Palmer's dismissal took Chelsea to 100 Premier League red cards, and he will miss the Carabao Cup trip to Liverpool.
Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer was sent off for the first time in his senior career on Saturday, as Tottenham beat the Blues 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea remain in fourth place, and Palmer will miss the Carabao Cup trip to Liverpool on Wednesday.
Tottenham took the lead when goalkeeper Mike Penders, making his first Premier League start in place of the injured Emiliano Martinez, punched a corner into his own net. Jamie Redknapp said: "He made a monumental mistake; it's as simple as that."
Palmer had already been booked earlier. After Spurs midfielder Mateus Fernandes handled the ball on the ground, Palmer shoved his midriff into Fernandes's face while the Portuguese lay prone. Sky Sports News understands that VAR John Brooks checked the incident and cleared it. Gary Neville said at the time: "I think that could be a red. If this wasn't at Stamford Bridge, I think it's a red."
Shortly after Penders' own goal, Palmer was late into a challenge and landed his foot on the leg of Conor Gallagher, the former Chelsea youth product now at Spurs. Referee Chris Kavanagh showed him a second yellow card, and Chelsea were down to ten men.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said the decision was probably right. "I haven't seen them [back] on TV but as far as I have been told probably he [the referee] got it right." He added: "We need to have this maturity to deal with difficult moments."
Alonso stood by the goalkeeper after the own goal:
"We support Mike and we support the rest of the team. He will learn from that."
The red card was Chelsea's 100th in the Premier League, excluding rescinded cards, making them the third club to reach the mark after Everton (113) and Arsenal (110). Chelsea's players and staff were sent off 11 times in 2025-26, the most of any Premier League side, with Tottenham next on five.
Spurs won at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2018, with a late effort from Mathys Tel sealing it. Gary Neville, on commentary, was blunt about the home side: "Chelsea have been awful, really."
Martinez, who is set to be sidelined for the foreseeable future after facial surgery following a jaw fracture against Everton, leaves Penders and 23-year-old Teddy Sharman-Lowe as Chelsea's options in goal. Chelsea also started without Joao Pedro, who picked up an unspecified injury in training on Friday.
Palmer will be available for Chelsea's home game against Manchester United next weekend, provided his automatic one-match suspension is not extended.
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