THE NOTEBOOK: Cole Palmer’s cold celebration gives former team-mate the shivers, Mauricio Pochettino facing Robert Sanchez dilemma… and Carrick family are down in the dumps

Chelsea reached the Carabao Cup final with a 6-1 thrashing of Middlesbrough in their semi-final second leg on Tuesday, underlining the gulf in quality between the Premier League side and their second-tier visitors.

Chelsea had squandered a hatful of chances in the first leg away two weeks ago which Middlesbrough won 1-0.

But Middlesbrough, missing key players through injury, could not repeat their defensive heroics and, after conceding an own-goal through captain Jonny Howson in the 15th minute, were already 4-0 down by half-time.

Cole Palmer put away two for Chelsea and Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi and Noni Madueke also got on the scoresheet. Morgan Rogers scored a consolation goal for Boro in the 88th minute for a 6-2 aggregate score in the tie.

Mail Sport’s Adrian Kajumba picks out a few things you may have missed.

Palmer gives former team-mate shivers

Cole Palmer’s  ‘cold’ celebration was inspired by former Man City and England youth team-mate Morgan Rogers, now at Middlesbrough, and the Chelsea star rubbed it in by doing it again after scoring his 10th goal for the Blues in the first half. 

Rogers, 21, scored at the death for Boro and showed glimpses of the potential that has attracted two bids from Aston Villa. 

Chelsea host Villa in the FA Cup on Friday but Rogers won’t get another runout at Stamford Bridge even if Villa sign him before then. This is because he is cup-tied having played — ironically — against Villa in the third round.

Carricks down in the dumps

It has been a week to forget for the Carrick family in the cups. 

Last Wednesday, Graeme Carrick’s Newcastle Under 18 side were dumped out of the FA Youth Cup 5-0 by Bournemouth and last night his older brother Michael saw his Middlesbrough side go the same way in the Carabao Cup. 

Both Carricks their teams 4-0 down at half-time, too.

Pochettino facing Sanchez dilemma

Chelsea are not short of goalkeepers with three appearing in Mauricio Pochettino’s matchday squads more often than not this season — and a fourth is on the way back. 

Mauricio Pochettino has a decision to make over keepers Robert Sanchez and Robert Sanchez

Robert Sanchez has been out with a knee injury that he suffered at Everton last month, but the Spaniard is making encouraging progress in his recovery bid and there was hope that this week would see a step up in his level of training he is able to take part in. 

When he is fit again it will give Pochettino a decision to make. 

Sanchez became No 1 following his arrival from Brighton in the summer but deputy Djordje Petrovic has done himself no harm since stepping in.