Xabi Alonso has three options for replacing key player against Liverpool – none look great

Chelsea are missing Joao Pedro for a few weeks at least, and there are competing theories about how they will try to survive that period.

The big team news for tonight’s game against Liverpool is already clear, even hours before Xabi Alonso hands in his team sheet. Chelsea are missing their goalkeeper, their captain, and their main striker.

That’s a lot for any team to overcome. On the subject of the latter, Simon Johnson of the Athletic did a piece about Joao Pedro’s absence and how the team could try to cope.

Alonso has three equally dodgy options available

The obvious solution is to just keep the formation we’ve used all season, replacing JP with Danny Welbeck, as was the case in our previous rounds of the EFL Cup.

But Alonso didn’t bring Welbeck on until the 88th minute of Saturday’s game against Tottenham. He clearly doesn’t think it’s a good solution against top teams.

Then again, his primary idea (moving Morgan Rogers up top) didn’t work either.

The third option, fitness allowing, is Emmanuel Emegha leading the line after he finally recovered from an injury that’s kept him out all season. In theory, his pace allows him to be a better option than Welbeck – let’s see if it works out.

In other news…

We’re excited for tonight’s game, and curious whether we will see Emmanuel Emegha for the first time.

Alonso confirmed the JP injury was going to rule him out for a number of weeks – although he was as vague as ever.

Saturday’s defeat was about more than just three dropped points. It was a very worrying step backwards for the team.