Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed goalkeeper Mike Penders will start against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday. The Blues travel to Anfield with a depleted squad, missing several key players through suspension and injury. The team currently sits fifth in the Premier League with 13 points from eight games, a record of four wins, one draw and three losses.

Cole Palmer is suspended after his red card against Tottenham, while captain Reece James remains out with a knee injury. First-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is also sidelined with a fractured jaw. Liverpool forward Florian Wirtz is a doubt after twisting his ankle in his side's 2-0 win over Brighton, with manager Andoni Iraola describing the issue as "a small twist of the ankle" that "doesn't look very big".

Goalkeeper decision

Alonso's decision to stick with the 21-year-old Belgian comes after a mixed performance in his first Premier League start last week. Penders made two first-half saves against Tottenham but scored an own goal in the second half, contributing to a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge. The manager expressed full confidence in his young keeper ahead of the trip to Merseyside.

"We win and we lose together," Alonso said.

Squad and form context

Chelsea's form has been inconsistent, with two wins, two losses and a draw in their last five matches across all competitions. Their recent league form shows two wins, one draw and two losses from the last five, a sequence that includes a 2-0 win at Everton on Saturday 17 October where Pedro Neto scored both goals, a 5-1 victory over Bournemouth, a 3-0 defeat at Brentford and a 2-2 draw with Hull City. They sit fifth in the Premier League standings with 13 points from eight games, eight points behind leaders Manchester City. The team has scored 17 goals and conceded 15 this season. Top scorer João Pedro, who has five goals in six appearances this season, is rated as a doubt for the match but could feature after a late fitness test.

Liverpool arrive in strong form, having won four consecutive matches in all competitions. They are fourth in the league on 15 points. Alonso is expected to set his team up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with young Brazilian winger Estevão in line for a start. The manager confirmed that midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka is available after a minor knock, but defender Benoît Badiashile is not yet ready to return.