Chelsea Faces Injury Setbacks as Xabi Alonso Confirms Absences for Luton Clash

Xabi Alonso, Chelsea’s manager, has confirmed that both Moises Caicedo and summer signing Marco Palestra will be sidelined for the upcoming Carabao Cup match against Luton Town. These injuries come as a blow after Chelsea’s 3-2 Premier League win over Fulham.

Impact on Squad Rotation

Neither Caicedo nor Palestra played in the recent match at Craven Cottage and both remain unavailable for the Stamford Bridge fixture. This situation limits Alonso’s options when it comes to rotating his squad. Palestra, acquired from Atalanta this summer, faces an uncertain return date, while Caicedo is somewhat closer to coming back.

Alonso Comments on Injuries

"During the week they had a few setbacks," Alonso said in his pre-match press conference. "With Moi – and with any player – we don’t want to take too much risk. They weren’t ready to play tonight."

He added an update before the Luton game: "Not for tomorrow, both won’t make it. Let’s see, hopefully Moi could make it for the weekend, but we need to check a little bit more with Marco. Otherwise everyone from Monday is okay, Cole [Palmer] is absolutely fine."

Goalkeeper Situation and Opportunities

Chelsea's goalkeeper Robert Sanchez faced criticism after the Fulham game, fueling rumors that the club may pursue Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez before the transfer deadline. Backup goalkeeper Mike Penders might get a chance to start against Luton.

Alonso commented, "Penders is part of the squad, so he has an opportunity. We will decide and then I am giving the team tomorrow to the players, so I prefer to respect that they know first."

Enzo Fernandez to Feature Amid Transfer Links

Despite ongoing speculation linking Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City, Alonso confirmed the midfielder will play on Thursday. He praised Fernandez's professionalism and training efforts.

"Enzo, yes we expect him to be involved. He is training really well, he’s a good professional, and he will be involved."

Injury Monitoring and Squad Management

While Caicedo aims to be fit for the weekend’s league game, Chelsea continues to watch their longer-term absentees. Jordan Henderson and Emmanuel Emegha missed the opening day but are expected to resume training within two weeks.

A win over Luton would advance Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and help maintain momentum under Alonso. Still, the coach must carefully manage the squad to avoid worsening injuries during a demanding stretch of fixtures.

• Match: Chelsea vs Luton Town
• Competition: Carabao Cup
• Date: 27 August 2026, 20:30