Chelsea Lunchtime Round-Up, Thursday 29th October 2026: Alonso Under Scrutiny After Carabao Cup Exit at Anfield

It's a tricky morning after for Chelsea following their Carabao Cup exit at Anfield, beaten by Liverpool on penalties, with plenty still being said about the game. Xabi Alonso's return to his old stomping ground didn't go to plan, and a comment he made afterwards has caused a stir among supporters, sparking some outrage according to Football.London (Football.London). Fans also had plenty to say about his team selection, with many unimpressed that Estevao wasn't used during the defeat (Football.London). Elsewhere, BBC Sport carried reaction from Chelsea fan Savage Dan, who admitted he isn't sure where Fofana's Chelsea career goes from here following the loss (BBC Sport).

Attention is already turning to Saturday's Premier League trip to face Manchester United, with Football.London reporting that Alonso could make up to three changes to his side. There's said to be a call to make over Cole Palmer, along with an injury concern to monitor, as the head coach looks to bounce back from the cup disappointment (Football.London).

This round-up is written with the help of AI, using only the day's headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.