Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been rushed to hospital after a sickening collision with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite.
The players clashed heads as Martinez came off his line to collect an aerial cross into the Everton box, with Branthwaite attempting to attack the ball.
There was immediate concern for both players as they stayed down in the box, but Branthwaite was able to return to his feet after a couple of minutes.
Martinez, however, stayed down on his back as Chelsea physios and medical staff worked with caution and the stretcher was called.
The Argentinian received oxygen on the pitch and was eventually carried off to pitch on a stretcher around 10 minutes after the collision.
Broadcaster TNT Sports, who decided against showing a close-up replay of the gruesome clash of heads, reported that Martinez was immediately taken to a local hospital in Liverpool.
But the goalkeeper appeared to be conscious and was moving his arms while he was stretchered straight down the tunnel, in what looked to be a positive sign.
Speaking to TNT Sports immediately after the match, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said: “As far as I know, he left the stadium conscious.
“Right now he’s in the hospital doing precautionary tests. So let’s see, but this is what I know so far.”
Martinez was replaced in the 73rd minute by Belgian reserve goalkeeper Mike Penders, who came on to make his Premier League debut with Chelsea leading 1-0.
Branthwaite was cleared to continue for Everton after team physios performed concussion checks on the pitch.
When play resumed, Pedro Neto scored his second goal of the game to double Chelsea’s lead and seal a 2-0 victory on Merseyside for their first away win of the season.
It also meant that Chelsea kept a clean sheet in the Premier League for the first time in nine months, or since a 2-0 win over Brentford on 17 January.
But the victory was overshadowed by Martinez’s injury and the thoughts of Chelsea’s players immediately turned to their team-mate.
Match-winner Neto dedicated Chelsea’s win and clean-sheet to Martinez and the Portuguese forward said
“We are really pleased. It is a shame for Emi but we wish him all the best. This win is for him. We are really happy but of course our thoughts are for him,” Neto told TNT Sports.
“It’s in his honour. We needed a clean sheet. We needed a good game. Emi deserved this. Mike [Penders] who came in deserved this as well. So we are really happy.”
Martinez, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, was making just his sixth appearance for Chelsea after joining the Blues from Aston Villa in August.