Chelsea Injury Crisis: Two Stars Could Return for Liverpool Carabao Cup Clash

Chelsea handed double injury boost as Xabi Alonso prepares for Liverpool cup clash

Chelsea could welcome back Pep Chavarria and Emmanuel Emegha for their Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool, but Xabi Alonso remains without Joao Pedro, Emi Martinez, Reece James and suspended Cole Palmer. The Blues travel to Anfield short on numbers and options after a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham.

Competition: Carabao Cup
Venue: Anfield
Opponents: Liverpool
Key absences: Joao Pedro (doubt), Emi Martinez (fractured jaw), Reece James (knee surgery), Cole Palmer (suspension)
Possible returns: Pep Chavarria (partial training), Emmanuel Emegha (hamstring, feeling better)
Next fixture after cup: Manchester United (Premier League)

Injury and availability

Joao Pedro is the biggest concern. He picked up an issue in training at Cobham on Friday, and swelling has prevented a proper diagnosis. Alonso said: “We don't know yet because he has a lot of fluid. He felt it yesterday and we need to wait probably until tomorrow to do the test and to know the whole situation and the whole seriousness of the injury. We will know soon enough.” The Brazilian has already had knee trouble this season, missing the defeat at Brentford and seeing a specialist during the international break. There is no confirmed return date.

Emi Martinez remains out after suffering a fractured jaw in a heavy clash of heads during the 2-0 win at Everton. He required surgery and is still some way from returning. Alonso said: “Emi is doing better. He had the surgery and day by day he is feeling better, but we still need to wait. A few weeks. Hopefully, less than more, but we need to wait. The good thing is that he is feeling better and we need to listen to his feelings, the opinions of the doctors, the specialists, the surgeons. Considering it was a bad one, he is doing good.” Mike Penders is likely to continue in goal.

Reece James is a long-term absentee. He first missed the Brentford defeat with a hamstring problem, then suffered a knee issue after returning to training. He underwent minor surgery and is expected to be out for around three months, with mid-January the current target. Levi Colwill and Moises Caicedo have worn the armband in his absence.

Cole Palmer is suspended after his late red card against Tottenham. Two yellow cards means one suspension, and his creativity will be sorely missed at Anfield.

Pep Chavarria has missed the last two games after suffering an unspecified knock in training, but he has returned to partial team sessions. Alonso had said before the Tottenham match: “Pep is training a little bit more, but he is not going to make it [for the Tottenham game].” He could be involved against Liverpool or, at the latest, Manchester United.

Emmanuel Emegha has yet to make his competitive debut after a hamstring injury suffered in the summer. He was named on the bench for the Carabao Cup against Luton but has not featured since, and Alonso later confirmed a setback. His latest update was brief: “He’s feeling better, but we need to wait.” There is no firm timetable.

Jamie Gittens damaged his ankle while playing for England Under-21s against Kazakhstan and was seen on crutches afterwards. Alonso has consistently described the timeframe as “weeks”, pointing towards early November rather than an immediate comeback.

What was said

“We don't know yet because he has a lot of fluid. He felt it yesterday and we need to wait probably until tomorrow to do the test and to know the whole situation and the whole seriousness of the injury. We will know soon enough.”
— Xabi Alonso, on Joao Pedro’s injury

“Emi is doing better. He had the surgery and day by day he is feeling better, but we still need to wait. A few weeks. Hopefully, less than more, but we need to wait. The good thing is that he is feeling better and we need to listen to his feelings, the opinions of the doctors, the specialists, the surgeons. Considering it was a bad one, he is doing good.”
— Xabi Alonso, on Emi Martinez

“Pep is training a little bit more, but he is not going to make it [for the Tottenham game].”
— Xabi Alonso, on Pep Chavarria before the Tottenham match

“He’s feeling better, but we need to wait.”
— Xabi Alonso, on Emmanuel Emegha

Alonso’s words paint a picture of a squad stretched to its limits. The uncertainty around Joao Pedro is particularly troubling; “a lot of fluid” and a wait for tests means Chelsea cannot plan with him. The manager’s repeated “we need to wait” on Martinez and Emegha suggests no quick fixes, and the reliance on Penders in goal underlines the lack of depth.

Chelsea’s makeshift attack must find a way at Anfield

With Joao Pedro likely absent and Cole Palmer suspended, Chelsea’s attacking structure is severely compromised. Against Tottenham, Morgan Rogers led the line with Geovany Quenda brought into the front line. That pairing is likely to continue at Anfield, but neither is a natural centre-forward. Rogers offers physicality and movement, while Quenda provides unpredictability, yet the absence of Palmer’s final pass and tempo leaves a creative void.

The midfield unit behind them will need to compensate. Without James’s progression from right-back and Palmer’s ability to take responsibility in difficult moments, Chelsea may struggle to sustain possession. Alonso could ask his midfielders to be more direct, but that plays into Liverpool’s hands at Anfield. The key will be whether Chavarria can return to offer width and fresh legs on the left.

Defensively, the loss of Martinez in goal is mitigated by Penders’s performances, but the young keeper faces a stern test. James’s absence means the right side lacks control and quality in possession. Colwill and Caicedo have captained the side, but replacing James’s profile is harder than replacing his title. Chelsea must be organised and resilient, but with so many missing, the margin for error is razor-thin.

Talking points

Should Alonso abandon his possession-based approach and go more direct to protect a makeshift defence and attack at Anfield?
Is Mike Penders ready for a run of fixtures, or should Chelsea recall a more experienced goalkeeper?
Can Morgan Rogers and Geovany Quenda step up in the absence of Palmer and Joao Pedro, or is the attack too blunt?
With James out until mid-January, is the captaincy rotation of Colwill and Caicedo a sustainable solution?

What happens next

Chelsea travel to Anfield for the Carabao Cup tie before hosting Manchester United in the Premier League. Alonso will be desperate for positive news on Joao Pedro’s scan and Chavarria’s fitness. Defeat at Liverpool would not derail the season, but a poor performance could increase pressure on a squad already stretched to its limits. The United game is the bigger test of character.

Frequently asked questions

Will Joao Pedro play for Chelsea against Liverpool?

He is a major doubt after picking up an injury in training on Friday. Swelling has prevented a proper diagnosis, and Chelsea are waiting for test results, so his availability is uncertain.

Is Cole Palmer suspended for the Liverpool cup game?

Yes, Cole Palmer is suspended after receiving two yellow cards (a red) against Tottenham. He will not feature at Anfield.

Could Pep Chavarria and Emmanuel Emegha return against Liverpool?

Chavarria has returned to partial team training and could be involved, while Emegha is “feeling better” but still needs to be assessed. Both are possibilities, but neither is guaranteed to feature.