Liverpool vs Chelsea preview, team news, h2h, & predictions: Can Ngumoha outshine Estevao?

Anglo-Nigerian attacker Rio Ngumoha is expected to start for Liverpoagainst the club he left in 2024 when Liverpool host Chelsea in the EFL Cup fourth round at Anfield on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

Ngumoha moved from Chelsea’s academy to Liverpool in the summer of 2024, and in February 2026 a tribunal ordered Liverpool to pay Chelsea at least £2.8 million in development compensation.

Kickoff is at 8pm UK time, which is 9pm in Nigeria, and the Blues arrive without the suspended Cole Palmer and the injured João Pedro.

24 hours to go! ⏳ Submit your matchday predictions ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Liverpool… 💪

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 27, 2026

Xabi Alonso also returns to Anfield as Chelsea head coach, having played for Liverpool.

Match Radar

⚽ Liverpool vs Chelsea
Competition	EFL Cup, fourth round
Kickoff	Wednesday, October 28, 2026 — 8pm UK (9pm Nigeria)
Venue	Anfield, Liverpool
Where to Watch	Sky Sports and ITVX (UK)
🇳🇬 Rio Ngumoha, whose father is Nigerian, is expected to face the club he left in 2024

Liverpool vs Chelsea: Form and Context at Anfield

Liverpool are fourth in the Premier League on 15 points and have won their last four games in all competitions, following a 3-0 home defeat by Manchester City.

Those wins were 6-3 at LASK and 4-3 against Villarreal in the Champions League, then 2-1 at Brentford and 2-0 against Brighton in the Premier League.

Liverpool have scored 14 goals in those five games, but they have also conceded 10 and let in at least one goal in four of them.

In this competition they beat Tottenham 3-1 in the third round on September 15, 2026.

Chelsea are fifth on 13 points, with 17 goals scored and 15 conceded from eight league games.

They drew 2-2 with Hull and lost 3-0 at Brentford before beating Bournemouth 5-1 and Everton 2-0, then losing 2-0 to Tottenham last time out.

Xabi Alonso’s men have scored in only three of their last five games, and the win at Everton was their only clean sheet in that run.

In the EFL Cup they beat Luton 2-0 and Leeds 6-3, with Danny Welbeck scoring three of those eight goals in two starts.

Head-to-Head: Liverpool vs Chelsea Record

Liverpool lead the all-time record with 87 wins to Chelsea’s 67, plus 47 draws, from 201 meetings in all competitions.

The most recent meeting was a 1-1 draw at Anfield in the Premier League on May 9, 2026, and the Blues won the one before it 2-1 on October 4, 2025.

Across the last 10 meetings Liverpool have won four, drawn four and lost two, counting their shootout wins in the 2022 FA Cup and League Cup finals as victories.

THAT Szobo strike, from every angle 📐🤌 Last time out in the Carabao Cup ⏮️ https://t.co/1zZRStC9cT

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 27, 2026

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five league meetings at Anfield, winning two and drawing three.

Chelsea won the 2005 League Cup final 3-2 after extra time, Liverpool won the 2022 final 11-10 on penalties after a 0-0 draw, and Liverpool took the 2024 final 1-0 after extra time through a 118th-minute goal from Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool have won the competition 10 times to Chelsea’s five, and a tie that is level after 90 minutes goes straight to penalties.

Team News and Predicted XI

Palmer’s ban covers this tie only, so he is available for Chelsea’s home game against Manchester United on October 31.

Alonso said on Tuesday that João Pedro has a thigh injury that will keep him out for a few weeks, and Emiliano Martínez is out with a broken jaw.

Reece James and Jamie Gittens are also reported to be out, which would leave Josh Acheampong at right-back.

Florian Wirtz went off after 64 minutes against Brighton with an ankle knock, and Andoni Iraola has said he is quite optimistic about his availability.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Muñoz are doubts, while Jérémie Frimpong is unlikely to return before the November international break.

Both managers are expected to rotate, with Liverpool leaning on Ngumoha, Nyoni, McConnell and Koumas, and Ronald Araujo expected at right-back.

Liverpool	Chelsea
Florian Wirtz: doubt (ankle) Dominik Szoboszlai: doubt (hamstring) Victor Muñoz: doubt (knock) Jérémie Frimpong: out (muscle) Conor Bradley: out (knee surgery) Giovanni Leoni: out (cruciate ligament)	Cole Palmer: suspended João Pedro: out (thigh) Emiliano Martínez: out (broken jaw) Reece James: out Jamie Gittens: out

Star Player Comparison: Ngumoha vs Welbeck

Rio Ngumoha Winger · Liverpool	Stat	Danny Welbeck Striker · Chelsea
0	EFL Cup goals	3
1	EFL Cup appearances	2

Welbeck has scored more than his 1.52 expected goals suggest in the competition, but he is Chelsea’s clear focal point while Palmer and João Pedro are unavailable.

Rio Ngumoha has one EFL Cup appearance and no goal this season, and he has six Premier League appearances without a goal.

He made his Premier League debut on August 25, 2025 by scoring a late winner in a 3-2 victory over Newcastle.

On April 11, 2026 he scored the opener in a 2-0 win over Fulham, becoming the youngest player to score a Premier League goal for Liverpool at Anfield.

The Managers: Alonso and Iraola

Alonso, a former Liverpool midfielder and 2005 Champions League winner, was named Chelsea head coach on May 17, 2026 after being strongly linked with the Liverpool job.

Liverpool sacked Arne Slot on May 30 and appointed Iraola, so both head coaches are in their first season with their clubs.

Tactical Preview: How Both Teams Could Could Set Up

Chelsea’s last line-up used a back three, but the probable XI is a back four with Welbeck leading a front three.

Liverpool’s youthful line-up gives Ngumoha and Gakpo room to attack wide, and Chelsea have let in a goal in four of their last five games.

Darren England referees, and he averages 4.2 cards and 22.3 fouls per Premier League game, so a physical, stop-start night is possible.

Chelsea host Manchester United three days later and Liverpool face Arsenal on November 1, which is why rotation across both sides is likely.

The Blues’ route to a goal is Welbeck in the box, supported by Estêvão and Neto, because Palmer and João Pedro will not be there.

The Naija Slip: Liverpool vs Chelsea Tips

Liverpool vs Chelsea Score Prediction

🔮 Liverpool 2 – 1 Chelsea

Liverpool should edge a tie in which Chelsea are short of attacking options, although Welbeck gives the visitors a way back into it. Likely scorers: Gakpo and Welbeck.