Unfortunately for Chelsea, Wesley Fofana put his hand up twice. Firstly to concede the first-half penalty for handball that allowed Liverpool to equalise quickly after Chelsea themselves had scored from the spot.
And then secondly to volunteer to take one of the penalties in the shoot-out. The defender had to score to keep Chelsea in it, but he woefully, nervously skied his effort high into a gleeful Kop and it was Liverpool who went through to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
There the reward for Andoni Iraola, the head coach, is a home tie against the club he left in the summer: Bournemouth. The draw has opened up for Liverpool, and they know it, with only Manchester City left of the other big guns. But despite again playing at Anfield, they would have preferred not to face such a dangerous and motivated opponent, who have just reeled off five wins and five clean sheets in a row under Iraola's replacement, Marco Rose.
This was also a big win. A meaningful win. One that was celebrated as such with Dua Lipa's One Kiss – an anthem on Jürgen Klopp's run to Liverpool's first Champions League Final under him in 2018 – played over the loudspeakers at the end as the players joyfully milled around the pitch.
Liverpool gave the Anfield crowd something to cheer after a tense penalty shoot-out - Getty Images
"I am happy to feel it. We feel the support," Iraola said when asked whether he sensed the momentum and togetherness building in his reshaped Liverpool side. It looks like it is.
Fofana was Chelsea's eighth taker, so they were running out of options, but it was a truly terrible effort. He turned and scratched his head – just as many Chelsea fans have done over his underwhelming, albeit injury-hit, contributions since his eyebrow-raising £75m move from Leicester City in 2022.
Both sides had the chance to win it earlier in the shoot-out. For Liverpool it was Kostas Tsimikas, just as he had taken the decisive kick to beat Chelsea in a shoot-out in the 2022 FA Cup Final, but the Greek full-back also completely missed the target.
Then Chelsea striker Emmanuel Emegha – on his debut – saw his kick saved, after an effort by Ryan Gravenberch had also been stopped. In the end, Liverpool's stand-in captain Joe Gomez – still to score an actual goal – crashed in his kick before Fofana's blunder. The 29-year-old Gomez finally "scored" and it was an assured strike.
Joe Gomez found the net, an unfamiliar feeling for him - Getty Image/Carl Recine
This was the fifth penalty shoot-out between these two clubs, in all competitions, with Liverpool having now triumphed in all five. They won the toss for this one and elected to take the kicks in front of the Kop, which roared its satisfaction and did its best to unsettle the Chelsea takers.
Both stand-in goalkeepers – Liverpool's Giorgi Mamardashvili and Chelsea's Mike Penders – made one outstanding save each in the shoot-out. Chelsea substitute Valentín Barco was the other player to miss, hitting a post.
The other efforts, in truth, were outstanding and assured with Liverpool, undoubtedly, benefitting from Iraola turning to his bench and bringing on Alexander Isak, Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola. All scored their penalties.
Among Chelsea's scorers was Jordan Henderson and the former Liverpool captain witnessed a strange homecoming in his first appearance at Anfield for three years. He was booed, in the first-half at least, and especially when he tucked the ball under his arm before Chelsea took their penalty – in normal time – which gave them the lead. Henderson turned to the stands, grinning.
Jordan Henderson received a frosty reception from the Anfield crowd - etty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt
In truth it was more pantomime than meaningful and Henderson, like another former, Champions League-winning Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso – now Chelsea's head coach – did not celebrate as Morgan Rogers scored. The penalty came after a rash challenge by Gravenberch, who crashed into Moisés Caicedo as the Chelsea captain ran onto Malo Gusto's shrewd reverse pass inside the area.
Afterwards, Alonso faced more questions about his decision not to use Estêvão Willian. Despite injury to João Pedro and Cole Palmer's suspension, there was only a place on the Chelsea bench for the 19-year-old Brazilian. And he stayed there even though Alonso used all five substitutions. Estêvão has made just two starts under Alonso, both in this competition. "The season is long and there will be moments for everyone," Alonso said.
It was hardly a ringing endorsement especially as Alonso brought on Emegha instead. The 23-year-old striker's contributions amounted to having his shoot-out penalty saved and then bizarrely and violently charging at Virgil van Dijk – his fellow Dutchman, is there an issue there? – long after the ball had gone, pushing the Liverpool captain over.
Alonso said the exit was a "small set-back," and maybe it was, even if he started with a stronger side than Iraola. But with Chelsea not in European competition and unlikely to win the Premier League it means he is down to the FA Cup already should silverware be won this season.
There is no VAR at this stage of the competition but referee Darren England appeared to get all the big calls right. Rogers claimed a penalty before Chelsea's one was awarded, but Ronald Araújo was probably just too strong.
And Liverpool's penalty? Just what was Fofana thinking? Only three minutes after the lead was gained, Chelsea relinquished it as Van Dijk rose to win a header and Fofana had his arm outstretched. The ball struck it and Cody Gakpo beat Penders from the spot.
Little did we know then it would be the first of 17 penalties, 13 of them successful, in front of the Kop with the last being Fofana's.
10:41pm
10:40pm
10:39pm
10:38pm
10:33pm
Fleetwood vs Everton/Newcastle
Manchester City vs BradfordCrystal Palace vs Sunderland
Liverpool vs Bournemouth
Fixtures to be played the week commencing December 14.
10:32pm
Liverpool vs Bournemouth
10:32pm
Crystal Palace vs Sunderland
10:31pm
Manchester City vs Bradford
10:31pm
Fleetwood vs Everton/Newcastle
10:29pm
We are just getting under way to find out the four ties in the quarter-finals.
10:25pm
Bradford
Fleetwood
Manchester City
Bournemouth
Crystal Palace
Sunderland
Liverpool
There is one more spot up for grabs when Everton host Newcastle tomorrow night. The draw is about to take place.
10:19pm
Manchester City 2 Brighton 2 (Manchester City won 4-3 on penalties)
Bournemouth 3 Aston Villa 0
Fulham 0 Crystal Palace 1
Sunderland 3 Brentford 2
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 (Liverpool won 6-5 on penalties)
10:14pm
Possession:Liverpool 52%-48% Chelsea
Shots:10-11
Shots on target:4-4
Corners:7-5
Touches in opposition box:20-21
10:12pmKey moments • Video
Fofana blazes into The Kop and Liverpool take their place in the League Cup quarter-finals. Liverpool have now won all five shootouts against Chelsea.
10:11pm
The Englishman has never scored a senior goal for Liverpool but emphatically smashes this into the top right corner.
10:10pm
Mamardashvili guesses correctly and makes the save to his right.
10:09pm
Penders makes the save and Chelsea, who now have the chance to go through.
10:08pm
The Englishman lifts it high into the net and we go on.
10:08pm
An emphatic penalty from the Frenchman right into the top left corner.
10:07pm
The former Liverpool captain has to score and he does, sending it down the middle. To sudden death we go...
10:06pm
The Greek defender has a chance to seal Liverpool's place in the final eight but sends it over the bar.
10:05pm
The Argentine strikes the left post and Liverpool will have the chance to book their place in the quarter-finals with their next penalty.
10:04pm
The German makes no mistake, sending Penders the wrong way and putting it into the bottom right corner.
10:03pm
The Belgian calmly steps up and sends Mamardashvili the wrong way, putting into the right corner of the net.
10:02pm
The Dutchman scored Liverpool's equaliser from the spot and smashes this one into the bottom left corner, with Penders going the wrong way.
10:02pm
He scored during the game and finds the net again. Mamardashvili goes the right way but the penalty from Rogers is very good, going right into the bottom left corner.
10:01pm
Again, Penders guesses the right way but, like Mac Allister, Isak lifts it brilliantly into the top of the net.
10:00pm
The Portuguese finds the net and we are all square after one penalty each.
09:59pm
Penders went the right way but Mac Allister lifts it over the Chelsea keeper.
09:58pm
They will be taken at The Kop. Chelsea goalkeeper Penders disappeared down the tunnel after the full-time whistle and re-emerges with a towel, potentially some penalty-saving notes as well?
Liverpool will take first and it will be Mac Allister who steps up first...
09:53pm
The final whistle is blown so we go to penalties at Anfield.
09:50pm
There will be three added minutes.
Looks like we are heading for penalties and if you are looking for omens... Liverpool and Chelsea have had four shootouts in the past: Liverpool won them all - the 2007 Champions League semi-final, the 2019 European Super Cup final, the 2022 League Cup final and the 2022 FA Cup Final.
09:45pmAnalysis
A word on VAR (again). Watching this competition without the presence of the joy-killing invention is liberating. An occassional decision might get missed but, in the long term, you could live with that if meant you didn't hear the words "it's being checked by Stockley Park". The decision just before, when Florian Wirtz's shot touched Levi Colwill's hand, was a case in point. It wasn't a penalty but VAR being brought into play might convince you it was. Let's get rid of it, please.
09:41pm
Double change for Liverpool as Isak and Mac Allister replace Ngumoha and Nyoni.
09:41pm
Huge double block from Chelsea and how have Liverpool not scored? Tsimikas' cross to the back post is headed back across the six-yard box to find Wirtz, who you think is going to score but Colwill makes the block. Then Barcola has a shot blocked by Acheampong.
09:40pm
It is full time at both Craven Cottage and the Stadium of Light, where Crystal Palace and Sunderland have booked their places in the League Cup quarter-finals.
09:38pm
Tsimikas gives it away inside his own half and Chelsea counter. Neto drives inside and finds Rogers, who skips past Gomez. Rogers then finds the overlapping Palestra on the left side of the box and the Italian is denied by Mamardashvili at his near post.
09:35pm
Manchester City have just beaten Brighton 4-3 on penalties whilst on the south coast Bournemouth have comfortably beaten Aston Villa 3-0. Both sides are into the hat for tonight's quarter-final draw.
09:33pm
Lavia cynically brings down Ngumoha as the Liverpool forward drove through the Chelsea half and is correctly booked.
09:32pm
Liverpool are taking off Van Dijk and Jacquet is coming on in his place. No injury for Van Dijk.
09:31pmAnalysis
What a terrific cup tie this has been. It helps when there is an edge between the sides and you can feel the tension in the air. What has been noticeable in the last three games at Anfield, though, is the change in the atmosphere. Slowly but surely the locals are buying into what Andoni Iraola is trying to achieve. Liverpool could lose this game tonight by going all out to win it but there is a clearly identity developing that makes you think they are starting to get on the right lines.
09:28pm
After Gakpo fouls Lavia, Chelsea have a free-kick just over 25 yards out. Rogers lines it up but his effort is terrible, flying into The Kop.
Chelsea are going to make a triple change. Palestra, Barco and Emegha come on, with the latter on for his Chelsea debut. Gusto, Caicedo and Welbeck head off.
09:25pm
Good save from Penders. The ball comes to Barcola outside the Chelsea penalty area. The Frenchman drives inside before getting his shot away from the edge of the box. The shot takes a small deflection and Penders does well to make the save down to his left.
09:24pm
The game between Manchester City and Brighton at The Etihad has ended 2-2, therefore it has now gone to penalties.
09:22pm
Chances at both ends. Gomez whips in a cross from the right and picks out Araujo in the centre of the box but the Uruguayan's powerful header is straight at Penders. He probably should have scored.
Then Chelsea counter and Rogers is in acres of space. His shot from just outside the box takes a deflection and goes behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.
Should Ronald Araujo have scored? - PA/Peter Byrne
09:21pm
Gusto's behaviour in recent minutes has been appalling. First he went down after virtually no contact from Van Dijk and now goes down again, once more not a foul. He shows his boot to the linesman as if it came off in a challenge from Barcola but the replays show that his boot did not come off and he was attempting to con the officials.
09:19pm
Andoni Iraola is turning to his bench for the first time tonight and makes a double substitution as Wirtz and Barcola replace McConnell and Koumas. Some double change that for Liverpool!
09:15pmAnalysis
Fascinating to watchg Trey Nyoni and the responsibility he has taken on his shoulders. He's only 19 but those who have worked with him since he arrived at Liverpool as a 16-year-old will tell you he has a maturity of someone in their mid-twenties. He has tried to get on the ball and play, he's been strong when it's been required and always been in the right place to get a foot in. He's going to play a lot of games for Liverpool if he maintains this trajectory.
09:11pm
Achemapong scythes Ngumoha down as the latter cut inside and the former is correctly booked.
Down on the south coast, Bournemouth appear to be cruising into the quarter-finals as Alvaro Rodriguez has put them 3-0 up against Aston Villa.
09:09pm
Should Rogers have done better there? In fortuitous circumstances, he is played through but he does not show the conviction to drive towards the Liverpool penalty area. His touch lets him and the ball rolls through to Mamardashvili.
Moments later, Rogers forces Mamadrashvili into a save to his left and the Liverpool players are furious that a handball was not given. It clearly hit Rogers' arm before he shot but Chelsea do have the corner. Chelsea play it short before eventually Henderson swings it in before Araujo heads away.
09:05pm
We are back under way at Anfield. No changes from either side at the break.
09:01pm
Manchester City have equalised at home against Brighton, with Rayan Cherki's free-kick from just outside the box taking a big deflection off his teammate Vitor Reis and ending up in the back ot the Brighton net.
08:58pm
Manchester City 1 Brighton 2 (70')
Bournemouth 2 Aston Villa 0 (58')
Fulham 0 Crystal Palace 1 (56')
Sunderland 3 Brentford 1 (56')
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 HT
08:55pm
Bournemouth have doubled their advantage against Aston Villa through Lewis Cook just over five minutes into the second half.
08:54pm
Possession:Liverpool 50%-50% Chelsea
Shots:6-2
Shots on target:2-1
Corners:5-0
Touches in opposition box:5-9
08:50pm
The first half is brought to an end at Anfield and the game is level at 1-1 going into the break. Rogers put Chelsea in front from the spot only for Gakpo to also score a penalty moments later to equalise for Liverpool.
08:47pm
The outswinging corner is sent in from the left but Araujo's header goes over the bar. Meanwhile, Lacroix is slowly limping his way around the pitch to the tunnel and is moving very gingerly, which could suggest an extended period on the sidelines.
08:46pm
As we enter three minutes of added time, Colwill replaces the injured Lacroix.
08:45pmAnalysis
Liverpool can sense a second goal. First, Gakpo has a shot saved by Penders before Ngumoha wins the hosts a corner. Before that is taken, play has been stopped as Lacroix is down clutching at his left hamstring.
Not a murmur from Xabi Alonso as his side take the lead. The penalty Morgan Rogers dispatched went in the same corner as Alonso picked in the 2007 Champions League semi-final and perhaps he had a sense of what was coming as Liverpool are now level and it's a fair reflection of how an intriguing opening 45 minutes has played out. It really wouldn't be a surprise if we need spot-kicks to separate these teams at 90 minutes.
08:43pmKey moments • Goals • Video
Like Rogers moments ago, Gakpo sends the goalkeeper the wrong way and puts the penalty away to equalise. Gakpo slots into the bottom left corner in front of The Kop and the Dutchman continues his fine scoring record in this competition. Both sides have been gifted penalties and both teams take advantage.
08:42pm
Like London buses, two penalties come in quick succession. From a Liverpool corner out on the left, Fofana is penalised for a handball and the referee has no choice but to point to the spot. The Chelsea players protest but it clearly hit Fofana's arm, which was above his head.
Gakpo to take...
08:40pmKey moments • Goals • Video
Rogers sends Mamardashvili the wrong way and puts Chelsea 1-0 up in front of their travelling supporters. It was a quality penalty from Rogers, who deposited it into the right corner of the goal. It is a gift for Chelsea, who did not look like scoring but are gifted a chance to score through that silly Gravenberch challenge.
08:38pm
Caicedo goes down inside the Liverpool penalty area and the referee points to the spot. It is a silly and needless challenge from Gravenberch, who slides into the back of Caicedo and gives the referee no choice but to give a penalty. Not that it would be overturned but there is no VAR anyway.
Ex-Liverpool man Henderson was holding the ball for a while but now hands over to Rogers to take...
08:37pm
They are into the second half at Manchester and Brighton have retaken the lead through Georginio Rutter. Brighton now lead Manchester City 2-1.
08:32pm
That is a gift from Chelsea. The communication at the back between Gusto and Fofana is poor, with the former playing a poor pass backwards looking for Fofana, who cannot reach it and the ball rolls behind for the easiest of corners for Liverpool in front of The Kop.
Gakpo takes an outswinging corner but Welbeck is on hand to head away at the front post.
08:28pm
We are yet to see the first goal of the night at Anfield but they are flying in at the Stadium of Light. Brentford have pulled a goal back against Sunderland through Callum Wilson and it is now 3-1 in the north east.
08:26pmAnalysis
Chelsea want a penalty. Rogers goes down inside the Liverpool penalty area under a challenge from Araujo but it was a fair shoulder-to-shoulder challenge and that is not a penalty.
At the Stadium of Light, Sunderland are in dreamland. Malick Fofana has put them 3-0 up against Brentford closing in on half-time.
A wasted free kick from Chelsea, and goodness, Austin McPhee is not happy. Chelsea's set piece coach was up on the touchline, remonstrating to nobody in particular but it was obvious to see the frustration that the plan he has worked on - a chip to the side, a cutback into the middle - has fallen down at the first attempt. To compound his fury, McPhee just blew a gasket after Chelsea were not awarded a penalty following a coming together between Ronald Araujo and Morgan Rogers.
No penalty - Getty Images/Carl Recine
08:25pm
Tsimikas has let Ngumoha down there. Ngumoha does brilliantly to dribble through two Chelsea defenders around the halfway line and drives down the left. He then plays the ball outside to Tsimikas, who should do so much better with his cross but picks out the front-post defender Lacroix.
Meanwhile at Craven Cottage, Crystal Palace have taken the lead at Fulham thanks to Eddie Nketiah.
08:22pm
McConnell becomes the second Liverpool player to be booked tonight for handball. He lost the ball on halfway and cynically handled the ball as Rogers attempted to counter. A fairly clear-cut booking for McConnell there.
08:20pm
A reminder that there is no VAR tonight and if the game is level after 90 minutes, we will go straight to penalties. Referee Darren England has summoned Chelsea captain Caicedo and former Liverpool midfielder Henderson over for a word.
08:18pm
Caicedo puts Tsimikas' cross from the left behind for the first corner of the night. Gakpo sends in the inswinger but the whistle goes as Chelsea are awarded a free-kick for a foul from Tsimikas on Gusto.
08:16pm
There has yet to be a goal at Anfield but at the Stadium of Light Sunderland have doubled their lead over Brentford courtesy of Tymur Tutierov's goal.
08:11pm
The first booking of the night at Anfield goes the way of the home side. Koumas slides in to try and block a clearance from Lacroix and is booked. Koumas barely touched Lacroix and that is never a yellow card.
Meanwhile, in the north east, Sunderland have taken the lead against Brentford through Chemsdine Talbi.
08:10pm
Brighton had led in Manchester but the home side have just equalised. Mateo Kovacic has scored from range to bring Manchester City level with five minutes to go in the first half.
08:08pmAnalysis
Clear to see in these early exchanges that Cody Gakpo has been deployed as Liverpool's main "striker" with Lewis Koumas, James McConnell - who played in the 2024 final when Liverpool beat Chelsea 1-0 - and Rio Ngumoha operating in behind him. Jordan Henderson seems to be the man whom Xabi Alonso wants to trigger Chelsea's press. They are playing a rigid 4-5-1 formation but, this being Alonso, the system is always flexible. His ethos is to be able to play two or three systems in a game if needed.
08:07pm
Ngumoha drives at Neto down Liverpool's left and is felled by the Portuguese forward. It is an obvious free-kick and Neto is a touch fortunate not to be booked for that blatant foul. Ngumoha, who was fantastic for Liverpool against Villarreal in the Champions League just over a week ago, already into the action.
Tsimikas clips in the delivery but it is headed away by Lacroix.
08:01pm
The second goal in the League Cup this evening has come in Manchester and has gone the way of the away side. Malick Yalcouye has put Brighton in front against Manchester City on the half-hour mark.
08:00pm
We are under way at Anfield. Who will book their place in the League Cup quarter-finals; Liverpool or Chelsea?
Jordan Henderson is busily going around geeing up Chelsea's players, in exactly the same fashion as he did when he played in this stadium for 12 years. He got an ovation here in May, when Brentford drew 1-1, that left him extremely emotional but it remains to be seen what will happen when he gets his first touch this evening. There has been no acknowledgement - yet - from The Kop and the same is true for Xabi Alonso. But, then again, why would there be when there is such lingering enmity between these clubs?
07:56pm
Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off at Anfield. Here is a reminder of how the two sides line up this evening:
Liverpool:Mamardashvili; Araujo, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; McConnell, Nyoni; Ngumoha, Gravenberch, Gakpo; Koumas
Substitutes: Alisson, Endo, Jacquet, Wirtz, Isak, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Barcola, Chambers.
Chelsea:Penders; Acheampong, Lacroix, Fofana, Gusto, Caicedo, Lavia, Henderson, Neto, Welbeck, Rogers.
Substitutes: Sharman-Lowe, Colwill, Subuloye, Palestra, Barco, Nicoll-Jazuli, Estevao, Quenda, Emegha.
07:53pm
Has come on the south coast, where Bournemouth have taken the lead against Aston Villa courtesy of Amine Adli's goal inside the opening 10 minutes.
07:52pm
"The cups are important for us this year. For sure, we face today a good challenge, coming to Anfield, and we want to be in the next round. It is another competition. We know it is another format, it is make-or-break, so we want to make it happen today with a great performance.
"From the beginning we have taken it seriously. We have a tough game and we want to have a good feeling that we are competing. We have to do many great things. In one game there can be many little games with the energy created. These players have played here before. We have practiced penalties but sometimes it is about the feeling of the day."
07:47pm
The games at the Vitality Stadium, Craven Cottage and the Stadium of Light have just begun. That means four of the five ties tonight have started, with just the game at Anfield to begin in just over 10 minutes.
07:41pm
Jordan Henderson spent 12 years at Anfield - Getty Images/Carl Recine
07:35pm
At The Etihad, Manchester City have kicked off against Brighton. Then, there are three 7.45pm kick-offs before Liverpool begin against Chelsea at Anfield at 8pm.
07:27pm
07:21pm
Chelsea 0 Tottenham 2
Everton 0 Chelsea 2
Chelsea 5 Bournemouth 1
Brentford 3 Chelsea 0
Chelsea 2 Hull 2
07:15pm
Liverpool 2 Brighton 0 (Premier League)
Liverpool 4 Villarreal 3 (Champions League)
Brentford 1 Liverpool 2 (Premier League)
LASK 3 Liverpool 6 (Champions League)
Liverpool 0 Manchester City 3 (Premier League)
Liverpool have lost just once in all competitions since Andoni Iraola took over - Getty Images/Andrew Powell
07:08pm
More than two years have passed since Rio Ngumoha chose to leave Chelsea for Liverpool , but the frustration remains at Stamford Bridge. The pain of losing a player of Ngumoha's potential does not pass quickly, especially as the winger was part of Chelsea's academy system for eight years. It must sting to see a London boy, one of their own, now delighting the Anfield crowd.
For many at Chelsea, the anger at Ngumoha's departure in 2024 will probably never subside. Or, at least, it will not subside while he continues to develop so thrillingly at Liverpool. Such was Chelsea's annoyance at the time of his exit, Telegraph Sport reported last year, Liverpool's scouts were subsequently banned from attending matches at their academy centre.
Rio Ngumoha starts for Liverpool against his former club - Getty Images/Andrew Powell
07:03pm
Liverpool:Mamardashvili; Araujo, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; McConnell, Nyoni; Ngumoha, Gravenberch, Gakpo; Koumas
Substitutes: Alisson, Endo, Jacquet, Wirtz, Isak, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Barcola, Chambers.
Chelsea:Penders; Acheampong, Lacroix, Fofana, Gusto, Caicedo, Lavia, Henderson, Neto, Welbeck, Rogers.
Substitutes: Sharman-Lowe, Colwill, Subuloye, Palestra, Barco, Nicoll-Jazuli, Estevao, Quenda, Emegha.
06:59pm
Xabi Alonso spent five years as a player at Anfield between 2004 and 2009. He has returned twice as an opposition manager, with both ending in defeats; one as Bayer Leverkusen boss and one as Real Madrid manager.
06:55pm
06:52pm
All five games this evening are all-Premier League ties:
Manchester City vs Brighton 7.30pm
Bournemouth vs Aston Villa 7.45pm
Fulham vs Crystal Palace 7.45pm
Sunderland vs Brentford 7.45pm
Liverpool vs Chelsea 8pm
The two sides already into the hat for the quarter-finals are Bradford and Fleetwood, who knocked Arsenal out last night. The draw for the quarter-finals will take place after tonight's matches.
06:47pm
06:45pm
06:42pmKey moments
It is an all-Premier League tie at Anfield as Liverpool host Chelsea in the last 16 of the League Cup, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. This will be the first managerial meeting between childhood friends Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso.
Liverpool beat Tottenham 3-1 at Anfield in the last round of this competition, which included a stunning goal from Dominik Szoboszlai to seal progression to the last 16. They earned their first home Premier League win of the season on the weekend as they beat Brighton 2-0. Iraola's men come into this game off the back of four straight wins in all competitions.
"There will definitely be changes, but we want to win the game and we want to be competitive," Iraola said ahead of this tie. "We have to see how the legs; we are not just in the Carabao Cup, but also in the Champions League and we have been trying to make changes from game to game. We want to be in the next round. We have been unlucky in the draw, playing Chelsea, and they have been unlucky also. But we want to be in the draw again and that only happens if you win. We need to rotate, all the top teams need to rotate when you are playing every three days. Sometimes you are forced to rotate due to injury or sometimes different demands in different games tactically. I am happy that everyone is involved. When we have had to use someone who has not played a lot of games, they have helped us. The more players we have in a good place, the easier my selection will be, even if it is hard to leave players out."
Liverpool have lost just once in all competitions this season - Reuters/Phil Noble
Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike remain long-term absentees for the hosts with Jeremie Frimpong also missing. Florian Wirtz could feature despite going off with an ankle knock during the win over Brighton.
Like Liverpool, Chelsea also had an all-Premier League tie in the third round of this competition, beating Leeds 6-3 in a high-scoring affair at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea come into tonight's game off the back of a 2-0 defeat against Tottenham in the league last weekend. Not only did they lose on Saturday but to make matters worse for them Cole Palmer was sent off. As a result of that red card, Palmer is suspended for tonight's tie.
"We [Alonso and Palmer] spoke and for sure he knows the mistake he made," Alonso said. "Things that you can avoid. I hope that this is not going to be repeated. He is aware of that, he is mature and it was a mistake. He is in a good space, he connects very well socially with his teammates. They like him, they want Cole smiling, they want Cole having fun, enjoying his game because when we see that, he will have a better team. I will just ask you because he has got this very cool persona, you probably know his personality is very interesting."
Cole Palmer is unavailable for Chelsea this evening - Getty Images/Ryan Pierse
Former Liverpool midfielder and current Chelsea boss Alonso has lost his two games as a manager against Liverpool; a 4-0 defeat as Bayer Leverkusen boss and then a 1-0 loss when in charge of Real Madrid, with both taking place at Anfield. Alonso is not the only ex-Liverpool midfielder to return to Anfield tonight as their former captain Jordan Henderson is in the Chelsea squad for tonight. Joao Pedro has missed the trip to Anfield because of a thigh injury which could rule him out for a few weeks.
The Premier league fixture between these sides at Anfield ended in a 1-1 draw back in May. In that match, Arne Slot was in charge of Liverpool with Calum McFarlane in interim charge of Chelsea. Chelsea won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. Team news from Anfield to follow shortly.
