According to a report by Football London on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Chelsea have suffered a major injury blow after manager Xabi Alonso confirmed that forward Joao Pedro will be unavailable for several weeks due to a thigh injury.

The Brazilian attacker is expected to miss a number of important fixtures, including Chelsea’s upcoming Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool and their Premier League meeting with Manchester United.

Pedro’s injury was first noticeable when he missed Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, raising concerns about his fitness ahead of Chelsea’s busy schedule.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Alonso confirmed that the 24-year-old would spend some time recovering, although the club were yet to establish an exact date for his return.

“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,” the Chelsea manager explained.

Alonso also admitted that Pedro’s absence would be a significant loss to his attacking plans, considering the forward’s importance to the team this season.

“He’s a key player. We’ll miss him. We have to be ready to deal with the injury, starting tomorrow with Liverpool,” he added.

Pedro has been one of Chelsea’s most effective attacking players this campaign, contributing five goals and three assists in seven appearances.

His impressive form has made him an important figure in Alonso’s setup, and losing him at this stage of the season leaves the manager with the challenge of finding a suitable replacement.

Chelsea struggled to produce their best attacking football against Tottenham, with Pedro’s absence adding to the difficulties experienced by the team.

For that encounter, Alonso made changes to his attacking selection, preferring Geovany Quenda ahead of Danny Welbeck. The experienced forward eventually entered the game during the closing stages as Chelsea attempted to recover from their deficit.

Explaining his selection decisions, Alonso maintained that he assesses the players’ performances and preparations before settling on his starting eleven.

The Spanish manager must now find a new attacking combination capable of delivering results without Pedro, particularly with two difficult fixtures approaching.

Liverpool will provide Chelsea’s immediate challenge in the Carabao Cup, before Manchester United visit in the Premier League.

Pedro’s absence could therefore represent a considerable test for Alonso, who will hope his other attacking options can step up while the Brazilian completes his recovery.