Aguero, Fernandinho face lengthy ban following their late dismissal

Manchester City's Fernandinho was sent off for his clash with Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is facing a four-match suspension following his late dismissal for an appallingly high lunge on Chelsea's David Luiz.

Aguero received a retrospective three-match ban earlier in the season against West Ham for an elbow on defender Winston Reid, and will now get an extra game on top of his automatic three-match ban for his latest mindless transgression.

Sergio Aguero makes a high challenge on Chelsea defender David Luiz which earned him a red card (Photo: PA Wire)

City were losing 3-1 to Chelsea when Aguero's sickening studs-up challenge deep into stoppage time felled Luiz and left him writhing on the floor in agony.

A mass melee ensued after the ugly tackle, which saw Fernandinho given his marching orders by ref Anthony Taylor for grabbing Cesc Fabregas by the throat and shoving him over the advertising hoardings into the Etihad crowd.

Replays suggested City's Brazilian midfielder was provoked by a slap from Fabregas, who was booked for his role in the fracas.

Chelsea midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah was also cautioned for his involvement in a minor altercation with City's Kelechi Iheanacho.

Both Aguero and Fernandinho are set to sit out City's upcoming Premier League fixtures against champions Leicester, Watford and Arsenal, with the Argentine also in line to miss the Citizens' Boxing Day trip to Hull.

The dismissals of two of City's key players capped off a miserable day for Pep Guardiola's side, who were outplayed by top flight leaders Chelsea in the second half.

City were in the lead at the interval through a Gary Cahill own-goal but second-half strikes from Diego Costa, Willian and Eden Hazard secured the win for the visitors and sent them four points clear of City and Liverpool at the summit of the table.