Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says he will celebrate if the Blues score against his former club Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.

The Spaniard, 44, is returning to Anfield for the first time since becoming Blues manager over the summer.

Asked how he will react if Chelsea score, Alonso said: "Of course, I will celebrate, for sure. With full respect because for sure, my warmth with Liverpool was there as a player.

"But now, I am in a different role, I need to support my team, I need to support my club, I fight for my club and if we score, I will celebrate with whole respect.

"That is the respect for my club and the respect for the opponent as well."

It is the third time Alonso has returned as a visiting manager, having done so in his previous roles at Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen across the last two seasons.

Alonso previously told BBC Sport that his move to Chelsea instead of Liverpool over the summer was "about timings".

Former Reds boss Arne Slot was still in the role before the decision was made for the Dutch head coach to be sacked and replaced by Andoni Iraola.

However, Alonso was believed to be on Liverpool's radar before Slot's appointment, after his sensational league and cup double in his first top-level managerial season at Bayer Leverkusen.

Asked about that time, he explained: "Well at that time I was at Leverkusen and I was aware of the situation but I decided to stay. That was my decision at the time."

Alonso also explained that striker Joao Pedro is probably out until after the international break in November.

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