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Xabi Alonso Will Celebrate Chelsea Goals Against Liverpool Despite Joao Pedro's Injury

Xabi Alonso has declared he will celebrate if Chelsea score against his old team, Liverpool, during their upcoming Carabao Cup clash at Anfield. Despite his deep respect for Liverpool, where he spent five years and won the FA Cup and 2005 Champions League, Alonso said his loyalty now lies with Chelsea, and he plans to show it fully.

"Of course, I will celebrate, for sure," Alonso stated. "With full respect because my warmth with Liverpool was there as a player. But now, I am in a different role. I need to support my team. I fight for my club and if we score, I will celebrate with whole respect."

Chelsea Face Injury Setback With Joao Pedro Out

The Blues will be without Brazilian striker Joao Pedro for this match and upcoming Premier League games against Manchester United and Sunderland. Pedro suffers from a thigh injury sustained during training before Chelsea’s recent 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur. His absence is expected to last until at least the next international break.

This leaves Alonso with just two recognized forwards: 35-year-old Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha, who has yet to make his debut since transferring from Strasbourg. Welbeck is likely to start, having only played briefly as a late substitute against Spurs despite being fit. In that game, Alonso had tried Geovany Quenda and Morgan Rogers as a false nine, but Chelsea struggled offensively.

Alonso Reflects on Liverpool Links and Supports Florian Wirtz

Alonso mentioned he could have managed Liverpool if circumstances had been different. Back in 2024, he was linked with the Liverpool job following Jurgen Klopp’s departure but chose to remain at Bayer Leverkusen.

"I was aware of the situation but I decided to stay. That was my decision at the time," Alonso explained.

He also praised Liverpool’s £116 million signing, Florian Wirtz, whom he coached at Leverkusen.

"One of the main reasons for me being here is the time I spent with him. He was a special player and helped me a lot. Now that he is at Liverpool, I’m following him. The next step is always an interesting one, and he’s getting there."

Upcoming Matches and Challenges for Chelsea

After the Carabao Cup tie at Anfield, Chelsea face crucial Premier League fixtures against Manchester United and Sunderland before the international break. Alonso must find ways to secure goals without Joao Pedro in these matches, relying heavily on Welbeck to lead the attack.

About the Author

The writer began as a football journalist after joining the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate. Transitioning from other reporting areas, the author joined Kooora and later GOAL in early 2020. Football memories include Zidane’s 1998 World Cup triumph and Egypt’s intense league rivalries. While not supporting a specific European club, the author admired Milan’s legends and Barcelona’s golden era, and closely followed Mohamed Salah’s career rise. A standout moment was Mohamed Aboutrika’s goal securing Al Ahly’s 2006 CAF Champions League win.

Author’s Ideal Lineup

  • Goalkeeper: Buffon
  • Defenders: Cafu, Van Dijk, Maldini, Roberto Carlos
  • Midfielders: Pirlo, Zidane, Iniesta, Kaka
  • Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi

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