Enzo Maresca: Chelsea boss says second-placed side are ahead of expectations
While Cole Palmer had little say in Jadon Sancho’s superb strike to help Chelsea comeback at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the England international has played an important role in the next three games role as he inspired the Blues to victory in the derby.
The 22-year-old calmly scored a penalty to equalize for the Blues, before his furious run and shot set up Enzo Fernandez’s volley to make it 3-2.
A cheeky ‘Panenka’ penalty for the second goal capped a brilliant display for Palmer, prompting former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher to compare him to the Chelsea football legend.
“People are scared of him when he has the ball,” Carragher told Sky Sports. “When you look at Chelsea over the years you see talented players and you see Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard. What he did in his 18 months at the club was probably More than Zola.”
“If he keeps doing what he is doing, he will go down as one of Chelsea’s greatest players. He is a very special player, not just in the Premier League but in European and world football.”
Palmer has contributed 50 goals (33 goals, 17 assists) in just 48 Premier League games.
He is the fourth-quickest player to reach that total, joining Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (39), former Newcastle striker Andy Cole (43) and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (43). 46) reached this total while playing fewer games for the participating clubs.
Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp added: “Palmer’s move to Chelsea changed his life.
“The things he does on the ball are scary. He’s a throwback player, it’s like he’s playing with his teammates. It’s effortless for him.”
