According to a report by Metro on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Chelsea have suffered a major injury setback after Joao Pedro was ruled out for several weeks with a thigh injury, leaving manager Xabi Alonso without one of his key attacking players ahead of two challenging fixtures.

The Brazilian striker was a surprise absentee during Chelsea’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday. His absence affected the team’s attacking options as they struggled to find a way back into the match against their London rivals.

Alonso has now confirmed that Pedro will miss Chelsea’s Carabao Cup fourth-round clash against Liverpool on Wednesday night and Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. However, the club is still awaiting a clearer assessment of how long the forward will remain unavailable.

Speaking during his press conference on Tuesday, the Chelsea manager said: “He has an injury of his thigh and is going to be out for a few weeks. Let’s see how many. He’s not ready for the next games. He’s a key player. We’ll miss him. We have to be ready to deal with the injury, starting tomorrow with Liverpool.”

Pedro has enjoyed an impressive start to the season, registering five goals and three assists in seven appearances. His absence will be a concern for Alonso as Chelsea prepare for two important matches within four days.

The 24-year-old has led the attack ahead of Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, but the manager must now identify an alternative capable of providing the goals and movement the team needs while the Brazilian recovers.

Chelsea will travel to Anfield on Wednesday, aiming to secure a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals before shifting their attention to Manchester United at the weekend.

However, with Pedro unavailable for both encounters, Alonso will need other members of his squad to step up and help Chelsea return to winning ways following their defeat to Tottenham.