Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer is expected to be available for the club’s upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester United despite being sent off during their 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

The England international received two yellow cards within nine minutes of the second half against Tottenham, resulting in his dismissal. The red card triggered an automatic one-match suspension, but Palmer will not have to miss Chelsea’s next league fixture as the punishment is expected to be served during their Carabao Cup encounter with Liverpool.

Chelsea are scheduled to face Liverpool at Anfield in the fourth round of the competition before taking on Manchester United in the Premier League. Consequently, Palmer is set to miss the cup tie and become eligible again when the Blues return to league action.

Under the relevant disciplinary regulations, suspensions resulting from red cards in Premier League matches can be served in domestic cup competitions. Dismissals in domestic cup fixtures can also lead to suspensions that affect subsequent league matches. However, bans arising from the accumulation of yellow cards generally apply only to the competition in which those cautions were received.

Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso must therefore determine whether to select Palmer for the Liverpool fixture before turning his attention to the Manchester United encounter. The midfielder has already demonstrated his ability to influence Carabao Cup matches, having produced an impressive performance against Leeds United earlier in the competition.

Palmer began that match on the bench but was introduced at half-time with Chelsea trailing 1-0. He responded by scoring twice within three minutes, helping the Blues reverse the situation and eventually secure a thrilling 6-3 victory.

His potential availability against Manchester United will provide Chelsea with an important boost as they prepare to host their Premier League rivals at Stamford Bridge. Palmer's creativity, attacking movement and capacity to produce decisive moments make him a significant figure in the team's forward play.

Meanwhile, Manchester United will have an entire week to prepare for the meeting after their Carabao Cup campaign ended in disappointment against Brighton and Hove Albion. The Red Devils suffered a 4-2 home defeat despite initially establishing a two-goal advantage.

United appeared to be in control after Mason Mount and Shea Lacey scored within 43 seconds of each other, giving the hosts a promising start. However, Brighton responded before the interval when Charalampos Kostoulas reduced the deficit, keeping the visitors in contention.

Brighton completed their comeback in the second half through goals from Maxim De Cuyper and Pascal Gross. Their response overturned United's early advantage and secured progression at the hosts' expense.

The defeat was particularly damaging because it marked Manchester United's first home loss after leading by two goals in 50 years, according to the report. The result added to the club's disappointment and left them with questions to address before travelling to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will be hoping to take advantage of their home fixture and Palmer's expected return to league availability. Although the midfielder's suspension rules mean he can feature against United, his participation against Liverpool will depend on the outcome of the disciplinary process and the club's selection plans.

With both teams preparing for an important Premier League contest, Palmer's availability could become a significant factor as Chelsea look to strengthen their performance against Manchester United.