Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer for one huge game this week as a hectic fixture schedule continues.
The Blues star was sent off during the late stages of Saturday’s galling 2-0 home defeat by rivals Tottenham in the Premier League for collecting two quick-fire yellow cards.
Palmer was first cautioned by referee Chris Kavanagh for slamming into Mateus Fernandes, who was rocked back off his knees in painful fashion having angered his opponent by swiping away the ball with his hand on the floor following a tussle.
He then picked up a second booking less than 10 minutes later for a bad late challenge on ex-Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, compounding the hosts’ misery as they trailed to an unfortunate own goal by Mike Penders scored on the 21-year-old goalkeeper’s first Premier League start in place of the injured Emi Martinez.
It was a first career dismissal for Palmer, whom Spurs head coach De Zerbi and many pundits believed should have been shown a straight red card for his actions against Fernandes.
That would have led to an automatic three-game suspension for violent conduct, but as it is Palmer - who could arguably have received a second yellow card for a late foul at Everton last weekend that followed an initial booking for dissent - will only serve a one-match ban for two yellows.
Early bath: Cole Palmer was sent off for two bookable offences as Chelsea lost to Tottenham
AFP/Getty
That applies to all domestic competitions and not just the Premier League, meaning the 24-year-old will be unavailable when Chelsea travel to face Liverpool in a high-profile last-16 showdown in the Carabao Cup at Anfield on Wednesday night.
However, Palmer will quickly be back in contention next Saturday when Chelsea host struggling Manchester United in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge in a lunchtime kick-off.
Pep Chavarria, Jamie Gittens and Emmanuel Emegha all remained sidelined against Tottenham due to injury, while captain Reece James is not expected back until mid-January following knee surgery.
Martinez watched the game from behind the Chelsea bench as he continues to recover from jaw surgery that followed a sickening accidental clash of heads in the win at Everton.