Cole Palmer's red card and Chelsea's old problem: why Xabi Alonso says "we need to improve"
Chelsea had not had a player sent off all season until Cole Palmer's second yellow card against Tottenham. Last season they received eight red cards, the most in the league. Xabi Alonso says Palmer has "one to learn" from.
For eight games, Xabi Alonso seemed to have fixed one of Chelsea's biggest problems. Then came the London derby against Tottenham, a 2-0 defeat and Cole Palmer's red card.
What happened
Earlier in the game Mateus Fernandes clawed the ball away from a Chelsea attack while on the ground, and Palmer barged into him, his body striking Fernandes in the face. Palmer and Fernandes were both booked; Roberto De Zerbi felt Palmer should have been sent off then.
Around the 80th minute, about nine minutes after that first booking, Palmer stood on Conor Gallagher in a challenge and received a second yellow card. Gary Neville said he had "lost his head". Spurs, already ahead through Mike Penders' own goal, added a second through Mathys Tel. Read our match report.
The history
| Season | Chelsea red cards | League rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 8 | Most in the Premier League (four more than the next team) |
| 2026-27 (before Spurs) | 0 | — |
Chelsea were also second for yellow cards last season with 90. Under Alonso, they had been committing fewer fouls and picking up fewer bookings per 90 minutes — until Saturday.
What Alonso said
Alonso did not hide from it. On Palmer: "I need to check the action to talk with Cole, but it is one to learn for the future for sure." On the team: "We need to work and we need to improve in that." On the effect of an early booking: one yellow card "can be decisive, as we have seen."
Before the game he had talked about the derby atmosphere and "emotional control": "We need to use it in a proper way." He refused to blame his 21-year-old goalkeeper Mike Penders for the own goal: "We win, we lose together, and it is part of the job to deal with and to overcome from mistakes."
The set-piece problem
Discipline is not Chelsea's only issue. The opening goal came from a corner, and Chelsea have now conceded eight goals from set pieces this season — double any other Premier League team.
What it means
Chelsea are still fourth with 13 points, but they are eight behind the top two. Palmer will be suspended, which hurts a team that is also missing João Pedro and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. Next up: Liverpool away in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, then Manchester United on 31 October.
See the Premier League table and our explainer on Alonso's tactics at Chelsea.
FAQ
Why was Cole Palmer sent off against Tottenham? For a second yellow card after standing on Conor Gallagher in a challenge, about nine minutes after his first booking.
How many red cards did Chelsea get last season? Eight, the most in the Premier League and four more than any other team.
What did Xabi Alonso say about Palmer? That it is "one to learn for the future for sure" and that Chelsea "need to improve" their discipline.
