Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer to miss Crystal Palace clash

Chelsea host Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Wednesday, but they will be without two more players. The Blues are suffering an injury crisis this season and have now lost Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer to suspension.

Sterling and Palmer were both booked in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, taking their tally to five. The pair have received an automatic one-match ban, so they won’t return until Saturday’s trip to face Luton Town.

The Premier League say any player with five bookings from their side’s first 19 league games will get a one-match ban. Sterling only needed to hold off for two more matches but was yellow-carded for an alleged dive. Palmer was booked for dissent, so another avoidable situation.

Chelsea's Raheem Sterling is shown a yellow card by referee David Coote after committing a simulation, by Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers — Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling is shown a yellow card by referee David Coote after committing a simulation, by Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

Every yellow card for Sterling

Bournemouth 0-0 Chelsea (4^th minute)
Fulham 0-2 Chelsea (68^th minute)
Chelsea 4-4 Man City (90+7^th minute)
Newcastle 4-1 Chelsea (59^th minute)
Wolves 2-1 Chelsea (90+9^th minute)

Every yellow card for Palmer

Fulham 0-2 Chelsea (68^th minute)
Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal (8^th minute)
Chelsea 4-4 Man City (23^rd minute)
Everton 2-0 Chelsea (20^th minute)
Wolves 2-1 Chelsea (56^th minute)

Do Chelsea have an attitude problem?

Chelsea's Raheem Sterling, Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer remonstrate with referee David Coote Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers — Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer remonstrate with referee David Coote, by Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

Chelsea have more bookings than any other Premier League club (65), but Mauricio Pochettino denies that it’s down to indiscipline. In quotes reported by Peter Lansley of the Guardian, he said: “No, it’s representative of the fact that we play for Chelsea. We are a big club, and you feel the pressure – when you are frustrated and lack a bit of experience.”

“It’s Palmer’s first season in the Premier League and it is normal. He is playing for Chelsea. Of course, it’s frustrating. But the players care, the players want to win. It’s not about a lack of discipline, it’s about having the ability to read the situation of the game.”

19 members of the squad have been booked and Nicolas Jackson has more yellows (8) than any other top-flight player. Should he get 10 yellows before Chelsea’s 33^rd league game, he’ll get a two-match ban.

The Blues have four players with five or more bookings, and they’re third for red cards (3). Enzo Fernandez is one booking away from a one-match ban, so do Chelsea need to work on their discipline?