- Xabi Alonso Set for Anfield Return as Chelsea Draw Liverpool in Carabao Cup
Xabi Alonso is set for an emotional competitive return to Anfield after Chelsea were drawn away to Liverpool in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, setting up the standout fixture of the last 16 between two clubs with considerable history in the competition.
The tie will be played during the week commencing October 26, with the exact date and kick-off time yet to be confirmed. Chelsea’s official announcement confirmed that Alonso’s side will travel to Liverpool after overcoming Luton Town and Leeds United in the opening two rounds of their cup campaign.
For Alonso, the fixture brings an added personal dimension. The Chelsea manager spent five seasons at Liverpool between 2004 and 2009, making 210 appearances, scoring 19 goals and establishing himself as one of the most influential midfielders of Rafael Benítez’s era. His honours at Anfield included the 2005 Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the 2006 FA Cup.
His first season on Merseyside ended with one of the defining moments of Liverpool’s modern history when he scored the rebound from his saved penalty in the Champions League final against AC Milan in Istanbul, completing the comeback from 3-0 down before the Reds eventually won on penalties.
Alonso later moved to Real Madrid in 2009, but his five-year spell at Liverpool ensured he retained a strong connection with the club and its supporters.
His return as Chelsea manager now provides an additional storyline to a tie that would already have carried significant weight because of the recent cup rivalry between the two teams.
Liverpool and Chelsea contested the Carabao Cup finals in both 2022 and 2024, with Liverpool prevailing on each occasion. Chelsea’s last League Cup victory at Anfield came in 2018, when Eden Hazard produced a memorable individual goal in a 2-1 third-round win.
The latest meeting comes after both clubs negotiated contrasting routes through the third round.
Liverpool advanced with a 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring with a first-time strike before Cody Gakpo doubled the advantage after the interval.
Conor Gallagher pulled one back for Spurs from a corner, but Dominik Szoboszlai secured Liverpool’s progress with a long-range effort in stoppage time.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola made 10 changes for the match, with only Ronald Araujo retained from the side that had featured in the previous Premier League fixture. Joe Gomez returned from injury and captained the team, while several younger and fringe players were given opportunities.
Chelsea’s route was considerably more dramatic. Alonso’s side came from 2-0 down to beat Leeds United 6-3 at Stamford Bridge in a chaotic third-round encounter.
Tarik Muharemovic headed Leeds in front before Brenden Aaronson doubled the visitors’ advantage shortly after half-time. Alonso responded with four changes at the break, and the effect was immediate.
Cole Palmer scored twice in quick succession to draw Chelsea level before Pedro Neto completed the turnaround. Danny Welbeck added a fourth, Dominic Calvert-Lewin briefly reduced Leeds’ deficit, and Valentin Barco and Welbeck struck again to complete the six-goal second-half response.
The performance highlighted both Chelsea’s attacking depth and Alonso’s willingness to use the competition to rotate his squad.
He had made nine changes to the starting XI against Leeds and handed 16-year-old Reggie Watson his Chelsea debut, while Palmer, Neto and Morgan Rogers were among those introduced from the bench.
That approach could make the fourth-round meeting particularly intriguing.
Both Liverpool and Chelsea have strong squads capable of significant rotation, but the profile of the fixture may encourage Iraola and Alonso to field stronger line-ups than might ordinarily be expected at this stage of the competition.
The draw also produced several other all-Premier League encounters.
Everton will host Newcastle United, Sunderland face Brentford, Fulham meet Crystal Palace and Bournemouth take on Aston Villa.
Arsenal will travel to Fleetwood Town, while League One sides Bradford City and Peterborough United will meet for a place in the quarter-finals.
Brighton will travel to the winner of Manchester City’s outstanding tie with Norwich City.
But Liverpool against Chelsea is likely to dominate attention. The fixture brings together two clubs accustomed to competing for major domestic honours and revives a League Cup rivalry that has already produced multiple finals and dramatic knockout meetings.
For Chelsea, there is also the opportunity to change the recent pattern of the fixture in this competition after defeats in the 2022 and 2024 finals.
For Liverpool, the match offers another chance to maintain their strong association with the League Cup while continuing to develop a squad in which established internationals and younger players are increasingly being used together.
Alonso’s presence will inevitably dominate much of the build-up. Few returning opposition managers will arrive at Anfield with such a direct connection to some of Liverpool’s most celebrated modern European moments. His 210 appearances, role in Istanbul and five seasons at the heart of Benítez’s midfield ensure that his return will carry significance beyond the immediate cup contest.
Once the match begins, however, sentiment will quickly give way to the pursuit of a quarter-final place.
Chelsea arrive having scored six against Leeds, while Liverpool’s victory over Tottenham demonstrated the depth available to Iraola even after extensive rotation.
The fourth-round draw has therefore delivered more than a high-profile fixture.
It has created a meeting in which recent Carabao Cup history, two ambitious squads and Alonso’s personal connection with Anfield converge giving the competition one of its most compelling ties before the quarter-final stage.
