Chelsea has been dealt a potential injury blow after goalkeeper Emi Martinez was stretchered off, just days before Xabi Alonso's side play Liverpool in the Carabao Cup

Chelsea has suffered an injury scare after Emi Martinez was stretchered off just days before its Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool.

The Chelsea goalkeeper was injured while coming out to claim a free-kick cross from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, colliding with Everton and England center-back Jarrad Branthwaite. Medical staff from both teams immediately rushed onto the pitch, with players on both sides, including Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, visibly concerned.

Branthwaite was able to get back to his feet after a couple of minutes and was allowed to continue in the Premier League clash after undergoing concussion checks on the pitch, but Martinez remained down as Chelsea's medical team carefully assessed the situation before calling for a stretcher.

After a lengthy stoppage of almost 10 minutes, Martinez was carried off wearing a neck brace and receiving oxygen. He appeared to move his arms as he was taken straight down the tunnel, offering a potentially positive sign.

Martinez was replaced in the 73rd minute by Belgian reserve goalkeeper Mike Penders, who made his Premier League debut with Chelsea leading 1-0 at the time. Reports subsequently indicated that Martinez had been taken directly to the hospital.

TNT Sports opted not to show a close-up replay of the incident, instead airing only a distant view of the collision as Martinez received treatment on the pitch.

Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves compared the collision to an NFL-style impact while discussing the concussion protocols

"It comes from the NFL because they saw what happened to a lot of players after their careers and the side effects that they had and the impact," he said on commentary.

"That was almost like an NFL collision because they were so committed and so vulnerable.

"A clash of heads, and there's no protection at all, no helmets. I just hope he's OK."

Pedro Neto opened the scoring for Chelsea shortly after half-time before doubling the visitors' lead in the 11th minute of stoppage time. The Portuguese winger guided the ball into the far corner after Jordan Henderson's deflected free-kick fell kindly into his path.

Liverpool will host Chelsea in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, October 28, after Andoni Iraola’s side knocked Tottenham out at Anfield last month.

Goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai secured a 3-1 win over Spurs, with Iraola's changed team getting the job done against Roberto De Zerbi's men despite Conor Gallagher halving the deficit in the second half.

It remains to be seen whether Martinez will be fit in time for the Carabao Cup clash, but his availability looks highly unlikely given the severity of the incident, with Liverpool set to host Chelsea in just 11 days' time