Martinez Concussion Lands Chelsea Keeper in Hospital After Everton Win

68th-Minute Collision Leaves Chelsea Waiting on Scan Results

Emiliano Martinez was taken to hospital for precautionary tests after suffering a concussion in Chelsea's 2-0 win at Everton on Saturday, a sombre footnote to an otherwise emphatic afternoon at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Argentina goalkeeper collided with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite in the 68th minute while attempting to claim a cross from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's free-kick. After a long stoppage and around ten minutes of treatment, the World Cup winner was carried off on a stretcher, moving his arms as he left the pitch.

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso confirmed the diagnosis after the match but stressed that the club were still waiting for a fuller picture. "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," Alonso said. "What we know is that he left the stadium conscious and is now in hospital undergoing precautionary tests. Hopefully it will not be too serious, but at the moment we just have to wait."

Mike Penders came on for the final stretch and made his Premier League debut in goal, helping Chelsea close out a first clean sheet in the top flight since January — a run of 23 matches. Pedro Neto struck twice, once seconds after the restart and once in the 90th minute, to hand Everton a first defeat of the season and keep the win's meaning intact despite the distressing scenes around Martinez's injury.

Doubts Over a Defining Run of Fixtures

The timing is a real concern for Alonso. Chelsea face Tottenham and Manchester United in their next two Premier League matches, with a Carabao Cup trip to Liverpool wedged in between. Concussion protocols make Martinez a serious doubt for all three, and Penders — a 21-year-old Belgian signed from Genk — could now be thrown into a defining stretch of fixtures.

There is also a question over Branthwaite, who played on after a concussion test but will be monitored by Sean Dyche's staff after the head-on-head contact. Everton, beaten for the first time this season, host Newcastle next weekend with their defensive record suddenly dented.

Chelsea expect an update on Martinez's condition within 48 hours. For now, the club's first Premier League clean sheet in nine months comes with a cost that no one in blue wanted to pay.