Alonso’s Liverpool return hit by João Pedro injury layoff

Xabi Alonso will celebrate if Chelsea score at Liverpool tonight, but the manager’s attacking plan will have to change with João Pedro likely to be out until after the international break with a thigh injury.

João Pedro picked up the problem during training and faces an extended layoff after missing last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home by Tottenham. It is a major blow for Alonso, whose side struggled without the Brazil striker.

Chelsea will have to adjust when they visit Liverpool in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup and Alonso revealed that João Pedro would probably not be back until the end of November at the earliest.

“He has an injury on his thigh and he is going to be out for a few weeks,” Alonso said. “Let’s see how many. We don’t want to predict on that, but he’s not ready for the next games.”

Alonso clarified that João Pedro would “probably” be out until after next month’s international break, meaning he will not be available for Brazil after missing the last camp with a knee issue. For Chelsea, the question is how to play without the former Brighton forward. There was surprise at Alonso’s decision to play without a recognised striker and overlook Danny Welbeck against Spurs. Welbeck is pushing to start against Liverpool.

It will be an emotional evening for Alonso, who won the Champions League with Liverpool as a player in 2005. This will be his third game back at Anfield as an opposition manager – he lost with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024 and Real Madrid last season – and he will not hold back if Chelsea score.

“Of course I will celebrate,” the Spaniard said. “With full respect because my warmth with Liverpool was there as a player. But now, I am in a different role, I need to support my team, I need to support my club, I fight for my club and if we score, I will celebrate with whole respect.

Alonso, who travels to Anfield without the suspended Cole Palmer, was considered by Liverpool when Jürgen Klopp stepped down in 2024. “At that time I was at Leverkusen and I was aware of the situation, but I decided to stay,” he said. “That was my decision at the time.” Alonso said he never held talks with Liverpool, who instead appointed Arne Slot.

Liverpool sacked Slot last summer and replaced him with Andoni Iraola. Alonso, available after losing his job at Real Madrid last January, had already agreed to join Chelsea. He has made a promising start at Stamford Bridge, but doubts over his approach flared against Spurs, who had 68.5% possession.

Alonso was a passing midfielder who played for Pep Guardiola. He was asked whether he valued possession or saw the game in a different way. “You evolve, you adapt,” Alonso said. “You want to have possession. Knowing the context, knowing what we are building, I think that we have room for improvement in that part. I think we need to play more confidently with the ball.”

Maresca: ‘He’s a strong character’

Enzo Maresca has given his backing to Gianluigi Donnarumma after the goalkeeper’s costly errors in Manchester City’s recent defeats by Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.

Donnarumma was at fault for Nicolas Jackson’s game-winning strike at Villa Park on Saturday, the forward’s long-range shot squeezing under the Italian’s body and leading to City’s first league defeat of the season. Against PSG in the Champions League this month, Donnarumma was at fault for Désiré Doué’s and Maghnes Akliouche’s goals as City lost 4-2 against the holders.

“As a football player or manager, when you don’t get results or make some mistakes, it’s normal. It’s a consequence,” Maresca said. “Gigio since we started is doing well. Like any manager or player making some mistakes, it’s part of the season.

“They [footballers] play so many games and minutes that sometimes it’s impossible not to make mistakes. He’s a strong character. He knows that when he makes a mistake, he doesn’t need us to tell him – sometimes it’s so clear so they recognise this.”

Marc Guéhi has been in uneven form, too. The defender was culpable for Jackon’s opener on Saturday. He also conceded a late penalty in the previous weekend’s 3-2 win against Ipswich and made an early mistake that led directly to Lamine Yamal scoring for Spain against England in the Nations League last month.

“I am completely happy with Marc,” Maresca said. “The way he reacts is fantastic, he is a top guy. He is one of the captains, he is a leader and I love Marc. Same as Gigio, when they make some mistakes it is recognised.”

Donnarumma will be rested for Brighton’s visit in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. Maresca said: “After the Villa game we gave five players three days off to recover the energy: Erling [Haaland], Rúben [Dias], Elliot [Anderson], Gigio and Josko [Gvardiol]. They are all on holiday. Three days off, energy, go, come back with full energy then we go again.”

Geronimo Rulli will again deputise for Donnarumma against Brighton. JJ

‘You have to earn the right to belong,’ says Iraola

Andoni Iraola has claimed he is only at the start of the process of showing he belongs at Liverpool but feels a connection with the Anfield crowd is growing.

The Liverpool head coach was more animated than usual after Sunday’s defeat of in-form Brighton as his team recorded a fourth successive victory and first Premier League home win on his watch. “It was a performance that united the team and the crowd,” said Iraola, who was tasked with rebuilding that bond when he replaced Arne Slot in the summer.

Liverpool host Chelsea in the Carabao Cup last-16 on Wednesday and Iraola insists their recent improvement is only the start.

“I said it since the first day: you have to earn the right to belong and you only get it with good performances, with wins, and this will take time,” he said. “But I am glad because I felt the other day the supporters helped us a lot and they were enjoying it the same as we were. I think the players had a very likable performance in terms of they gave everything, we were blocking everything, we were tackling, we were fighting, we were winning duels, we were making the runs in behind and those things you want to see and everyone wants to see. I enjoyed it.

“I would say [it is just a] start. Still we need more wins, we need more performances so we need more time.”

Iraola is hopeful Florian Wirtz will be available to face Chelsea despite being forced out of the Brighton win with an ankle problem. Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Muñoz remain doubtful and Iraola said there would be changes with Arsenal visiting in the Premier League on Sunday.

“Against Chelsea, Arsenal, Crystal Palace definitely, we have some games where we have less time to rest than the opposition but you have to adapt. Sometimes it is to your benefit, sometimes it goes against you like this week. You have to be ready for this.” AH