Cole Palmer Red Card: Martin Keown Says Chelsea Star Lucky to Escape Earlier Sending Off in Tottenham Defeat

Chelsea's Cole Palmer saw red in their 2-0 loss to Tottenham, but pundit Martin Keown believes the England international was fortunate not to be dismissed even earlier. Speaking on Match of the Day, the former Arsenal defender backed referee Stuart Attwell's decision to show Palmer a second yellow card for a late tackle on Pedro Porro, yet highlighted an earlier challenge on Dejan Kulusevski that could have been a straight red. Keown's analysis suggests Palmer's aggressive approach in the London derby ultimately cost his team, who struggled after going down to ten men. The defeat leaves Chelsea's top-four hopes in the balance, while Tottenham's win boosts their own European ambitions. With Palmer now facing a suspension, manager Enzo Maresca must find a way to replace his creative spark in upcoming fixtures. The incident raises questions about consistency in officiating and whether VAR should have intervened earlier. As Chelsea look to bounce back, Palmer will need to channel his intensity more carefully to avoid future disciplinary issues.