Chelsea were comprehensively beaten 2-0 by Tottenham on Saturday evening at a wet and miserable Stamford Bridge.

With the clocks changing in the UK on Sunday morning, Chelsea will be wishing they could turn back time to undo the damage inflicted.

Two second-half goals from the visitors ensured that Tottenham would head back to north London with their first victory at Stamford Bridge since April 2018.

With Brazilian star Joao Pedro unavailable due to an injury that is currently being assessed, the Blues reshuffled their attack, with Morgan Rogers leading the line and Cole Palmer and Geovanny Quenda playing either side of him.

Palmer, who has made an impressive start to the season, seemed to become an increasingly frustrated figure in the forward's absence. Just last week, away at Everton, the frustration was beginning to show after he picked up a cheap yellow card.

The 24-year-old was booked in the 70th minute following a confrontation with Tottenham’s Mateus Fernandes. On another day, the incident could have easily resulted in a red card, as it appeared to come close to the threshold for violent conduct.

Gary Neville, who was commentating on the game for Sky Sports, believed Palmer was lucky to remain on the pitch.

He said: “I think that could be a red. If this wasn't at Stamford Bridge, I think it's a red.”

Nine minutes later, with the Blues already a goal down, Palmer was sent off for a second bookable offence after catching former Blue Conor Gallagher with a loose leg.

A ten-minute spell of pressure from Spurs was enough to turn the game on its head, leaving Xabi Alonso with more questions than answers, particularly over his in-game management and the tactical changes he made from the bench.

The Blues boss will most likely have to make do without Joao Pedro for the trip to Anfield in the Carabao Cup and will now also be without his number 10.

As Palmer was sent off for a second bookable offence rather than receiving a straight red card for violent conduct, the Englishman will only miss one match.

Chelsea’s next competitive fixture is an away trip to Liverpool in the League Cup. As suspensions for red cards carry over to domestic cup competitions, Palmer will serve his one-match suspension in that fixture.

As a result, Palmer should be available to face Manchester United on October 31. Having escaped a possible straight red earlier in the game, Palmer will consider a one-match suspension a fortunate outcome.

In the Premier League, Chelsea’s number 10 will also have to be mindful of the yellow-card suspension threshold. 

Players who accumulate five bookings before Matchweek 19 face a one-match ban. The attacking midfielder is already on three bookings, and we still have 11 matches to play before the cut-off.

The League Cup tie against Liverpool will present an opportunity for either Estevao or Quenda, as Alonso will most likely have to make at least one enforced change.