Liverpool host Chelsea at Anfield on Wednesday in the EFL Cup, with the match set to kick off at 4 p.m. ET and stream live on Paramount+.
The Blues arrive under new manager Xabi Alonso, whose tenure has produced mixed results. A 5-1 victory over Bournemouth highlighted the team's attacking potential, but a loss to Tottenham — where Cole Palmer received a red card — exposed defensive frailties. Chelsea have conceded 1.71 goals per 90 minutes this season, a rate bettered only by teams in the relegation zone.
Alonso's side will be without several key players: Palmer is suspended, while João Pedro and Reece James are also unavailable. The absence of Enzo Fernández, who departed for Manchester City in the summer, continues to be felt in midfield. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez remains sidelined with a broken jaw after his arrival from Aston Villa.
Set-piece vulnerability has been a recurring issue. Without Martínez's command of the penalty area, Chelsea's other keepers have struggled, and the team's tendency to concede fouls in dangerous areas compounds the problem. Maxence Lacroix has provided organizational stability at the back, but the overall defensive structure remains a concern.
Liverpool, described as "waking up under Andoni Iraola," are finding form with Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola settling in and Alexander Isak returning to peak condition. The Reds are favored at +120 odds, with Chelsea at +185 and a draw at +275.
Monaco's decision to withdraw from a potential deal for Lamine Camara has limited Chelsea's options to reinforce the squad. Alonso may need to adopt a more direct approach, leveraging his front three to offset defensive weaknesses. While there are signs of progress, a return to Champions League football this season appears ahead of schedule.
