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Xabi Alonso has insisted he will celebrate if Chelsea score against his former club Liverpool in the Carabao Cup at Anfield. The Blues must do it without star Brazilian striker Joao Pedro, who faces weeks on the sidelines with a thigh problem picked up in training on the eve of Saturday's dismal 2-0 derby defeat by Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.

Alonso promises to celebrate against Liverpool

Alonso still holds fond feelings for Liverpool, where he spent five years as a player, won the FA Cup and lifted the 2005 Champions League after scoring the equaliser against AC Milan in Istanbul. However, speaking ahead of the Carabao Cup tie, the Chelsea boss made it clear he will not copy the muted celebrations some players offer against their former clubs.

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

Joao Pedro injury leaves Chelsea short up front

Pedro is set to miss the trip to Anfield and Premier League clashes with Manchester United and Sunderland, ruling the 25-year-old out until the next international break at least. That leaves Alonso with two recognised strikers: Danny Welbeck, 35, and Emmanuel Emegha, yet to appear since his summer move from Strasbourg.

Welbeck is expected to start, having only come on in the 88th minute against Spurs despite being fully fit. Alonso instead brought in Geovany Quenda and used Morgan Rogers as a false nine, but Chelsea struggled to threaten Tottenham and often resorted to hoof-and-hope tactics.

Alonso explains Liverpool decision and backs Wirtz

Alonso could have been in the home dugout at Anfield had his managerial career taken a different path, having first been linked with Liverpool in 2024 when Jurgen Klopp was leaving. Asked about that, he said: "Well at that time, I was at (Bayer) Leverkusen and I was aware of the situation but I decided to stay. That was my decision at the time."

Alonso managed Florian Wirtz at Leverkusen and, responding to criticism of Liverpool's £116 million signing, he said: "One of the main reasons for me being here is the time that I spent with him in Leverkusen. He was a special player. He helped me so much. I learned so much from him and now that he's in Liverpool, I'm following him and we know that the next step is always an interesting one and he's getting there."

What next for Alonso and Chelsea?

Chelsea head to Anfield aiming to bounce back from their derby defeat, with Welbeck likely to lead the line against Alonso's old club.

The Blues then face Manchester United and Sunderland in the Premier League before the international break, and Alonso will have to find goals without Pedro in all three games.

Roberto De Zerbi has urged his Tottenham players to believe they can rewrite the club's history following their monumental 2-0 Premier League victory against Chelsea. De Zerbi praised the squad's fighting spirit and tactical execution after they secured a rare win at Stamford Bridge, capitalising on a chaotic second half that saw Cole Palmer sent off.

Changing history at Stamford Bridge

Tottenham secured only their second league win away to Chelsea since 1990 on Saturday, emerging victorious in a stormy, rain-soaked London derby. Mike Penders scored a calamitous own goal before Palmer received a red card for the hosts, allowing Mathys Tel to seal the 2-0 result late on.

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, De Zerbi expressed his immense pride. "I think we deserved to win. The players worked very well, prepared very well the game. This morning, yesterday, all days in the last week and the qualities of the players are very clear," De Zerbi said. "I'm happy for the spirit of the players. I think we have to change the last part of the history of our club. I would like to follow in this way."

Winning the midfield battle

The match was heavily defined by a fierce physical contest in the middle of the pitch. De Zerbi highlighted how his tactical preparation and physical approach proved crucial in overpowering a well-drilled Chelsea side.

"Football is the quality of the play, the quality of the players, for sure, but it is a competition. It is a fight. You have to run, you have to fight, you have to arrive first to the second ball," De Zerbi added. "You have to win the duels and we did. We knew Chelsea play very well, they have clear organisation, clear structure on the pitch. We prepared our players with two midfielders and James Maddison with freedom, where he smells the right position."

Maddison injury and belief in the project

Spurs suffered a setback when Maddison was forced off early in the second half, though Conor Gallagher performed admirably against his former club. De Zerbi praised both midfielders and downplayed the injury, stating: "He played very well while he was on the pitch then Gallagher played with different characteristics. Different style but he played very well. I think it is not a big problem. We have to see."

De Zerbi also praised Tel, whose superb solo run capped off the victory: "Mathys needs to play to understand football, become calmer but he is a big talent." He was equally thrilled to reward the travelling support, noting: "I think it is important for the players to belief more in themselves because their qualities are very high. We are happy for the fans, first of all, because we know what it means to beat Chelsea and for the club as well. In the last years they suffered, like the fans, they believe in this project, in this group and I'm happy for them."

What next for Tottenham?

After claiming back-to-back Premier League victories, Tottenham have climbed to 12th in the table and significantly boosted their confidence.

De Zerbi will hope his squad can carry this fighting spirit into their upcoming domestic fixtures, while awaiting further medical assessments on Maddison's condition ahead of the weekend.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison is a major doubt for Saturday's crucial Premier League trip to Chelsea following his sensational goalscoring return against Coventry City. Manager Roberto De Zerbi has admitted he is reluctant to take risks with the 29-year-old amid a crowded injury list.

Maddison doubtful for Chelsea trip

Maddison missed crucial training sessions this week following his recent return to competitive action. The 29-year-old player marked his first start in 536 days by opening the scoring in Monday's encouraging 3-1 home victory over Coventry City. This impressive result finally secured Tottenham their first league win of the season.

However, the English playmaker was absent from team training in the three days following the match. De Zerbi must now decide whether to risk his star midfielder at Stamford Bridge.

De Zerbi wary of injury risks

De Zerbi is understandably cautious about rushing Maddison back into intense Premier League action. The Tottenham boss highlighted the growing physical toll on players across the division.

"In the first three days Maddison didn't work with us," De Zerbi told a press conference on Friday. "I don't know if he's ready for tomorrow. I don't want to take risks because if you analyse this period of football you can see many injuries, not just for Tottenham."

Spurs boosted by returning players

Despite the concerns surrounding Maddison, the Lilywhites have received a timely boost with several players becoming available. Pedro Porro, Andy Robertson, and Omar Marmoush are all ready for selection. De Zerbi outlined his tactical flexibility ahead of the high-profile fixture.

"We can also play with Mathys Tel, ​with Omar Marmoush inside, with (Conor) Gallagher," he added. "We have more solutions considering Pedro Porro can play. We ​are lucky because in ⁠the same position we have many solutions. We have to find the best for him and the best for us."

Tottenham face dreadful away record

Tottenham still face notable absences heading into the weekend. Winger Savio, midfielder Lucas Bergvall, and left-back Destiny Udogie remain sidelined, while Dejan Kulusevski's involvement is uncertain following his own recent return from a 526-day absence.

The current Premier League table highlights the importance of Saturday's fixture. Sixteenth-placed Spurs travel to face a fourth-placed Chelsea side looking for a seventh consecutive league victory over their London rivals.

History is heavily against De Zerbi's men in west London. Tottenham have won only once in their last 41 visits to Stamford Bridge across all competitions, creating a massive challenge for the squad.

Tottenham renew their rivalry with Chelsea on Saturday evening.

Roberto De Zerbi finally got his first Premier League win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Coventry on Monday.

The newly-promoted side were no match for James Maddison, Omar Marmoush and Ben Davies at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Xabi Alonso's side represent a much tougher test, though, and Spurs will have to be at their best for the three points.

The West London side sit fourth in the division, while the Lilywhites are now 16th after the most recent set of matches.

The supercomputer has made its prediction for the contest at Stamford Bridge, which kicks off at 5:30 pm.

What is the supercomputer's prediction for Chelsea vs Tottenham?

The Opta Analyst supercomputer gives the Blues a 55 per cent chance to win.

That would extend their streak of victories in recent league matches with Spurs to seven and continue the recent trend.

Tottenham are handed a 21.8 per cent chance to secure their second league victory of the season, and their first over Chelsea since November 2023.

Meanwhile, a draw between the sides is a more likely scenario, with a 23.2 per cent chance.

If the most likely result happens and Alonso's side win, it will extend the streak over three years, as the sides don't play again until May 2027.

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Spurs have renewed hope after the result over the Sky Blues last time out gave them their first three points.

The return to form from Maddison provides encouragement, and Dejan Kulusevski's comeback from a long injury absence also gives hope to De Zerbi's men.

The fact that Marmoush scored his first league goal of the campaign will also give them confidence that he can kick on and get more contributions.

Sandro Tonali is also finally looking like the player that Spurs splashed £100million on to anchor the midfield.

Whether they can overcome the six-time champions on this occasion remains to be seen, but they are in a much better position that they were this time last week.

If they do upset the odds, and defy the supercomputer's prediction, then it will be a huge tonic to kickstart their campaign.

Roberto De Zerbi will hope to have vice-captain Pedro Porro available when Tottenham travel to face Chelsea this weekend.

Porro has been out for a month with a hamstring injury sustained during Spurs' 3-2 defeat by Aston Villa and missed out as they recorded their first Premier League win of the season at home to Coventry on Monday night.

The World Cup winner visited a specialist in Spain over the international break to aid his recovery, and De Zerbi said last Sunday that he was hopeful he would be available for selection against Chelsea.

"Pedro, I think he's coming. Maybe in Chelsea, he can play," De Zerbi said at his pre-Coventry press conference.

Porro has since been pictured back in training in the build-up to the trip to Stamford Bridge.

Having decided not to risk Destiny Udogie against Coventry, De Zerbi will also be hoping to have his first-choice left-back available for selection against Chelsea.

Tottenham are mindful of overworking Udogie given his injury history, but he has had two weeks to recover from the knee issue he picked up against Manchester United and should be in contention.

Loanee Mykhailo Mudryk is expected back soon from an ankle injury, though he is ineligible anyway for Saturday's game against parent club Chelsea.

Tosin Adarabioyo, Andy Robertson and Omar Marmoush all came off against Coventry with suspected injuries.

De Zerbi, though, played down any fears that they had sustained significant blows and all three are expected to be fit and available, with Marmoush also pictured training at Hotspur Way on Thursday.

Lucas Bergvall (knee) and Savio (muscle) are still out, while long-term absentees Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons are progressing but still some way from a return to match action.

There were plenty of positives after Spurs' 3-1 victory over Coventry, with James Maddison starting his first competitive game since May 2025 and Dejan Kulusevski making his first appearance in nearly 18 months off the bench.

Both are expected to be included in the matchday squad against Chelsea.

Rodrigo Bentancur, meanwhile, will serve the second game of his three-match ban after he was sent off against Manchester United for headbutting Luke Shaw.

De Zerbi will provide an update on the fitness of his squad during his pre-Chelsea press conference on Friday afternoon.

Predicted Tottenham XI vs Chelsea: Kinsky, Porro, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Udogie, Gallagher, Tonali, Maddison, Kudus, Solanke, Marmoush

Injured: Simons, Odobert, Mudryk, Savio, Bergvall

Doubts: Udogie, Porro, Tosin, Robertson, Marmoush

Suspended: Bentancur

Time and date: 5:30pm BST on Saturday October 24, 2026

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Tottenham Hotspur may be leaning on Daniel Levy despite his departure as executive chairman.

The 64-year-old held that role for nearly 25 years and totally changed the N17 club.

There were plenty of complaints aimed towards him as just two trophies in that time became untenable for many.

His departure came as a surprise last summer as the Lewis Family felt it was the right time for change.

That went down well with fans at the time, but was quickly forgotten after a dreadful campaign in the Premier League.

It could actually turn out that Levy is still working behind-the-scenes for Tottenham as his links provide something that no one else can.

What could Daniel Levy still do for Tottenham?

The frustration towards the executive chairman came due to the lack of sporting success.

That doesn't paint the whole picture as he worked to make Spurs into one of the richest and best-run sides in all of world football.

The move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is just proof of that.

The Lewis family still moved him on and looked to take personal control of the goings on in North London.

Despite that, Lilywhite Rose account owner John Wenham believes Levy is still working to support them.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Levy said: "The Lewis Group want to increase their ownership of the club because it makes sense for them. Daniel Levy isn't as out of Tottenham as many people think.

"I know he's the one who still has those relationships with Haringey Council and lots of development firms in the area. People see football as being very cut and dry, but he's still very much involved.

"I'm sure the club still lean on him for advice. The guy is entrenched in the local area's redevelopment plans and has plenty money tied up in local businesses in North London."

That comes after his share's in ENIC dropped to 25 per cent, meaning his hold at the top of Tottenham started to slip.

It appears that the North Londoners' still need help with local matters.

How £120m cash injection at Tottenham has impacted Daniel Levy's shareholding The issues Tottenham have faced in Haringey

Levy is famed for the redevelopment of White Hart Lane to become arguably the best stadium in the world.

It's multi-use factor makes it a money-maker as NFL and concerts rake in massive amounts of additional revenue every year.

That now massively contrasts to the local area as the billion pound arena's footprint sits in one London's most economically disadvantaged boroughs.

The largest party in Haringey, the Greens, believe Spurs should give up 0.1 per cent of turnover to reinvest into the local area.

That is one thing, but the idea that Tottenham had been able to default on planning obligations under Labour council has also raised eyebrows.

The N17 club have denied those allegations and remain stern on the fact that they have invested plenty into the stadium and its surrounding area.

This is all quite messy and is the kind of noise the Lilywhites don't need.

Should Levy still be playing a role, it seems as if these matters would have him involved.

Having existing relationships within the council for this sort of situation could be worth keeping him around for.

Tottenham Hotspur ultimately cashed in on Djed Spence after his value skyrocketed during the 2026 World Cup.

The 26-year-old became an unexpected hero during the summer tournament, as Thomas Tuchel's England reached the semi-finals.

He was included in the initial 26-man squad, but the full-back was never expected to play a starring role over Reece James and Tino Livramento.

Injuries meant that Tuchel was forced to rely on Spence, and what a decision that ended up being, with the former Spurs man starring for the Three Lions.

Due to his performances, his future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium became a huge talking point, with Inter Milan the ones to secure his signature.

Spurs fans were rather split on the decision. While it was £30m for a player who had a mixed time in North London, they'd sold him at his absolute best.

Djed Spence struggles continue after Tottenham exit

The Lilywhites could have very easily gone on to regret cashing, especially given the heights that Inter Milan have reached in recent seasons. They will be secretly pleased by the latest.

However, the 26-year-old has accumulated just 88 minutes of football across Serie A and Champions League so far.

He was given a start in Inter Milan's 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk, but after just 59 minutes, Andy Diouf replaced him on the right flank.

It was yet another night to forget for the England international, but yet more evidence that Spurs made the right decision in cashing in.

Of course, there is plenty of time for him to turn his form around, having signed a five-year contract until the summer of 2031.

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Spence was joined by several players out of the exit doors, including Cristian Romero, Guglielmo Vicario, Manor Solomon and Pape Sarr.

Some also left on loan, such as Mikey Moore, George Abbott, Kevin Danso and Souza, and their performances have been a mixed bag so far.

Of the players who stayed in North London, Richarlison, Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie could all be up for sale in upcoming transfer windows.

Gabby Agbonlahor has come out with some nonsense after Tottenham Hotspur's win over Coventry City on Monday.

Spurs picked up their first win in the Premier League this season after beating the Sky Blues 3-1 at home.

There were plenty of positives to take as James Maddison scored the opener after being handed his first start in 536 days, before Jack Rudoni responded for the visitors.

Roberto De Zerbi's side responded almost instantly as Omar Marmoush scored his first goal for the Lilywhites, as Dejan Kulusevski came off the bench to make his first appearance for the club in 526 days.

Spurs' longest-serving player Ben Davies then wrapped up the three points with a cheeky outside-of-the-boot finish from the edge of the box, leaving the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium rocking.

There is plenty for Tottenham to shout about after the game, but Agbonlahor is still not sold on De Zerbi's defence.

Gabby Agbonlahor's 'scared' claim ripped apart by Tottenham stats

Agbonlahor was speaking on talkSPORT this Tuesday, but still had some harsh words for Antonin Kinsky, Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven.

The former Aston Villa player said: "I'm looking at van Hecke again; his defending for the Rudoni goal. I'm looking at van de Ven and Robertson. Goalkeeper Kinsky, I'm not having him one bit."

"You've been to Marbella to work out, 'Let's play a back three against Coventry; we're so scared defensively, we're so poor', but you still concede a stupid goal. There's a lot of work to be done."

He also claimed that any of Villa, Newcastle or Brighton would have beaten the Lilywhites on the night, which is a completely baseless statement.

To say that Spurs' defence is "scared" is also a lazy piece of work, especially when breaking down the statistics.

As per FotMob data, van Hecke picked up an impressive 7.9 rating after having the most touches in the game with 115, which instantly proves that he's not afraid of being on the ball.

Robertson earned a 7.6 rating, winning 50 per cent of his aerial duels and making 14 sprints in the match.

Van de Ven was rated 7.7 and made two tackles, including one last-man tackle, also chipping in with five clearances.

The centre-back won 60 per cent of his ground duels, also winning three of his six aerial battles. So the statistics prove that Spurs are anything but timid defensively.

The only player who might have underperformed was Kinsky, who picked up a 6.3 rating.

Regardless, kicking Spurs now seems daft from Agbonlahor, because the game in general appears to have boosted everyone in N17.

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A lot of focus has been on Maddison's goal, Kulusevski's return and Tottenham's win in general, which is completely understandable.

However, one player who hasn't had the praise he deserves is Mohammed Kudus.

The winger was back to his best against Coventry and had a 67 per cent dribble success rate.

He created two chances in the match, including the assist for Maddison's strike.

With Kulusevski now back in action, hopefully Kudus will see this as motivation to turn his performances around for Tottenham.

Drastic measures in Marbella

Tottenham boss De Zerbi recently took his squad to Marbella for a warm-weather training camp to arrest their alarming Premier League slump. Spurs are currently bottom of the table without a win in six matches, despite committing £380 million ($505m) on 10 new summer signings.

To foster unity among the heavily rotated roster, De Zerbi implemented a strict ban on mobile devices during all communal meals. The Italian hopes that forcing his players to interact away from the pitch will accelerate team integration and salvage their domestic campaign.

De Zerbi explains phone ban

Explaining the rationale behind his new rules, De Zerbi stressed the need for genuine connection. "We worked on the pitch, we stayed together - we removed phones from breakfast, lunch and dinner to stay together because now it is like [phone] all the time," he told reporters.

The Italian confirmed the Spanish trip involved serious discussions regarding their poor form. "We had two or three important meetings speaking about football, our situation and how everyone has to take responsibility," he added. "And nothing more. There were some dinners just for the players, some dinners just for the staff.

"As a coach you understand you have to improve, you have to change the situation and you try to find all solutions.

"I already did this type of training camp two times with Marseille and it was a good solution. I spoke with the club, with Vinai [Venkatesham], with Johan [Lange], with the owner and together we took the decision, but it's nothing special. It's just to spend more time together because in pre-season we couldn't.

"We had many new players and players who came back from the World Cup. Three or four days together without family, putting the club at the top of their priorities, is normal and is good."

Despite the clampdown, De Zerbi insisted the squad could explore the city during their downtime. "Yes, with freedom," he concluded. "With no military rules. I love freedom."

Richarlison saga deepens

While De Zerbi demands unity, his relationship with exiled forward Richarlison has publicly deteriorated. The Brazilian was omitted from Tottenham's Premier League squad and demoted to the Under-21s following failed summer transfers. Former Everton manager Duncan Ferguson questioned the harsh treatment, saying: "I don't know if they've had a massive fall-out, and knowing Richy they probably have, but you've got to put your arm around him. You don't leave a player like that out unless there's been a real murder." Richarlison endorsed Ferguson's comments on Instagram, posting: "Thanks @duncan9ferguson, you are right."

However, De Zerbi abruptly dismissed the ongoing drama on Sunday. "It's not my problem any more," he told reporters. "You have to ask Vinai or Johan. It's not my problem."

Pressure mounts against Coventry

Tottenham must now translate their Marbella bonding into immediate results when they host Coventry City on Monday evening. This fixture is already a must-win for De Zerbi as he battles to lift Spurs off the foot of the table.

Failure to secure three points will only intensify scrutiny on the club's expensive rebuild. With boardroom tension leaking into public view, securing a maiden league victory is absolutely essential to stabilise a turbulent season.

Tottenham Hotspur should be genuinely concerned about the prospect of losing young starlet Luca Williams-Barnett on a permanent basis.

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that it is not out of the question that the 18-year-old could soon move to Germany.

Williams-Barnett is still waiting for his Premier League debut, but has recently been linked with both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in a potential permanent deal.

Wyness believes that Tottenham's instability as a club could potentially see them lose Williams-Barnett, as they cannot provide clear pathways for young players at the moment.

Luka Vuskovic was a notable departure in the summer, while fellow young talent Lucas Bergvall also pushed for an exit for several months.

Wyness believes that Spurs have the wrong type of environment to develop young players at the moment, and that isn't going unnoticed by their players.

Luca Williams-Barnett compared to Harry Kane

Everton's former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that losing Williams-Barnett could become a huge regret for Spurs if that scenario plays out.

The attacking midfielder is widely regarded as the club's brightest young academy prospect since Harry Kane first broke into the first team.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness made it clear that he isn't optimistic about Spurs' chances of keeping Williams-Barnett long-term.

"Yes, absolutely (they should be worried)," he said.

"Now with Spurs, there is that bit of instability as well, which is not giving that, you know, you need that stability in the club to be able to plan these strategic pathways.

"And we're seeing Spurs fall on this one. I think this could be a big mistake for them. I think definitely there's a chance that the player could be going.

"He's seen (Jude) Bellingham handle it in Germany and then go on to greater things. So I'm sure that they're all looking at that. And I think Spurs have made a big mistake.

"They're talking about him as the best Spurs prospect since Harry Kane, and to potentially lose something of that quality would be a big cost that the turmoil behind the scenes at Spurs has caused."

Sources: Tottenham explore Williams-Barnett January loan deal Tottenham to explore Williams-Barnett loan

Football Insider recently revealed that Tottenham are prepared to explore a potential loan deal for Williams-Barnett in January.

The starlet was heavily involved for Roberto De Zerbi's side in pre-season, but has since only been involved through a brief Carabao Cup cameo.

Sources say that several EFL clubs are already queuing up for the chance to bring in Williams-Barnett in January, alongside the interest from Germany.

Spurs may opt to send the youngster out to gain first-team experience in the second half of the campaign, rather than staying on the fringes at his parent club.