Liverpool vs Chelsea the Carabao Cup last 16 has been given a much-needed boost of excitement after both teams exchanged penalty goals before the break.
The first half of the cup tie, in which both teams marked the changes, was very lacking in quality until then, with both teams having just one shot on target between them.
Rogers opens the scoring
The Blues had been particularly poor in the first period, but had a chance to go ahead in the 38th minute when Ryan Gravenberch sloppily placed himself to foul Moises Caicedo inside the box.
Manager Andoni Iraola must have been less than impressed with the Dutch midfielder, who wasn’t looking very close to the ball.
Up stepped Premier League signing Rogers, who opened up his body and fired the ball into the top right corner with blistering accuracy.
Gakpo levels
But Chelsea had been out of celebration for too long and it was their turn to give away an avoidable penalty after a shot from a corner hit Wesley Fofana’s fingertips.
The Blues looked shaky at the corner kick, with the spot-kick rightly awarded by the offense after a fine point from the referee.
Cody Gakpo was the man to get the hosts going, and he also gave the keeper no chance drilling his penalty into the bottom left corner.
Where to watch Liverpool-Chelsea: TV and online broadcasts
Liverpool v Chelsea kicks off at 20:00 GMT on Wednesday 28 October at Anfield.
The match is live on Sky Sports and ITV1 in the UK, with streaming also available on ITVX and the Sky Go app.
Fans overseas should check theirs holders of local EFL Cup television rights.
Liverpool-Chelsea recent form and statistics
- The clubs meet for the 202nd time in all competitions, with Liverpool winning 87 and losing 67.
- The last two EFL Cup meetings were in the 2022 and 2024 finals.
- Of their last 12 games played in this competition, Liverpool face London opposition for the eighth time.
- Liverpool’s last three defeats at Anfield in the League Cup have been inflicted by London sides: Chelsea (2018-19), Arsenal on penalties (2020-21) and Crystal Palace (2025-26).
LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS
Only Ronald Araujo, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo retain their places in the eleven that started against Brighton.
Youngsters James McConnell, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha and Lewis Koumas all come in.
Liverpool are still without Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Hugo Ekitike.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Gómez, Araujo, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; McConnell, Gravenberch, Nyoni; Gakpo, Ngumoha, Komas
Liverpool substitutes: Alisson, Endo, Jacquet, Wirtz, Isak, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Barcol, Chambers
CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
Alonso makes four changes to the side that faced Spurs with Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Romeo Lavia and Danny Welbeck coming on. Levi Colwill, Jorrel Hato, Geovany Quenda drop out while Cole Palmer is suspended.
João Pedro is out for “a few weeks” with a knee injury, while goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez remains absent, so Mike Penders keeps his place in goal despite Saturday’s mistake.
Chelsea: Penders; Acheampong, Fofana, Lacroix; Gust, Net, Caicedo, Lavia, Henderson; Rogers, Welbeck
Chelsea substitutes: Sharman-Lowe, Colwill, Subuloye, Palestra, Vaixell, Nicoll-Jazuli, Estevao, Quenda, Emegha