Cesc Fabregas was dismissed for a wild lunge as Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Liverpool in the International Champions Cup descended into a mini-war in the United States.

The Spaniard crunched the ankle of Liverpool new boy Ragnar Klaven, with the referee immediately ordering him off the pitch – one of seven cards in a feisty encounter.

"I'm sorry for this. I think the fatigue sometimes can bring a [player] to go too late," Blues boss Antonio Conte said afterwards.

"I know Fabregas is a good man, a good boy and is not a player to have this type of situation. I'm sorry for him, I'm sorry for the Liverpool player."

Cesc Fabregas was dismissed for a wild lunge as Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Liverpool in the International Champions Cup descended into a mini-war in the United States.

The Spaniard crunched the ankle of Liverpool new boy Ragnar Klaven, with the referee immediately ordering him off the pitch – one of seven cards in a feisty encounter.

"I'm sorry for this. I think the fatigue sometimes can bring a [player] to go too late," Blues boss Antonio Conte said afterwards.

"I know Fabregas is a good man, a good boy and is not a player to have this type of situation. I'm sorry for him, I'm sorry for the

Gary Cahill nodded the only goal of the game on 10 minutes at the Pasadena Rosa Bowl as both sides continued their preparations for the new season.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp revealed afterwards Fabregas had visited their dressing room to apologise.

"He [Fabregas] came in the dressing room and said sorry, he came too late in the challenge. Sometimes in life if you are too late then you get a red card. That's how it was.

"It was just a knock for Klavan. I think he will be okay."

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