According to a report by the London Evening Standard on Friday, October 23, 2026, Chelsea are expected to give Mike Penders his first Premier League start against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday after Emi Martinez suffered an injury.

The Blues will host their London rivals at Stamford Bridge, hoping to continue their impressive run of results under manager Xabi Alonso. Chelsea have won their last two league matches convincingly and will be determined to maintain their momentum against Tottenham.

Penders is expected to start in goal after making his Premier League debut during Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Everton last weekend. The 21-year-old made history by becoming the club’s youngest-ever Premier League goalkeeper when he replaced the injured Martinez during the encounter.

Martinez is currently recovering from jaw surgery following the serious head injury he sustained against Everton. His absence has created an opportunity for Penders to demonstrate his abilities and strengthen his chances of becoming an important part of Chelsea’s long-term plans.

Alonso is also expected to retain the midfield partnership of Jordan Henderson and Moises Caicedo. Their performances have contributed significantly to Chelsea’s recent success, with the team scoring seven goals and conceding just once across their previous two Premier League victories.

Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers are likely to feature in the attacking positions as Chelsea prepare for another demanding London derby. Pedro Neto could continue operating at right wing-back after scoring both goals in the victory 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 allowing Acheampong another opportunity to impress the manager.

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

Chelsea captain Reece James remains unavailable as he continues recovering from knee surgery, with his return not anticipated until January. Jamie Gittens is also sidelined after suffering an ankle injury while representing England’s Under-21 side during the international break.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Emegha will miss the Tottenham encounter as he continues his recovery from a training setback, leaving uncertainty surrounding the timing of his competitive debut for Chelsea.

Chelsea will hope their expected starting eleven can deliver another convincing performance and secure a positive result against Tottenham.

The predicted Chelsea lineup is Penders in goal; Acheampong, Lacroix and Colwill in defence; Palestra, Caicedo, Henderson and Gusto in midfield; Rogers and Palmer supporting Joao Pedro in a 3-4-2-1 formation.