Costa worry for Chelsea

Costa faces an immediate three-match ban for his apparent stamp on Liverpool defender Emre Can in Tuesday night's Capital One Cup semi-final second-leg win.

The incident happened in close proximity to the dugouts, but was missed by the match officials.

It was reviewed on video by referee Michael Oliver on Wednesday, with the charge following as part of the Football Association's fast-tracked procedures.

Costa, who faces no action for a similar incident involving Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel, has until 6pm on Thursday to respond to the charge.

If Costa denies the charge, the appeal will be heard on Friday, but he would require the appeal commission to side with him in order to face City.

Either way, there will be a resolution before Saturday's contest at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea's lead from City at the top of the Premier League could extend to eight points, or fall to two.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who on Wednesday was fined £25,000 and warned about his future conduct for claiming there was a "clear campaign" against Chelsea, has insisted that both stamps were "absolutely accidental".

A three-match ban would rule Costa the City clash, as well as matches with Everton and Aston Villa. There is no right of appeal.

Any absence of Costa would be a blow for Chelsea, who have missed his goals and his menace when he has not been selected.

Costa's importance to Chelsea was outlined by Eden Hazard following the Liverpool contest.

"When you play with this guy, you have to give everything," Hazard said.

"You can see in every action and for every ball, he gives his life.

"Even if he didn't score against Liverpool, he gave his life. For us, for the players, when you play with him, it's very good.

"In training he is a little different but in the game he is very good. He never stops. He had a very good mentality against Liverpool.

"We need him because he can score every minute, every second. He did very well."