chelsea suffered a 2-0 defeat.

Penders misjudged the flight of a corner and punched the ball into his own net, allowing Tottenham to take the lead. Mathys Tel subsequently doubled the visitors' advantage as Chelsea suffered their first home defeat against Spurs since April 2018.

Despite the disappointing result, Alonso has maintained his confidence in the young Belgian and insisted that mistakes were part of football and that the team would continue to support him. The Chelsea manager stressed that responsibility for victories and defeats rested with everyone at the club, including himself.

Alonso also defended Penders and fellow youngster Geovany Quenda, who made their first Premier League starts against Tottenham. He explained that both players needed the club's backing as they adjusted to the demands of senior football, while Penders would have an opportunity to demonstrate his ability to perform better against Liverpool.

Chelsea defender Maxence Lacroix also backed Penders, describing him as a talented young goalkeeper who would learn from the experience. The defender emphasised that mistakes were inevitable in football and life, adding that the squad needed to stand behind their teammate rather than allow the incident to undermine his confidence.

Lacroix also expressed his belief that Penders would make valuable contributions to Chelsea throughout the season, insisting that supporting the goalkeeper after the Tottenham defeat was important for the entire team.

Meanwhile, Lacroix believes Chelsea must respond positively when they travel to Anfield for Wednesday's cup encounter. The defender described the Liverpool fixture as a significant challenge and an opportunity for Chelsea to demonstrate their determination to progress further in the competition.

He stressed that the team needed to address weaknesses exposed against Tottenham, improve their decision-making in crucial moments and show a stronger competitive response. Lacroix added that Chelsea would travel to Anfield with the intention of winning and presenting a better performance than they produced in their previous outing.

Chelsea will head into the encounter having avoided defeat in their previous three meetings with Liverpool, recording two victories at Stamford Bridge and a draw at Anfield.

Alonso's side will now look to extend that run and secure a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, with Penders expected to retain his position despite the error that contributed to their weekend defeat.