Tonight, Chelsea return to action looking to put their disappointing performance at the weekend behind them with a tough test at Anfield.

While we would all love a comfortable victory to secure our place in the next round of the Carabao Cup, we must recognise the challenge ahead as Xabi Alonso takes his side back into cup action. With a break from Premier League duties, Chelsea have an opportunity to make progress in a competition in which they will be hoping to go all the way.

So, with me stepping into the manager’s shoes once again, let’s assess who deserves a place in the starting XI and who should take a seat on the bench.

Starter - Danny Welbeck

The Tottenham game exposed Chelsea’s need for a recognised striker, with Morgan Rogers struggling to make an impact while playing out of position. Welbeck should therefore start against Liverpool, using his movement to put the defence under pressure and offering an aerial threat from set-pieces.

Has to start for the good of his Chelsea career. If he is left on the bench in favour of Emmanuel Emegha, it raises an obvious question: what more could Welbeck offer if given a run of games to build momentum and confidence?

Bench - Levi Colwill

He has been one of Chelsea’s most-used players alongside Maxence Lacroix, but his inconsistent performances in defence this season suggest he could benefit from a rest. The English defender needs to be managed carefully after returning from an ACL injury last season, so why not bring Wesley Fofana into the side and switch to a back four?

Starter - Marco Palestra

He looked vulnerable on the left when he came on against Tottenham, although he may simply need more minutes to get up to speed. Deploy the Italian on either flank and see what he can offer both going forward and defensively.

Chavarria’s pace could also prove useful against Bradley Barcola, should the winger start, as the Frenchman looks rapid once he gets going. That would see Chavarria operate on the right, potentially pushing Malo Gusto closer to the January exit door.

Bench - Morgan Rogers

Rogers has played plenty of minutes for both Chelsea and England, and with Geovany Quenda and Estevao raring to go, giving him a rest on the bench seems like a sensible decision. Let’s also not forget that he featured at the World Cup, adding to an already demanding workload.

His performance against Tottenham was the worst I have seen from him after such a promising start. Hopefully, a spell out of the starting XI will help him recharge his batteries and return to form ahead of the Manchester United game at the weekend.

Starter - Estevao

With Cole Palmer unavailable, why not turn to the next best option in his position? Estevao will be eager to get a full 90 minutes under his belt this season and show Alonso that he can make a real difference when given the opportunity.

Palmer has also been relatively quiet over the last two or three games, so this could be the perfect time to give the young Brazilian an extended run in the team and see what he can offer.