Cole Palmer again, ole, ole.
So sang the Chelsea fans, over and over, with glee and a touch of relief. Palmer was back scoring again, back in form again, and Chelsea were looking even more nailed on for a Champions League place.
Palmer was doing what he has been doing since joining Chelsea – score vital goalsGettyAgainst Liverpool on Sunday, Palmer scored his first goal since the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on January 14, 18 games ago. He’d scored 14 in the preceding 23, and then the tap seemed turned off. Criticism was turned on online.
“Social media nowadays is full of idiots, the trolls and whatever,” Palmer told Sky Sports after the 3-1 win over the Premier League champions at Stamford Bridge. “I don’t pay any attention to that.”
That’s good to hear but, in truth, no player can be completely cocooned from the toxicity on tech platforms. Players are aware, whether they have taken a peek themselves, or are told snippets by friends and family. Whatever is written about them in cruel posts, the important thing is that players get to script the response. Palmer certainly did here with his performance.
Due allowance must be made for the opposition being a Liverpool side stuck in second gear, and looking to have the title celebrations in their legs. Manager Arne Slot made six changes but none of those given a rare starting chance seized the moment.
The one positive for Slot was that it might have given him food for thought when he considers squad plans in the summer. The first XI is strong, the second string a lot less so.
Chelsea took advantage. Liverpool’s starting XI, and those chosen by Europa League semi-finalists Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, will inevitably trigger a debate about weakened teams and the integrity of the Premier League.
Liverpool were simply resting triumphant players after an exhausting campaign. United and Spurs are focused on Europe. Nottingham Forest, scrapping for a Champions League place, will certainly not have appreciated the under-strength XIs.
Whispers of protest could rise to howls if it continues and affects even more the chase for lucrative Champions League places. Yet the whole idea of having 25-man squads was that teams were not markedly depleted in quality if managers rotated. The reality is that the drop-off can be steep. As Liverpool proved. Their reserve midfield of Wataru Endo, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott was a faint echo of the first-choice Ryan Gravenberch, who didn’t even make the match-day squad, and Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, who eventually came off the bench. Liverpool have been the Beatles this season but were the Shadows here.
So Palmer’s revival needs placing into some context. It was still uplifting for Chelsea players and supporters, and doubtless also for the England head coach, Thomas Tuchel. An in-form Palmer is surely his starting No 10.
And expert penalty-takers are always sought by England. This game was all but won anyway, and Chelsea were already leading Liverpool deep into added time, but Palmer’s dead-ball contribution was the most riotously received of all their goals. Chelsea’s keeper, Robert Sanchez, even ran 100 yards to join in the celebration in front of the Matthew Harding Stand.
The forward is Chelsea’s best player and proved it against LiverpoolGetty From the penalty spot there is not many others you would want taking a spot kickGetty Palmer is a hit among the Chelsea fans and his name is always sangGettyPlayers and fans know how important Palmer is to their fortunes. There are world and European champions in the squad, respectively Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella (who excelled against Mo Salah here). There are £125m players like Moises Caicedo, outstanding at right-back and central midfield.
Palmer, though, is Chelsea’s most important player, the conductor of the orchestra. Enzo Maresca’s style can be slightly too slow for fans’ liking at times, too sideways, so Palmer’s ability to accelerate attacks with his passing gives Marescaball more appeal and threat.
His skill was in evidence throughout, including a clever back-heel down the line that Noni Madueke wasted. He slalomed around Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo at one point. He showed an impressive burst of pace when racing away from Conor Bradley and hitting a post.
The 22-year-old played a part in all three Chelsea goals. He first sent Pedro Neto down the right after three minutes, and the winger’s cutback was controlled and then swept in by Fernandez. Palmer tricked his way past Kostas Tsimikas 11 minutes into the second, and crossed to cause chaos in the champions’ box. The ball eventually cannoned in off Quansah.
Even when Virgil van Dijk headed a goal back after 85 minutes, Palmer had his chance from the spot when Quansah brought down Caicedo six minutes into injury time. Palmer immediately took responsibility, took the ball and bounced it next to the spot a few times as the penalty decision was confirmed. Van Dijk wandered up but was ignored by Palmer. He kept his focus, and placed the ball confidently past Alisson.
This was a good day for Chelsea, not only with Palmer back on song but Romeo Lavia excelling in central midfield, and the team moving level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle United. The race is on, and intensifying.
All that was left was for Chelsea fans to serenade Palmer. Again.
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