Cole Palmer possesses the “X-factor” to guide Chelsea to a Premier League title, says Paul Merson, whereas Jamie Carragher thinks he may develop into one in every of Chelsea’s “greatest ever.”
Chelsea fought again from two targets all the way down to win 4-3 at London rivals Tottenham to shut the hole on Premier League leaders Liverpool to 4 factors.
Palmer saved his nerve at key moments to attain twice from the penalty spot as he grew to become the primary participant in Premier League historical past to attain 12 consecutive spot kicks.
The England star additionally offered the help for Enzo Fernandez, which means no participant within the Premier League has registered extra purpose involvements because the begin of final season than Palmer’s tally of fifty.
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Enzo Maresca wrote off Chelsea’s title possibilities claiming that they are removed from the completed product, joking that ‘Arsenal, Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool would not slip like Marc Cucurella’
“He’s phenomenal,” mentioned Merson.
“Nobody actually knew a lot about him when he got here from Man Metropolis, so it was a free hit for him. However within the final seven months, he is now the large boy.
“The name of the game for opposition is to stop Cole Palmer. Teams are trying to stop him – and they can’t do it. That shows you how good he is. He’s too intelligent. He’s always got space. Everybody needs an X-factor to win a Premier League title and Chelsea have it with him.”
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.
Chelsea at the moment are into third favourites with the bookmakers to win the Premier League and are shorter within the betting than Manchester Metropolis. Enzo Maresca has obtained his staff forward of the place many individuals had predicted Chelsea could be this season because the win at Spurs was their 14th win from their final 20 Premier League encounters.
Carra: Palmer on the identical stage as Hazard
Palmer’s affect has been large in getting Chelsea to problem in direction of the highest, in response to Carragher.
He mentioned: “When you think of Chelsea’s flair players like Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard, I think Palmer has done more in 18 months than Zola did and Zola is one of Chelsea’s greatest ever players.
“He is on the identical stage as Hazard and that came to visit 4 or 5 years.
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Chelsea stars previous and current, Gianfranco Zola and Cole Palmer, resolve who has the perfect first contact, the perfect expertise, finest free-kick taker and extra!
“If he takes Chelsea to a title then he’d go down as one of their greatest ever players if he keeps doing what he’s doing. He’s a special player.
“This Chelsea staff isn’t any underdog story. It is a staff that has spent £1.2bn however what they’re doing this season is one thing completely sudden. This membership are proper within the combine for a title problem.”
Maresca: Palmer is not a normal player
Chelsea head coach Maresca understands Palmer’s expertise and potential higher than most having coached the ahead as he got here up by means of the ranks at former membership Manchester Metropolis.
Requested after the win over Spurs whether or not he thinks Palmer can now be thought to be the perfect participant within the Premier League, Maresca mentioned: “Cole belongs to that kind of player, they are not normal players, they are top players.
“And top players, they do things that normal players or us say ‘how can he do that?’, it’s because he’s Cole, because he’s top. We can expect this from Cole.
“I had Cole for one yr 4 years in the past, so I do know him from then. When he was with me within the U23s, he was in a method, and now, he’s precisely the identical man. Pretty, humble, no unusual issues and that is the perfect factor for younger gamers.
Requested what he considered Palmer’s ‘Panenka’ spot-kick, Maresca replied: “The second penalty…he’s cold!”
