Standing in the way of the Blues’ sixth quarter-final appearance in 11 seasons are last year’s losing finalists Liverpool. It is the 11th encounter between the pair in pursuit of this spring-time prize. This is also Xabi Alonso’s side’s second trip to Merseyside in 12 days, following the impressive 2-0 Premier League victory at nearby Everton.

Chelsea are unbeaten in four cup visits to this part of Merseyside (evenly split between wins and draws) since a 2007 match in the UEFA Champions League, when the current Blues boss was wearing red.

The Blues smashed Leeds United 6-3 in the previous round, while Liverpool eased past Tottenham Hotspur by three goals to one. Our record of ten League Cup final appearances is bettered only by the Reds’ 15.

Team news

Alonso has confirmed that Joao Pedro will be ruled out with a thigh injury, but the Blues manager will be able to call upon Emmanuel Emegha for the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie at Liverpool.

On the eve of Tottenham Hotspur's visit to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, Joao Pedro suffered an injury in training. He has since undergone further tests, which have confirmed he is set for a spell on the sidelines.

‘He has an injury in his thigh and he’s going to be out for a few weeks,' said Alonso in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. 'Let’s see how many, we don’t want to predict that, but he will not be ready for the next games.'

Alonso's attacking options have been boosted by the news that Emegha is in contention to feature in tomorrow's game. The 23-year-old striker has yet to make his Chelsea debut after arriving from Strasbourg in the summer, but has been building his fitness at Cobham over the last fortnight after recovering from a hamstring injury.

And Alonso said the Netherlands international – in addition to Estevao Willian and Danny Welbeck – can be called upon tomorrow evening. 'He is in the squad,' the Blues boss stated.

The history

Although between them Chelsea and Liverpool have lifted the three-handled cup 15 times, the pair only met twice in the competition before the turn of the last century, in 1977 and 2000. Both those games were played at Anfield and ended in 2-0 and 2-1 wins for the hosts.

The new millennium initially brought better fortune for the Blues in the floodlit competition, beginning with the 2005 final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Chelsea's first final of the modern era did not have the best start, with John Arne Riise opening the scoring early on for the Reds.

Jose Mourinho’s side had the better of the rest of the game, but had to wait until the 79th minute to restore parity. The irony of Steven Gerrard contributing such a vital own goal was not lost on the Chelsea fans, in light of fevered stories about his likely switch to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues’ dominance told in extra-time, with Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman both netting within six minutes, Mourinho gesturing hush to the previously buoyant Liverpool supporters. Antonio Nunez quickly replied, but the 3-2 scoreline held and for Chelsea's third success in the competition.

Two years later, in December 2007, the Merseysiders were merely a stepping stone on the road to the fourth final. Boyhood Blues fan Peter Crouch was sent off straight after Frank Lampard’s opener and Andriy Shevchenko settled the quarter-final tie in the last minute.

The last-eight rematch at the Bridge in November 2011 ended in the reverse scoreline. Ross Turnbull saved Andy Carroll’s first-half penalty, but otherwise had an evening to forget, Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Kelly scoring in short order around the hour mark to win the tie.

The first semi-final match between the pair came in 2015, during Mourinho’s second spell, and was a tightly fought affair. Eden Hazard expertly converted a spot-kick to draw first blood, but Raheem Sterling ensured Brendan Rodgers’ side were level heading into the second leg at the Bridge.

A tense night of attacking football ensued, though normal time concluded without a breakthrough. Chelsea’s winner came in classic style – Hazard winning a foul, Willian curling in a cross and Branislav Ivanovic heading past Simon Mignolet to take his team to Wembley.

Drawn back to Anfield in 2018 for a round-three tie, the Blues came from behind through late goals by left-back Emerson and, inevitably, Hazard, to win 2-1.

The last two meetings were both in the final at Wembley, in 2022 and 2024, with the Londoners failing to score in either. In the first, the two sides could only be separated by a penalty shootout, and then only after a remarkable 22 attempts, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga missing the crucial kick.

The most recent meeting was also in stark contrast to the incident-packed meetings of the previous decade and was settled by a Virgil van Dijk header in extra-time.

Know this...

Chelsea and Liverpool have faced each ten times in this competition, resulting in four Blues victories, two draws and four defeats. The Blues are unbeaten against Liverpool over our past three encounters.

The Blues are the capital’s most successful club in this competition, winning it five times.

This will be Chelsea’s 96th match at Anfield, the most visits to any opposition ground.

No team has either scored or conceded more league goals from set-plays than the Blues, both six.

Carabao Cup regulations

There is no VAR for this game as not all host stadiums in the round are suitably equipped.

Yellow cards and suspensions apply only to this competition, red card bans are served across all domestic fronts.

Each tie is decided on the night and extra time is not used to decide ties until the second leg of the semi-finals. In the event of scores being level after second-half stoppage time, the outcome will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.