Cole Palmer's Red Card Suspension Won't Rule Him Out vs Manchester United

Cole Palmer's red card ban will not stop him from playing in Chelsea's Premier League meeting with Manchester United, according to BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team, which set out the reasoning for supporters asking the question.

A suspension after a red card covers a set number of matches, and whether it applies to a given fixture depends on how that count runs through the club's schedule. That is why the fixture-by-fixture detail matters more than the card itself. Palmer's ban does not reach the Manchester United game, so he is eligible for that match.

The more useful answer for anyone tracking Chelsea's availability is which game he does miss. The BBC's explainer spells out the specific match and how the ban is counted, and it is worth reading in full before planning around his absence or assuming the squad will be without him for a particular date.