Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was taken to hospital for precautionary tests after suffering a concussion during their 2-0 win at Everton on Saturday. The incident occurred in the 68th minute when Martinez collided with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite while attempting to claim a cross. Xabi Alonso confirmed it was a concussion but said the extent was unknown. Martinez was replaced by Mike Penders, who made his Premier League debut, and left the stadium conscious.
Chelsea secured their first Premier League clean sheet in nine months with goals from Pedro Neto. The victory addressed concerns about Chelsea's defensive record, having conceded 13 goals before the match. Alonso praised his team's solidity and strength, noting they were "not obsessed" with clean sheets but wanted to address their vulnerability.
The result marked a significant improvement following a 5-1 win over Bournemouth. Emiliano Martinez' availability for upcoming matches against Tottenham, Manchester United, and Liverpool is now in doubt, with potential 14-day return-to-play protocol for concussion. The win also ended a poor run at Everton, where Chelsea had won only one of their previous nine matches.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing