Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was taken to hospital for precautionary tests after suffering a suspected concussion during Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League win at Everton.
Martinez collided with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite while attempting to claim a cross from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s 68th-minute free-kick. Play stopped for eight minutes before the Argentina international was replaced by Mike Penders, who made his Premier League debut and completed the match.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said: “It was a concussion, but beyond that I do not know. I have only seen one clip of the incident, so we need to wait.
“What we know is that he left the stadium conscious and is now in hospital undergoing precautionary tests.
“We need to wait. Hopefully it will not be too serious, but at the moment we just have to wait.”
Martinez’s availability is now uncertain for Chelsea’s next three fixtures against Tottenham and Manchester United in the Premier League, along with a Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool.
His injury overshadowed a significant victory for Alonso’s side, secured by two goals from Pedro Neto. Chelsea also kept their first Premier League clean sheet for nine months, ending a run of 23 matches since a 2-0 win against Brentford in January.
The Blues had conceded a league-high 13 goals before kick-off, although Alonso said he was “not obsessed” with clean sheets. Chelsea had responded to an international break with a 5-1 win over Bournemouth, but questions remained over their defensive strength, particularly in away matches in the north of England.
They had lost 19 of their previous 41 games north of Luton over the past four years, while last season’s 3-0 defeat by Everton formed part of Liam Rosenior’s five-match winless run that eventually cost him his job. Chelsea had won only one of their previous nine visits to Everton.
Everton registered six shots, their lowest total in a Premier League match since five against Arsenal last December. Chelsea conceded one clear-cut chance and recorded their lowest expected goals against figure against top-flight opposition this season, at 0.45.
Alonso used a back three of Josh Acheampong, Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill, with Neto and Jorrel Hato operating as wing-backs. Moises Caicedo, returning from international duty, partnered new signing Jordan Henderson in midfield, while £117m club-record signing Morgan Rogers helped set an aggressive tone after confronting James Tarkowski during the first half.
“We needed to show that we can win in this way,” Alonso said. “We looked solid, we played solidly, we were strong, and we stayed in control.
“In the first half there were difficult periods with throw-ins, corners and pressure from Everton. You have to overcome those moments.
“In the Premier League it is very hard to have complete control in an away game, but you cannot lose your shape or your conviction.”
Who is Mike Penders?
Penders, 21, became Chelsea’s youngest goalkeeper to play in the Premier League. He has made 81 senior appearances and could now face a demanding run of fixtures if Martinez is unavailable.
A confirmed concussion could trigger a minimum 14-day return-to-play process under Premier League protocols.
Chelsea signed Penders from Genk for £17m in 2024 and loaned him back to the Belgian club before sending him to sister club Strasbourg last season. He impressed in both the Conference League and Ligue 1.
The 6ft 7in goalkeeper is regularly compared with Thibaut Courtois, whom he has recently deputised for in the Belgium national team set-up. Both were developed by youth goalkeeping coaches Guy Martens and Gilbert Roex, who also worked with Koen Casteels, Maarten Vandevoordt, now at RB Leipzig, Lucca Brughmans, who will join Liverpool next summer from Genk, and Nordin Jackers of Club Brugge.
Penders is noted for his ability with the ball at his feet and recorded the highest average position when playing out from the back under Rosenior at Strasbourg early last season.
Roex said: “We have produced a lot of great goalkeepers, but Mike is the one with the potential to reach the same level as Thibaut. His sense of calm is gold in goalkeeping.”
