Dream Team managers expected Chelsea's front three to shine in Gameweek 8, but the trio delivered a disappointing performance.

Cole Palmer (£5.6m), Morgan Rogers (£5.5m) and Joao Pedro (£5.7m) were among the most owned picks before the deadline, as managers targeted a rare double-header for the Blues.

Xabi Alonso's preferred attackers have been strong in Dream Team this season despite no European games, accumulating 25 goal involvements in the first seven weeks and earning more points than several regular midweek stars.

That form made them attractive for Gameweek 8, when the Carabao Cup round of 16 offered a second scoring chance.

However, reality proved unpredictable.

Joao Pedro was left out of the squad for the Tottenham match after a recurrence of the knee injury that had sidelined him from Brazil duty, a problem unknown to Dream Team owners.

The 28.1%-owned striker suffered fluid buildup that blocked a quick scan; his condition remains unclear and he is not expected to play at Liverpool on Wednesday.

Palmer, the most selected midfielder, received a second yellow in the 80th minute and was sent off.

Spurs supporters argued he should have been shown a straight red for a barge into Mateus Fernandes (£3.3m) minutes earlier.

His three points up to that moment were deducted, leaving him with zero and a one-game domestic suspension for the upcoming cup tie at Anfield.

Rogers avoided injury and cards but managed only a single point in the 2-0 loss.

The England international, owned by 29.6% of managers, was cautioned in stoppage time.

Together, the three had amassed 212 points over the first seven weeks but produced just one point on Saturday.

With Pedro sidelined and Palmer suspended, Rogers is the only one left to seek redemption on Wednesday.

Looking ahead, Chelsea will have only one fixture next Gameweek - a trip to Old Trafford - while nine other clubs play twice due to European commitments.

At the time of writing, Palmer (first), Joao Pedro (second) and Rogers (fifth) rank among the most transferred-out players ahead of Gameweek 9.