The Spain striker faces a three-match ban and could miss Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash against Manchester City if he is found guilty of stamping on Liverpool’s Emre Can

Chelsea will contest the Football Association’s charge of violent conduct against Diego Costa for an alleged stamp on Liverpool’s Emre Can.

The Football Association independent panel will reach a decision on Friday and if found guilty, Costa will face an immediate three-match ban with no right of appeal – meaning he would miss the Blues’ vital Premier League clash against Manchester City on Saturday evening.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insisted after the match that any contact Costa made with Can was purely accidental but his Liverpool counterpart Brendan Rodgers disagreed.

“[Costa] has this edge to him,” the Northern Irishman, who felt the 26-year-old should have also been punished for another alleged stamp on Martin Skrtel, told reporters. “With Emre Can, that was poor, I felt.”

Rodgers added: “He could easily hurdle over the young player and he directs his studs right on to his ankle, which could’ve been nasty.

“Again, the one with Martin Skrtel, there’s no need to do it. That’s the sad thing. He’s a top-class player and he’s clever enough that the officials don’t see it.”

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