RismadarVoice Reporters
October 27, 2026
Chelsea have suffered a significant injury setback after head coach Xabi Alonso confirmed that Brazilian forward João Pedro will be sidelined for several weeks with a thigh injury.
The 25-year-old striker will miss Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fourth-round encounter against Liverpool at Anfield, leaving Chelsea without one of their key attacking players.
Alonso confirmed the development during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, explaining that medical examinations had established the nature of the injury.
Pedro sustained the problem during training last week and subsequently missed Chelsea’s Premier League meeting with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The Blues struggled in his absence, suffering a 2-0 defeat against their London rivals at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking about the striker’s condition, Alonso said Pedro would be unavailable for several weeks but declined to provide a specific return date.
“He has an injury to his thigh, and he is going to be out for a few weeks,” the Chelsea manager confirmed.
Alonso explained that the club would continue monitoring the Brazilian’s recovery rather than setting a premature timetable for his return.
The injury presents another challenge for Chelsea as they prepare for a demanding run of domestic fixtures.
Pedro has been an important attacking option for the Blues, contributing goals, movement and creativity in the final third.
Against Tottenham, Alonso deployed Morgan Rogers in a central attacking role, but the tactical adjustment failed to produce the desired result.
Chelsea will now have to explore alternative attacking combinations as they attempt to return to winning ways.
Despite the setback, Alonso expressed confidence in his squad’s ability to cope with the absence of important players.
The Spanish manager stressed that squad depth was essential during a demanding season, particularly when injuries disrupted established starting lineups.
There was, however, encouraging news for Chelsea ahead of the Liverpool encounter.
Alonso confirmed that Emmanuel Emegha, Danny Welbeck and Estêvão would be included in the travelling squad for the Carabao Cup fixture.
Their availability provides additional attacking options as Chelsea seek qualification for the quarter-finals.
Emegha’s return could be particularly important, offering Alonso another recognised centre-forward while Pedro remains unavailable.
Chelsea face Liverpool on Wednesday before continuing their Premier League campaign, with the coaching staff expected to assess Pedro’s recovery over the coming weeks.
For now, the Brazilian’s absence represents a setback to Chelsea’s attacking plans, although the club has not confirmed how many matches he will ultimately miss.
