According to a report by London Evening Standard on Saturday, October 24, 2026, Chelsea are expected to give Mike Penders his first Premier League start against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday as Emi Martinez continues his recovery from an injury.

Chelsea will host their London rivals at Stamford Bridge, aiming to extend their winning streak under manager Xabi Alonso.

Penders made history last weekend by becoming Chelsea’s youngest-ever Premier League goalkeeper when he replaced the injured Martinez during the Blues’ 2-0 victory over Everton. The 21-year-old is now expected to remain in goal while the Argentine undergoes rehabilitation following jaw surgery.

Chelsea are reportedly confident in Penders’ ability to serve as a dependable backup, with the young goalkeeper also viewed as a potential first-choice option in the future. His opportunity has come after Martinez suffered a serious head injury during the Everton match.

Alonso is expected to retain the midfield partnership of Jordan Henderson and Moises Caicedo, who have helped Chelsea record consecutive Premier League victories with an aggregate score of 7-1.

Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers are also tipped to feature in the attacking positions. Pedro Neto could continue at right wing-back after scoring both goals in the win over Everton.

In defence, Josh Acheampong is expected to keep his place alongside Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill. Wesley Fofana has started Chelsea’s last two matches on the bench, potentially giving Acheampong another chance to establish himself in the starting lineup.

Malo Gusto has recovered from illness and is available for selection. However, Pep Chavarria is expected to miss Saturday’s encounter after picking up a minor injury during training.

Chelsea will also be without captain Reece James, who remains sidelined following knee surgery and is not expected to return until January. Jamie Gittens is unavailable as well after sustaining an ankle injury while on international duty with England’s Under-21 side.

Emmanuel Emegha is another absentee as he continues recovering from a setback in training, leaving his competitive debut for Chelsea uncertain.

The Blues will be hoping their expected lineup can deliver another convincing performance against Tottenham and maintain their recent run of positive results.

Chelsea Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1): Penders; Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill; Palestra, Caicedo, Henderson, Gusto; Rogers, Palmer; Joao Pedro.