Chelsea have been dealt a significant injury setback after Joao Pedro was ruled out for several weeks with a thigh problem ahead of their upcoming matches against Liverpool and Manchester United.

According to a report by Football London on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, the Brazilian forward is facing a spell on the sidelines after missing Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday.

The injury comes at a difficult time for head coach Xabi Alonso, whose side are preparing for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fourth-round meeting with Liverpool before welcoming Manchester United in the Premier League.

Alonso confirmed Pedro’s absence during his pre-match press conference, although he was unable to provide an exact return date for the forward.

“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,” Alonso said.

The Chelsea manager also acknowledged the importance of the Brazilian to his attacking plans, with the club now required to find an alternative during his recovery.

“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 been one of Chelsea’s most productive attackers this season, registering five goals and three assists in seven appearances. His absence leaves Alonso with an important decision to make regarding his preferred attacking combination.

The 24-year-old’s unavailability was felt against Tottenham, when Chelsea struggled to find their rhythm and suffered a disappointing home defeat to their London rivals.

Alonso adjusted his attacking options for that encounter, selecting Geovany Quenda ahead of Danny Welbeck. Welbeck eventually came on during the closing stages, when Chelsea were already struggling to recover from the deficit.

Explaining his selection decisions, Alonso said he evaluates the available players and preparations before deciding on his starting line-up for each match.

Chelsea must now navigate two important fixtures without Pedro, with Liverpool providing their immediate test before the Premier League encounter against Manchester United.