Chelsea will miss Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro ahead of their fourth-round Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool at Anfield. Palmer has picked up a one-match suspension after receiving a red card in their 2-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday. Joao Pedro’s knee test results have yet to be announced. Regardless of the result, he will miss the trip to Anfield.
Xabi Alonso confirmed after the derby that there was fluid inside his knee, so the tests were due on Sunday, and no result has been announced yet. It is a worrying injury for Joao Pedro, who has been in fine form this season, scoring five goals and providing three assists in six Premier League games. He also missed the 3-0 defeat to Brentford in September due to a previous knee problem.
Palmer was shown a red card in the 80th minute after receiving his second caution of the game. Red card suspensions in the Premier League count across domestic competitions, so Palmer serves his ban at Anfield and will be back playing against Manchester United on Saturday.
Emi Martinez is still out with a broken jaw after he collided with Jarrad Branthwaite in the 2-0 win at Everton. Mike Penders will remain in goal despite scoring an unfortunate own goal against Spurs. Reece James is unlikely to return until around mid-January after having minor knee surgery. Jamie Gittens (ankle) and Emmanuel Emegha (hamstring) are also out, while Pep Chavarria is back training in part, so could be in contention.
Danny Welbeck would be the obvious choice to lead the line, with Estevao and Geovany Quenda both in contention to replace Palmer. Morgan Rogers could also play in a central striker role after he was used in this position against Spurs.
Xabi Alonso: “Considering It Was a Bad One, He Is Doing Good”
Emi Martinez was treated for a long time on the pitch after colliding with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. Alonso gave some positive news ahead of the game against Spurs, with Martinez sitting behind the bench at Stamford Bridge:
“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.”
Martinez, who joined the club in the summer, is likely to be back playing around mid-November. Penders will be under pressure to make amends after a tough start to his Premier League career.
Chelsea will hope their injury list shortens ahead of a busy schedule. After their game against Manchester United, they will travel to Sunderland. The Blues are currently sat in fifth place in the Premier League with 13 points from 8 games.