Liverpool vs Chelsea: Preview
We have the lineups for the match between Liverpool and Chelsea in the fourth round of the 2026/27 League Cup.
In the previous round, "Liverpool" beat "Tottenham" (3:1), while "Chelsea" defeated "Leeds" (6:3).
Key points
Liverpool
"Liverpool" has only lost to "Man City". In the current season, the team has suffered a single defeat, against the EPL leader – "Man City" (0:3) at their own stadium. Iráola is adapting. In the last EPL round, "Liverpool" beat "Brighton" (2:0), securing the first home win of the EPL‑2026/27 – just before their encounter with "Chelsea", a psychologically important result. Considering the 2025/26 season without titles, these cup competitions are crucial for "Liverpool": a chance to win something, while competing in the EPL against "Arsenal" and "Man City" is very difficult.
2. Iráola will rotate, there are enough losses
Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk will miss the match against "Chelsea" to rest before the next clash with "Arsenal" in the EPL. Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola are likely to join them. The team leader will be Cody Gakpo, with 2+5 goals+assists in eight matches this season. Florian Witt twisted his leg in the match against "Brighton" and went to the dressing room, but a serious injury was not confirmed. Although the match against "Chelsea" the German will lose. Also, due to injuries, Hugo Ekitike, Victor Muñoz, Connor Bradley, Jeremy Frimpong, Giovanni Leone and Dominique Soubasla will not play. In the forward line, the 21‑year‑old Luis Kumas will likely appear, who already has 1+1 in the game against LAC.
3. "Liverpool" knows how to rotate matches
Iráola does not always start with the initial plans, but usually corrects during the game: in six matches this season, the "reds" started with an advantage, losing only in one of them (the other five ended with three wins and two draws). Moreover, three comebacks occurred in home matches. In the last EPL round against "Brighton", "Liverpool" showed they can hold the result: at the 20th minute, they were 2:0 and left the ball to the opponent, defending calmly. Throughout the second half, the "seagulls" failed to shoot at the goal.
Chelsea
1. "Chelsea" lacks stability
In ten matches this season, "Chelsea" has won six, but the three‑match winning streak at the start remains the longest. Now, in two excellent matches, the London side has a failure, as in the last EPL round against "Tottenham" (0:2). There are no signs of improvement, as Alonso lost the main striker – Juan Pedro (5+3 goals+assists). Without the Brazilian, in the matches against "Brentford" (0:3) and "Tottenham" they did not score and showed their worst xG statistics: 0.86 and 0.43, with few finishing options.
2. Palmer and Pedro will not play
Pedro will not play against "Liverpool", he is injured. Cole Palmer was sent off in the match against "Tottenham" and will miss the game due to suspension. In goals+assists, both are among Chelsea’s best players this season. Rys James and Emiliano Martínez are injured, and Jamie Gittins, Pep Chavarria and Emmanuel Emeka are doubtful. The key attacking role will fall to Esteban Villanueva, who has only started in one match this season – against "Leeds" in the League Cup. The Brazilian is out of form and has not stood out with productive actions for the club since April 4, when he recorded 1+1 in the FA Cup match against "Port Vale".
3. Do corner kicks fail for "Chelsea"?
Before the season started, "Chelsea" reinforced their technical staff with Austin Macfie, a corner‑kick coach. The results came immediately: almost in every match, the Londoners create danger from corners, scoring six goals in the EPL alone (the best result). But Chelsea’s defensive corners fail: they have conceded eight goals. It was with the corner in the last EPL round that "Tottenham" scored their first corner‑kick goal of the season. "Liverpool" still has not scored – is it time to soften the statistic?
Estimated formations
4-2-3-1
4-2-3-1
4-3-2-1
4-3-2-1
4-3-2-1
4-3-2-1
4-3-2-1
4-3-2-1
4-3-2-1
4-3-2-1
4-3-2-1
4-3-2-1
4-3-2-1
4-3-2-1
n/a
Betting trends
In four of the last six matches between "Liverpool" and "Chelsea", the second half was a draw. Bet: second half X at 2.95.
In four of the last six matches between "Liverpool" and "Chelsea", fewer than four goals were scored. Bet: TM 3.5 at 1.70.
Forecast
Liverpool vs Chelsea
29.10.2026 00:00
"Liverpool" in the current season has suffered only one defeat, against the EPL leader – "Man City" (0:3). In the last EPL round, "Liverpool" beat "Brighton" (2:0), securing the first home win of the EPL‑2026/27 – a psychologically important result before the encounter with "Chelsea". Mentally, the team has strengthened: in six matches this season, the "reds" started with an advantage, losing only in one of them (the other five ended with three wins and two draws). "Chelsea" in ten matches this season achieved six wins, but after losing Pedro, suffered two disastrous matches with "Brentford" (0:3) and "Tottenham" (0:2). The Londoners did not score and showed their worst xG statistics: 0.86 and 0.43, with few finishing options. Moreover, the match against "Liverpool" will also lose the suspended Palmer – the third player on the team in goals+assists. The difference could be made by corner kicks, but "Chelsea" both scores and concedes in them. Assume "Liverpool" will win.
Forecast: 2-0
