Chelsea
Maresca Accepts Red Card After Celebrations but Chelsea’s Red-Card Run Continues
Maresca accepts his sending off after celebrating a last-minute winner; discipline concerns persist
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has conceded that his dismissal for celebrating a stoppage-time winner against Liverpool felt justifiable in the moment, even as the club’s disciplinary record has come under fresh scrutiny.
A group of blue shirts gathered in the corner after the late goal and Maresca joined them to take in the moment at Chelsea’s home ground. As the usually reserved coach acknowledged at the Trento Sports Festival last week, the feeling was powerful. “[It was a] nice emotion,” Maresca told assembled spectators at the Trento Sports Festival last week. “It’s the second season for me in this club but we had never won at home at the last minute.”
Maresca noted he had managed his reactions in other dramatic finishes. He contained himself for Tyrique George’s stoppage-time winner against Fulham last April and “didn’t quite head for the corner flag” after Reece James secured a 2–2 draw with Bournemouth in January courtesy of a 95th-minute free-kick.
On the Liverpool incident he said: “The reaction that led to the expulsion was instinctive, but maybe it was worth it,” he grinned.
The dismissal followed a first-half booking for arguing too strongly for a penalty; Maresca then received a second yellow for leaving his technical area and was sent off. The club’s recent run of dismissals means Maresca’s sending off was Chelsea’s fourth red card in the space of five games.
Before Liverpool’s trip to west London, Maresca had insisted he had no concerns about the club’s red-card record. His latest suspension, however, does not exactly encourage an atmosphere of undiluted discipline.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s Defensive List Shortens as Injuries Clear Ahead of Nottingham Forest
Three centre-backs are fit and available giving Maresca defensive options ahead of Nottingham Forest.
Chelsea moved through a period when manager Enzo Maresca had no natural centre back available, but the situation has improved since the international break. Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana had all been sidelined while Trevoh Chalobah began the hiatus suspended. That combination left Maresca without a single recognised centre back prior to the break.
There are encouraging returns. Chalobah has served his suspension and is available. Fofana has completed the required period on the sidelines following a concussion and has been training with Chelsea this week. After claims that Acheampong’s injury was “not serious ”, Chelsea were delighted to see the academy graduate start for England Under-21s in a 4–0 win over Moldova on Friday. Tosin’s update remains limited, but Maresca confirmed late last month that he would likely return from a calf injury after the international break.
Benoît Badiashile’s problem is not thought to be significant, though the club may allow extra recovery time given how much time he has missed over the past 12 months. With those players back and available, it is plausible that, by the time Chelsea travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Maresca will have every defender fit apart from Colwill, whose ACL injury could keep him out for the season.
Midfield presents the more immediate concern. Enzo Fernández was sent home from Argentina duty with a knee problem, joining Cole Palmer and Dário Essugo on the sidelines. That leaves Maresca managing absences in midfield even as his defensive options stabilise. Moisés Caicedo, however, is expected to be in top condition after being left out of the Ecuador squad to rest. The clearer picture in defence offers Maresca selection flexibility, but midfield availability will shape the matchday choices against Nottingham Forest.
Bournemouth
Early returns: Premier League summer signings that have struggled so far
Early evidence suggests several costly summer signings have struggled to justify their transfer fees
More than £3 billion ($4 billion) and 155 incoming transfers set high expectations across the Premier League this summer. Several recruits have settled quickly, but others have produced worrying initial returns that have left managers and supporters asking questions.
Everton’s Thierno Barry arrived from Villarreal after a season that yielded 11 goals and four assists. The 22-year-old joined for £27 million ($36 million) with time to adapt, but he remains behind Beto, has made two Premier League starts, nine appearances in total and is still searching for his first goal or assist for the club. On two occasions he was substituted early: at half time at Anfield and after about an hour at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
West Ham’s £20 million ($26.7 million) signing Mads Hermansen began the campaign as Graham Potter’s first-choice goalkeeper but has endured a difficult start. The 25-year-old conceded 11 times in four appearances, sustained several high-profile errors and has dropped behind Alphonse Areola with Nuno Espírito Santo opting against an early recall.
Anthony Elanga moved to Newcastle for £55 million ($73.4 million) after scoring 18 goals for Nottingham Forest in 2024–25. The 23-year-old has made 10 appearances for the Magpies without a goal or assist and has oscillated between starting and the bench while competing with Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy.
Jean-Clair Todibo’s permanent move to West Ham cost £32.8 million ($43.8 million) after an obligation to buy. He has fallen out of favour following disciplinary issues under Potter and is unlikely to figure under Espírito Santo.
James Trafford returned to Manchester City for £31 million ($41.3 million) but is now behind Gianluigi Donnarumma and has been restricted to the bench following a difficult display against Tottenham Hotspur.
Alexander Isak joined Liverpool for a Premier League record £125 million ($166.9 million) but missed pre-season after a strike. Arne Slot has eased him in, using him alongside Hugo Ekitiké, with the record signing yet to reach expected levels.
Newcastle paid £55 million ($73.4 million) for Yoane Wissa from Brentford, but a knee injury means he is yet to play for his new club and has only two competitive appearances since the end of last season.
Chelsea’s £51.5 million ($68.7 million) addition Jamie Gittens has made seven appearances and three starts without making a major impact. At Liverpool, Milos Kerkez arrived for £40 million ($53.4 million) to succeed Andy Robertson but has made a sluggish start, was bullied on his debut by Antoine Semenyo and was hooked in the first half against Burnley as he edged toward a red card.
It remains early and circumstances differ across clubs, but the opening weeks have provided enough evidence to raise concerns about several high-cost recruits.
Chelsea
Diego Costa shown yellow after heated return in Chelsea legends charity match
Diego Costa returned to Chelsea in a charity friendly, booked after clashes with Martin Škrtel. Sat.
Diego Costa returned to Chelsea on Saturday and did so in familiar fashion, picking up a yellow card after squaring up to Martin Škrtel during a charity friendly. The match ended with Liverpool claiming victory through a late Ryan Babel goal, but Costa’s presence dominated the conversation.
Several confrontations with Škrtel followed a physical challenge from Costa, with the clash culminating in a booking for a reaction that briefly overshadowed the charity context. The pair have a well-documented Premier League history: Costa received a three-match ban after being found guilty of stamping on Škrtel in 2015, and months later avoided punishment for what appeared to be a kick in Škrtel’s direction.
Their latest incident did not carry the same fallout. The two appeared to make up after the final whistle, an outcome Costa underlined with an Instagram post following the game.
Those familiar with Costa’s Chelsea career between 2014 and 2018 will recognise the temperament on display. The striker scored 59 goals in 120 appearances for the club, won two Premier League titles, and collected 32 yellow cards at Stamford Bridge without receiving a straight red.
“Of course, this guy [Costa] is still the same, we saw it!” former teammate Eden Hazard, who also featured in the game, reflected.
Costa has not played competitively since being released by Grêmio in January this year. His time at the Brazilian club included a notable sending off during a fitness-building Under-20 friendly for an on-field fight in September 2024. He finished his spell at Grêmio with eight goals in 26 games.
He has not formally retired, and whether he is actively seeking a new club remains unclear.
