Chelsea will bid to extend their advantage over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League to eight points on Saturday without Diego Costa.
The Spain striker was given an immediate three-match ban on Friday for violent conduct after his stamp on Emre Can during Tuesday night’s Capital One Cup defeat of Liverpool.
Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Filipe Luis (calf) and Branislav Ivanovic (foot) could also be missing for Chelsea, whose title challenge is poised to be boosted by the imminent arrival of Juan Cuadrado.
Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella announced Cuadrado was leaving Florence for west London in a deal which will see Mohamed Salah move to Italy on loan and will likely be financed by Andre Schurrle switching to Wolfsburg.
Cuadrado will enhance Jose Mourinho’s attacking options for the title run in, with the Chelsea boss hoping his side can finish a tumultuous eight days on a high against City.
Chelsea were dumped out of the FA Cup by League One side Bradford, who inflicted the Blues’ first home loss of the season.
They responded by advancing to Wembley in the Capital One Cup at Liverpool’s expense, but at a cost for Costa.
The Football Association on Friday announced that an independent regulatory commission ruled that the striker deliberately trod on the ankle of Can.
Costa and Chelsea had no right to appeal, with the immediate ban meaning the striker is out of matches with City, Aston Villa and Everton.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho claimed the incident, which occurred in front of the dugouts but was missed by the match officials, was “absolutely accidental”, a view which had the full support of the club.
The incident was subsequently reviewed on video by referee Michael Oliver, with the charge following on Wednesday as part of the FA’s fast-tracked procedures.
Costa contested the charge on Thursday, but on Friday was found guilty and suspended, much to Chelsea’s disappointment.
“Diego Costa will serve a three-match suspension with immedKiate effect after a charge of violent conduct against him was found proven by an independent regulatory commission,” a FA statement read.
Mourinho cancelled his usual Friday pre-match media conference after Costa’s charge and his own £25,000 fine for stating last month that there was a “clear campaign” against Chelsea.
The ban for the Brazil-born striker is only likely to strengthen the Blues boss’ view ahead of the biggest game of the domestic season.
Victory for Chelsea, who enter the weekend with a five-point lead over the holders, would give them an eight-point advantage with 15 games to go.
Lose and momentum would swing to City, who have lost their last two matches to Arsenal and Middlesbrough.
There is the additional sideshow of Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s record goalscorer, returning to the ground where he spent 13 years in a City shirt.
Lampard had said he would never play for another Premier League club, so it will be intriguing to see the reception he receives from supporters who held him so dear for so long.
