Out of the Carabao Cup, and Fofana had a night to forget
Chelsea are out of the Carabao Cup after losing to Liverpool in the fourth round. The score at Anfield was not confirmed, but the tie went to a shootout and Wesley Fofana gave away a penalty and then missed his kick (1)(3).
The patience around Fofana is thinning. He was the story of a bad night (1).
Alonso has no answer for why Estêvão sits
Estêvão has played 172 of Chelsea's 990 minutes this season, and he stayed on the bench at Anfield (2)(3). That is the number fans keep repeating.
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Xabi Alonso did not dodge it. "I understand his situation, and of course he could have been happier. All players want to play. The right time will come for everything, and I am certain that his chance will come, as that is my responsibility" (5).
Chelsea's away end at Anfield sang his name, and he handed his shirt to them after the whistle (3)(4). PSG are watching the situation (3).
Three players picked up knocks at Anfield
Injuries on top of the cup exit. Maxence Lacroix, Moises Caicedo and Malo Gusto all came out of the Liverpool game with problems (3).
Alonso was blunt about two of them: "And after we had to deal with Moi [Caicedo], he had little problems. Malo [Gusto], as well, he had cramps" (3). That leaves the squad thinner right before Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 31 October, 13:30 CET.
Rüdiger back to Chelsea? It is being talked about
Chelsea are considering bringing Antonio Rüdiger back from Real Madrid, and Alonso backs the idea (11). Madrid are not planning to extend his deal, which runs out in summer 2027 (11).
One report frames him as a Thiago Silva-style leader who helps from the first minute (11). For a defence that just lost Lacroix, that pitch sells itself.
January work in the works
Chelsea have contacted three Championship clubs about a loan for Kendry Páez, who will not be staying with the U21 side for the first half of 2027 (9).
After Lacroix's injury, Chelsea are lining up a January move for a defender rated at £37.7m (6). Alex Scott is the midfield priority, with Adam Wharton also on the list as Palace worry his form is lowering his price (10)(14).
Bigger name: Chelsea are preparing a €70m offer for PSG's Fabian Ruiz (7). And Jacobo Ramon is off the table, with Real Madrid set to activate their buy-back from Como (13).
Out of reach or just talk: Trent Alexander-Arnold is linked if he becomes available at Real Madrid (12)(14).
Next: Manchester United at home
Chelsea sit 5th on 13 points after eight games, and the form line reads D L W W L. Last time out at the Bridge it was Chelsea 0–2 Tottenham Hotspur on 24 October.
Manchester United come to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 31 October, 13:30 CET. Sunderland away follows on 8 November.
Fan reactions
The mood on the Chelsea subreddit is dominated by the club's history rather than the cup exit. Fans are swapping details about Claude Makelele returning to Stamford Bridge on 27 March for the legends game against Spurs, and the thread has drawn plenty of nostalgic replies about the midfield he used to run. The thread is here.
