João Pedro will be sidelined for some time due to a thigh injury.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso announced in a press conference that Brazilian striker João Pedro suffered a thigh injury during training and will be unavailable for the next few matches.

The fourth round of the 2026/27 English League Cup will feature another match, with Chelsea traveling to Anfield to challenge Liverpool.

Speaking about the team's current squad, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said, "João Pedro has suffered a thigh injury and will be out for several weeks. As for how long, we will continue to observe and do not want to make any predictions at this time. But he will definitely not be able to play in the next few games."

“He is an important player for the team, and we will miss him. However, we must be prepared for injuries and remain competitive, and rely on the existing players to win games. Starting with tomorrow's cup match against Liverpool, we will go all out. We are ready to fight and hope to prove that we can perform well.”

Regarding the choice of forwards, Xabi Alonso said, "Welbeck is very good at finding space between the opponent's two center-backs. He can act as an attacking pivot and build rapport with his teammates. He can also play to his strengths when his teammates actively move closer and provide him with support."

“When he gets near the penalty area, he becomes a very dangerous presence because he is good at observing the situation and finds suitable attacking positions with his excellent awareness. We need to advance the ball to positions where he can make the most of his abilities, which is Welbeck’s greatest strength.”

In addition, in the earlier London derby in the Premier League, Chelsea lost 0-2 to Tottenham Hotspur after an own goal by goalkeeper Mike Penders and a red card for Palmer.

Xabi Alonso said, "Performing well and dealing with mistakes in a match is a challenge in itself. It's part of the job, especially for a professional player participating in high-level competitions."

“What happened before is in the past, and it’s a lesson for Mike Penders and everyone else. We will fully support him tomorrow.”

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