Chelsea have scarcely had time to clear the sting of Tottenham’s visit before another demanding night arrives. The defeat was their first home loss to Spurs since 2018 and brought a halt to Xabi Alonso’s early-season momentum at Stamford Bridge; now Liverpool, managed by Andoni Iraola, await in the Carabao Cup last 16.
In the dressing room
The more immediate concern is João Pedro. Chelsea’s leading attacking figure will be out for several weeks with the injury that ruled him out at short notice against Tottenham.
Alonso said Chelsea would miss the Brazilian, but insisted the squad must deal with the setback rather than dwell on it.
“We will miss him, but we have to be ready to overcome it, win matches and compete with the players available,” the manager said. “That is the situation. We have to find solutions, not excuses.”
The Tottenham match offered a sharp illustration of the problem. Chelsea managed only seven attempts and failed to score, just the second time they have drawn a blank this season. The other was the trip to Brentford before the international break — another game in which João Pedro was unavailable.
A striker-shaped gap
Having been left out of Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for the World Cup, João Pedro has nevertheless become Chelsea’s principal source of goals. He finished last season as the club’s top scorer with 20, and has begun this campaign with five goals from eight appearances.
His absence leaves Alonso with decisions to make before Liverpool come to west London. Danny Welbeck, signed in the summer to provide competition for João Pedro, did not enter the Tottenham contest until the closing stages, a call that drew criticism after Chelsea’s attack laboured.
Emmanuel Emegha is the other recognised centre-forward available to the manager, although he has yet to make his Chelsea debut.
Liverpool next as Chelsea seek a response
The cup tie gives Chelsea an immediate chance to put the Tottenham defeat behind them, though it arrives with their leading scorer watching from the treatment room. Alonso’s task is straightforward enough on paper and rather less so on the pitch: find goals without João Pedro, restore some bite after a flat afternoon against Spurs, and keep the season moving before one defeat becomes a troublesome week.
