Chelsea exit Carabao Cup as Estevao remains unused

Chelsea were eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Liverpool on penalties at Anfield, while Brazilian forward Estevao remained an unused substitute in the fourth-round tie. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said his side’s fitness problems forced him to make changes in midfield and defence, but did not explain why Estevao specifically was not brought on. Chelsea had attacking absences: Joao Pedro was sidelined with a thigh injury and Cole Palmer was suspended after being sent off against Tottenham. Alonso said Pedro would be out for a few weeks, without giving a precise return date. Pedro had also missed Chelsea’s previous match, a 2-0 defeat at home to Tottenham. Alonso started Morgan Rogers, Danny Welbeck and Pedro Neto in attack against Liverpool. Emmanuel Emegha replaced Welbeck, making his Chelsea debut off the bench, and was the only attacking change. Chelsea made four of the five substitutions available. Estevao and Geovany Quenda did not play. Explaining the substitutions after the match, Alonso said Maxence Lacroix, Moises Caicedo and Malo Gusto all needed to be replaced. Lacroix limped off with a hamstring problem, Caicedo had what Alonso described as minor problems, and...