Palmer’s one-match ban will not fall where Chelsea most feared it. Instead of missing Saturday’s visit from Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, the forward will sit out the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie at Anfield on Wednesday.

The sequence that cost Chelsea their most important attacker lasted nine minutes. In the 71st minute of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, Palmer was booked for shoving Mateus Fernandes after the Spurs midfielder handled the ball. Nine minutes later, a late challenge that landed on Conor Gallagher’s leg produced the second yellow and the first red card of Palmer’s senior career.

The dismissal also took Chelsea to a century of Premier League red cards, a mark only Everton and Arsenal had reached before them, according to The Analyst.

The rule that spares Manchester United

Suspensions from a red card in the Premier League also apply to the domestic cups, and the other way round. Only bans picked up through yellow-card accumulation stay confined to the league. Because Palmer’s offence was a straight dismissal, the one-match ban attaches itself to Chelsea’s next domestic fixture, whatever competition that is.

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That fixture is Liverpool. Chelsea travel to Anfield on Wednesday 28 October for an 8pm local-time kick-off in the Carabao Cup fourth round. Palmer will serve his suspension there and be eligible again for the Premier League meeting with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 31 October.

Alonso accepts a collective loss

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso spoke to Sky Sports after the match.

“I feel for everyone. This is collective, this is a team thing. We are all disappointed, but we need to move on.”

A day later, Palmer posted on Instagram: “Not good enough by me. Live n learn! Apologies. Onto the next.”

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Spurs, now managed by Roberto De Zerbi, won through a Mike Penders own goal in the 77th minute and a Mathys Tel finish seven minutes after Palmer’s dismissal. Alonso’s side now have to navigate Anfield without their forward before Palmer returns for the United fixture the following Saturday.

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