Summary:
- Cole Palmer scored two penalties and assisted Enzo Fernandez as Chelsea came from two goals down to win 4-3.
- Chelsea has moved closer to Liverpool in the title race.
- Paul Merson called Palmer “phenomenal” and said he has the “X-factor” while Jamie Carragher sees him as one the club’s “greatest ever” players.
Cole Palmer has what it takes to lead Chelsea to a Premier League title, according to former pro footballer, manager, and sports commentator Paul Merson.
Similarly, English football analyst and former player Jamie Carragher believes Palmer could become one of the club’s “greatest ever” players.
Thrilling 4-3 Victory Against Tottenham
Chelsea came from two goals down to secure a thrilling 4-3 win over Tottenham, with Palmer scoring two penalties and assisting Enzo Fernandez.
His goals took his tally to 50 goal involvements since the start of last season, the most in the Premier League during that period.
The 22-year-old’s calmness under pressure was evident as he made history by becoming the first player in Premier League history to score 12 consecutive penalties.
Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski put Spurs ahead before Jadon Sancho pulled one back for Chelsea.
Palmer leveled with the first penalty, then Enzo Fernandez gave Chelsea the lead. Palmer added his second penalty, becoming the Premier League’s most accurate spot-kick taker.
Son Heung-min’s late goal made it tense, but Chelsea held on, moving two points clear of Arsenal and closing in on Liverpool, while Spurs sit 11th.
Merson About Palmer: “He’s Phenomenal.”
Merson praised Palmer’s rise, saying
He’s phenomenal. No one really knew much about him when he came from Man City, so it was a free hit for him. But in the last seven months, he’s now the big 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.”, Merson went on, adding Palmer is “too intelligent” and always has “space”.
Everybody needs an X-factor to win a Premier League title, and Chelsea have it with him.
With their win over Spurs, Chelsea closed the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points, and the Blues are now considered third favorites to win the league with Offshore Bookmakers, even ahead of Manchester City in the betting.
Under coach Enzo Maresca, Chelsea has surpassed many expectations, having won 14 of their last 20 Premier League matches.
Carragher: “He’s a special player.”
Carragher also recognized Palmer’s significance, comparing him to Chelsea’s legendary flair players, Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard.
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’s on the same level as Hazard, and that came over four or five years. If he takes Chelsea to a title, then he’d go down as one of their greatest ever players. He’s a special player.
Maersca, who coached Palmer at Manchester City, sees the young forward’s potential as extraordinary.
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.
On Palmer’s “Panenka” penalty, Maresca simply said, “The second penalty… he’s cold!“
Pure composure from Cole Palmer.pic.twitter.com/jcxhkkBuA2
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 8, 2024
Palmer’s performances have shown that he is more than ready to lead Chelsea’s charge for the title. What the future has in store for him, remains to be seen.