Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer avoided a possible dismissal during the club’s 2-0 Premier League win over Everton, with former footballers Joe Cole and Steve McManaman suggesting that the late challenge on Jarrad Branthwaite did not warrant further punishment.

Football London reported on Sunday, October 18, 2026, that Palmer risked receiving a second yellow card after bringing down the Everton defender near the corner flag at Hill Dickinson Stadium. However, referee Paul Tierney decided against taking disciplinary action, allowing the England international to finish the match.

Chelsea secured their second successive victory under manager Xabi Alonso, thanks to two goals from Pedro Neto. The result also gave the Blues their first Premier League clean sheet since January and ended a difficult spell of away results against Everton.

Despite the positive outcome, Palmer’s late challenge became a talking point, particularly because he had already been booked in the 65th minute. The midfielder received his first yellow card after protesting to Tierney following a foul involving Moises Caicedo, leaving him at risk of dismissal if he committed another bookable offence.

Everton supporters appealed for a second yellow card when Branthwaite went to ground following Palmer’s challenge. The referee, however, allowed play to continue without issuing another caution.

Discussing the incident on Premier League Productions, former Liverpool midfielder McManaman suggested that Palmer may have briefly feared being sent off, but argued that the challenge did not justify a further sanction.

“His heart probably did skip a beat at the end there,” McManaman said.

He suggested that some referees might have reacted differently, potentially turning the incident into a major talking point, but maintained that Branthwaite had gone to ground too readily.

“Because you’ve seen referees get carried away and produce cards for it; there’s nothing in that. If anything, Branthwaite goes to ground too easily. Probably not (making that tackle on a yellow card),” he added.

McManaman also acknowledged that there had been some contact but argued that it was insufficient to warrant punishment.

“But he’s going to ground nowhere near the ball. There’s a little connection, but there’s nothing in that at all,” he said.

Joe Cole similarly defended Palmer, insisting that the challenge did not appear to involve malicious intent. He also used the incident to highlight what he considers the midfielder’s growing maturity and improved contribution when Chelsea are without possession.

“There was no malicious intent,” Cole said.

The former Chelsea player praised Palmer for continuing to compete despite his team holding a two-goal advantage late in the match. He suggested that the midfielder’s willingness to remain involved defensively reflected a positive development in his overall game.

“If anything, I’m happy that Palmer – you think, you’re 2-0 up, you have a sense of the time of the game, you know it’s done- and I like that from Palmer. He’s better off the ball; he’s improved that in his game,” Cole explained.

Cole also noted that Palmer has become an increasingly important figure at Chelsea and appears more aware of the responsibility that comes with his position in the team.

“There’s a maturity in him. He recognises that he’s the one people look to. But his heart will have certainly skipped a beat; a less experienced ref could have brandished a yellow – and then it becomes a story,” he said.

Palmer could nevertheless be rested when Chelsea travel to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, with Alonso potentially rotating his squad to manage workloads ahead of the club’s upcoming fixtures.