Xabi Alonso provides Joao Pedro injury update before Chelsea’s Carabao Cup game at Liverpool

Xabi Alonso provides Joao Pedro injury update before Chelsea’s Carabao Cup game at Liverpool Xabi Alonso has confirmed Joao Pedro will be sidelined for ‘a few weeks’ due to a thigh injury. Pedro was not part of the matchday squad that lost 2-0 to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday after picking up a fitness issue in training. After initial assessments, Alonso confirmed the 25-year-old will be out for a few weeks. Pedro’s injury will come as a big blow for Chelsea, as he has been their first-choice striker this season. The forward has started six Premier League games, bagging five goals and three assists in the process. Pedro sustained a knee injury in September that ruled him out of their away game at Brentford. He was not available for Brazil duty during the international break. Pedro recovered to feature against Bournemouth and scored twice to help his side win 5-1. He played 90 minutes against Everton but was missing for the recent Spurs game. Who could start against Liverpool? Chelsea will look to bounce back with a win against Liverpool following their first home loss against Tottenham since April 2018. In the absence of Pedro, Alonso featured Morgan Rogers to lead the attack but he failed to make the desired impact. Rogers worked hard but did not receive quality service. He registered just one shot and lost possession of the ball on 15 occasions. The England international will likely play on the wings in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fixture against Liverpool. Alonso could opt to start Danny Welbeck as their striker. The 35-year-old led the line for the Blues against Leeds United and Luton Town in the previous two rounds of the competition. Chelsea are without Cole Palmer who will serve his suspension after his red card against Spurs at the weekend. Reece James and Emiliano Martinez will also be missing as they continue to recover from their respective injury issues.