Liverpool’s Carabao Cup fourth-round fixture against Chelsea has now been confirmed, with the Reds set to welcome the Blues to Anfield on Wednesday, October 28.
The game will kick off at 8pm GMT, with Liverpool facing Chelsea in one of the standout ties of the fourth round.
The match will be available to watch in the UK on Sky Sports and ITV.
Liverpool booked their place in the fourth round with a 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, while Chelsea also impressed in their third-round tie, beating Leeds United 6-3.
Cole Palmer and Danny Welbeck each both scored twice for Chelsea in that victory, highlighting the attacking threat Liverpool will have to contend with when the sides meet at Anfield.
Liverpool face busy schedule
The Carabao Cup tie comes during a demanding period for Liverpool.
The Reds will face Brighton at Anfield on October 25 before welcoming Chelsea three days later, with Arsenal then visiting Anfield on November 1.
That means Liverpool will play three matches in the space of eight days, making squad rotation likely to become an important factor for both sides.
The game also comes at a tricky time for Chelsea, falling between two home games against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Liverpool vs Chelsea Carabao Cup history
Liverpool and Chelsea have met six times previously in the EFL Cup, with both clubs winning three times.
The most memorable recent meetings have come in the competition’s final, with Liverpool defeating Chelsea in both the 2022 and 2024 finals.
The 2022 final finished 0-0 after extra time before Liverpool won an extraordinary penalty shootout 11-10. Caoimhin Kelleher scored for the Reds, while Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga missed the decisive penalty.
Two years later, Liverpool again pipped Chelsea to lift the trophy, this time 1-0 with Virgil van Dijk scoring from a corner in the 118th minute.
Alonso faces Liverpool again
There is also an intriguing managerial storyline surrounding the fixture.
Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso and Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola were both part of the same youth setup in Spain and played together for the Spanish national team on four occasions.
This will be the first time they have faced one another as coaches.
Alonso has, however, already managed against Liverpool, having faced the Reds with both Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid and lost on both occasions.
Liverpool’s most recent competitive meeting with Chelsea came earlier this season, when the sides played out a 1-1 draw at Anfield under Arne Slot.
The Carabao Cup encounter will therefore provide another meeting between two sides already familiar with one another this season.
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