Liverpool Drew Chelsea — Xabi Alonso Is Going Back to Anfield
GOATIFYLiverpool against Chelsea is the headline tie of the Carabao Cup fourth round, and the draw has added a personal subplot that will be difficult to ignore: Xabi Alonso is going back to Anfield as Chelsea head coach.
The two Premier League clubs were paired in Wednesday night’s draw after Liverpool beat Tottenham 3-1 and Chelsea came through a nine-goal tie with Leeds. Arsenal, meanwhile, were handed a very different assignment: a trip to League Two Fleetwood Town, who have reached this stage for the first time after eliminating Sheffield United.
Liverpool vs Chelsea puts Xabi Alonso back at Anfield
There were plenty of Premier League teams in the draw, but Liverpool-Chelsea immediately stands out. Liverpool will have home advantage, while Alonso returns to the stadium where he spent five seasons as a player and became part of one of the club’s most celebrated modern teams.
Alonso made more than 200 appearances for Liverpool between 2004 and 2009 and won the Champions League in his first season. That history gives the fourth-round tie an obvious narrative, but the footballing context matters just as much. Chelsea reached this stage by beating Leeds 6-3, while Liverpool advanced with a heavily rotated side against Tottenham. Andoni Iraola changed 10 players for that 3-1 win, yet Liverpool still found goals through Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai.
That gives both coaches an interesting selection problem. The Carabao Cup has already been a place to rotate, test younger players and spread minutes across deep squads. A Liverpool-Chelsea meeting is also difficult to treat like an ordinary rotation night. One of two major Premier League clubs will be out before the quarter-finals, so the balance between protecting starters and fielding enough quality to survive becomes much sharper.
Fleetwood’s reward is a home night against Arsenal
If Liverpool-Chelsea is the glamour tie, Fleetwood-Arsenal is the classic cup contrast. Fleetwood are the lowest-ranked club left in the competition and reached the fourth round for the first time by beating Sheffield United 1-0. Their reward is a home game against the reigning Premier League champions.
Arsenal arrive with their own reason to take the competition seriously. Their third-round win at Ipswich became another showcase for 16-year-old Max Dowman, who scored twice in a 4-2 victory. Mikel Arteta made nine changes for that match and still had enough quality to control most of the contest, with Noni Madueke and Mikel Merino also scoring.
Fleetwood’s task is therefore not simply to hope Arsenal rest their strongest XI. Arsenal’s second unit contains established internationals and young players already capable of deciding senior matches. But a home cup tie changes the environment. Fleetwood have already removed higher-ranked opposition, and the fourth round gives them a chance to turn the biggest mismatch on paper into the biggest occasion in their run.
The scheduling helps build anticipation: fourth-round ties are due to be played in the week beginning October 26. That leaves both clubs time to move through league and European fixtures before the cup returns, and it means team form and availability could look very different by kick-off.
Everton-Newcastle leads a crowded Premier League middle
The draw did not stop producing all-Premier League ties after Liverpool and Chelsea. Everton will host Newcastle, Sunderland face Brentford, Fulham meet Crystal Palace and Bournemouth take on Aston Villa. Brighton, fresh from coming back from 2-0 down to eliminate Manchester United, will travel to the winner of Manchester City against Norwich.
Everton-Newcastle has particular cup weight. Newcastle booked their fourth-round place with a 1-0 win at Millwall. Everton advanced by the same scoreline against Wolves. With both clubs avoiding one of the biggest title contenders in this round, each has a route opening if it can win a difficult head-to-head tie.
Bournemouth-Aston Villa also guarantees another Premier League club disappears, while Sunderland-Brentford and Fulham-Crystal Palace do the same. By the time the quarter-final field is set, the number of top-flight teams will have been cut substantially by direct elimination rather than only by upsets.
Bradford-Peterborough guarantees a lower-league quarter-finalist
The most important draw for the EFL may be Bradford City against Peterborough United. Because the two League One clubs have been paired together, at least one lower-league team is guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals.
Peterborough had to survive a remarkable third-round tie with Barnsley. After a 3-3 draw, they won the shootout 7-6. Bradford’s run has already included eliminating Burnley on penalties before beating Leyton Orient in the next round. Neither club needs another giant-killing result to reach the last eight; one simply has to beat a divisional rival.
That is exactly why cup draws can reshape a competition before another ball is kicked. Liverpool-Chelsea removes a heavyweight. Fleetwood get the biggest home date of their season against Arsenal. Several Premier League clubs eliminate one another, while Bradford or Peterborough are guaranteed to carry the EFL flag into the quarter-finals.
For Liverpool and Chelsea, the attention will naturally settle on Alonso’s return to Anfield. For Arsenal, the challenge is avoiding the upset that would define the round. And for the clubs outside the biggest spotlight, the draw has created something just as valuable: a realistic route to December and a place among the final eight.
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