Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Chelsea forward Joao Pedro will miss the club’s upcoming Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Liverpool due to a thigh injury sustained in training, OneFootball reported. The Blues manager also addressed speculation linking him to the Anfield dugout in 2024 and admitted he will celebrate respectfully should his side find the net on Wednesday night.

The injury occurred on the eve of Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. According to Chelseafc.com, Joao Pedro has made an impressive start to the campaign with five goals and three assists in seven matches, making his absence a significant blow for the visiting side.

Joao Pedro Faces Weeks on the Sidelines After Thigh Injury

Pedro underwent further tests following the training ground incident, confirming a recovery timeline that will sideline the 25-year-old for multiple weeks. Chelseafc.com reported that Alonso acknowledged the severity of the setback during his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Merseyside.

“He has an injury in his thigh and he’s going to be out for a few weeks,” Alonso stated in remarks published by Chelseafc.com. “Let’s see how many; we don’t want to predict that. But he will not be ready for the next games. He is a key player and we will miss him, but we have to be ready to deal with the injury, be competitive and try to win games.”

The Brazilian forward is confirmed to miss the fixture at Anfield as well as upcoming Premier League matches against Manchester United and Sunderland. He will remain unavailable at least until the next international break.

Attacking Replacements and Squad Options for Anfield

Pedro’s absence leaves Alonso with limited center-forward options, primarily 35-year-old Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha, who joined from Strasbourg in the summer and has yet to make his club debut. Welbeck featured as an 88th-minute substitute against Tottenham after returning to full fitness and is expected to lead the line.

Meanwhile, Emegha has returned to training at Cobham after recovering from a hamstring injury and is in contention to feature. “He is in the squad,” Alonso said of the 23-year-old Dutchman, as reported by Chelseafc.com. Estevao is also available for selection as Chelsea looks to bounce back from their derby loss.

Alonso Clarifies Past Liverpool Links and Celebration Stance

The upcoming fixture brings Alonso back to Anfield, where he previously played. The Spanish coach was heavily linked with taking over the Liverpool managerial vacancy in 2024 when Jürgen Klopp prepared to depart, before ultimately choosing to remain with Bayer Leverkusen.

“Well, in that moment I was in Leverkusen and I knew the situation, but I decided to stay. That was my decision in that moment,” Alonso explained regarding the historical links.

Ahead of the cup tie, Alonso stated he retains deep affection for his former club but remains fully committed to his current role, confirming he will celebrate respectfully if the Chelsea team scores.

Goalkeeper Penders Retains Full Backing After Tottenham Debut

In addition to his attacking dilemmas, Alonso addressed the situation surrounding 21-year-old goalkeeper Mike Penders. The Belgian made his Premier League debut against Tottenham on Saturday and inadvertently conceded an own goal in the 2-0 defeat.

Alonso confirmed that his confidence in the young shot-stopper remains unshaken ahead of the Carabao Cup tie. “It’s a challenge to deal with good performances and mistakes, but that is part of the job, being a professional footballer playing at the highest level,” Alonso told Chelseafc.com. “What happened on Saturday is in the past; it’s a lesson for him and everyone. We fully support him tomorrow.”

Chelsea travels to face Liverpool at Anfield in the Carabao Cup fourth round, followed by Premier League encounters against Manchester United and Sunderland prior to the international break.