PALMER MISSES LIVERPOOL CUP TIE AFTER TOTTENHAM RED CARD

Chelsea lost 2-0 to Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Cole Palmer sent off in the 80th minute. Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders punched a corner into his own net in the 77th minute. Mathys Tel later scored Tottenham’s second goal with a low shot from 20 yards. Palmer received his second yellow card for a late tackle on Conor Gallagher, after an earlier booking following a clash with Mateus Fernandes. The win was Tottenham’s first at Stamford Bridge since 2018.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said Palmer needed to learn from the dismissal. “We need to have this maturity to deal with difficult moments,” Alonso said, adding that he wanted to review the tackle with Palmer. Alonso said he had no wider concern about Palmer’s character. He also backed Penders after the goalkeeper’s own goal on his full Premier League debut. Chelsea played without João Pedro, who sustained an unspecified injury in training on Friday; Alonso said the club needed tests to establish its seriousness.

The Premier League said Palmer would serve his suspension when Chelsea visit Liverpool in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday. “Cole Palmer will not miss any Premier League matches,” it said. That leaves Palmer available for Chelsea’s league match against Manchester United on Saturday, 31 October. Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi said his side had won two games in a row but wanted to keep improving. Tottenham had won only one of their previous 34 visits to west London.