Homecoming

Xabi Alonso would surely have hoped for a better backdrop to only his third game back at Anfield since he left Liverpool as a player.

Alonso lost the previous two, when he was in charge of Bayer Leverkusen and then Real Madrid. Surprisingly, he never returned as a player in either the Madrid or Munich shirts.

But on the back of Saturday’s comprehensive defeat by Spurs - a limp and pathetic  performance that really antagonised the hardcore Chelsea fans - the Spaniard needs a boost against old pal Andoni Iraola.

No Cole Palmer - suspended - or Joao Pedro - injured - while Chelsea look to have switched to a back four, with Jordan Henderson in the midfield trio and Danny Welbeck leading the line.

Still no place in the starting line-up for Willian Estevao - it’s almost as if the manager doesn’t trust him.

Iraola makes plenty of changes, too, with Nyoni, Ngumoha, Koumas and McConnell all included.

Two of them were, quite literally, still in nappies when Henderson was making his professional debut - 18 years ago this coming weekend, as a half-time sub for Sunderland in a  5-0 mauling at Stamford Bridge.