Chelsea's Diego Costa taken to hospital with rib injury

Jose Mourinho has confirmed Diego Costa was taken to hospital with a rib injury suffered in Chelsea's Capital One Cup loss at Stoke.

Costa was forced off after 32 minutes of the Blues' penalty shoot-out defeat following a challenge by Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam.

Asked in his post-match press conference what the situation was with Costa, Mourinho replied: "He is in the hospital - I don't know."

Costa's injury, combined with the holders' exit from the competition, is another blow for Mourinho, whose side host Liverpool on Saturday hoping to arrest an alarming run of form that has seen them take just 11 points from their opening 10 Premier League games.

When then asked if the Spain international would be fit for the weekend, Mourinho said again: "I don't know."

Costa was substituted shortly after being sandwiched between Ryan Shawcross and Adam in a tackle and then trying to muscle his way towards a Willian cross that Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland punched away.

"I think he punched himself," Mourinho added.

Eden Hazard missed the crucial penalty against Stoke, leaving Chelsea with just one win from their last seven matches in all competitions.

The Blues have a busy November, with Champions League games against Dynamo Kiev and Maccabi Tel-Aviv sandwiching Premier League clashes with Stoke and Norwich before the month ends with a trip across London to Tottenham.