Chelsea striker Joao Pedro will be out for a few weeks with a thigh injury, head coach Xabi Alonso confirmed on Tuesday, ruling the club’s leading scorer out of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup trip to Liverpool.

Pedro picked up the injury in training last Friday and missed Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by Tottenham. The Brazilian is Chelsea’s leading scorer this season with five Premier League goals, and Alonso would not put a date on his return.

“Yes, he has an injury on his thigh and he is going to be out for a few weeks. Let’s see how many, we don’t want to predict on that,” Alonso said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. “He is a key player and we will miss him, but we have to be ready to deal with the injury, be competitive and try to win games with the players we have available, starting tomorrow against Liverpool, a cup game.”

“This is the situation and we are ready to fight for it and prove we can show a good level,” Alonso added.

Asked whether Chelsea could cope without their striker, Alonso said: “Yeah, for sure. This is why you build a squad. For sure, some players are important, but this can happen.”

Chelsea will also be without Cole Palmer at Anfield after the midfielder was sent off — two yellow cards — in the closing stages of the Tottenham defeat, earning a one-match ban. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is recovering from a broken jaw. Alonso said Palmer knows the mistake he made. “We spoke. He knows the mistake he made. It’s things he can avoid. Let’s hope it’s not going to be repeated. He’s mature. It was a mistake.”

Pedro’s absence could open the door for Emmanuel Emegha, who is still waiting for his Chelsea debut after arriving in the summer. Alonso said the young striker has been training well for the last 10 days and could feature at Anfield. “For sure, it’s important we have him available. He’s been training for the last 10 days in a good way to allow him to build up his fitness. Maybe tomorrow he has the chance to play.”

Chelsea travel to Anfield on Wednesday for the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie. Eleven other Premier League sides are still in the competition, including Arsenal, who visit League Two side Fleetwood Town — the lowest-ranked team left in the draw.