According to a report by the London Evening Standard on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Chelsea will be without Brazilian forward Joao Pedro for their Carabao Cup encounter against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday after suffering a thigh injury that is expected to sideline him for several weeks.

Pedro’s injury represents a significant setback for Chelsea as they prepare for a challenging run of fixtures in domestic competitions. The striker is also expected to miss this weekend’s Premier League meeting with Tottenham, forcing manager Xabi Alonso to consider alternative attacking options as he attempts to maintain the team’s performance.

Alonso previously experimented with Morgan Rogers in a more advanced role against Tottenham, but the tactical adjustment failed to deliver the desired outcome. Rogers is now expected to return to his preferred attacking midfield position, while Danny Welbeck and Estevao remain available for selection and could be included in the starting lineup against Liverpool.

Mike Penders is expected to continue as Chelsea’s goalkeeper despite making an expensive error in the previous match against Tottenham. Alonso remains supportive of the young shot-stopper, while Emi Martinez is still unavailable because of an injury.

In midfield, Moises Caicedo is likely to retain his place, with Romeo Lavia expected to replace Jordan Henderson. Henderson has completed the full 90 minutes in Chelsea’s last three matches, making rotation a possible option as Alonso attempts to manage fatigue and keep his squad fresh.

Chelsea also face selection concerns in the wing-back positions because of Pep Chavarria’s fitness situation. If Chavarria fails to recover in time, Malo Gusto and Marco Palestra could be called upon to fill the positions. Wesley Fofana is another player expected to return to the starting lineup after being rested during the previous encounter.

Emmanuel Emegha has been included in the squad but is unlikely to start against Liverpool, potentially delaying his first appearance for Chelsea once again. Reece James remains unavailable following knee surgery, while Jamie Gittens is reportedly approaching a return to action.

Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester United on Saturday could also influence Alonso’s decisions. However, the manager is still expected to select an attacking team for the Anfield encounter despite the limited recovery period between matches.

Chelsea’s predicted 3-4-2-1 formation features Penders in goal, with Acheampong, Colwill and Fofana in defence. Gusto, Lavia, Caicedo and Palestra could occupy midfield, while Rogers and Estevao operate behind Welbeck up front.

Pedro, James and Martinez remain injured, while Gittens is also unavailable. Chavarria is doubtful, and Cole Palmer will miss the encounter through suspension.