Chelsea’s prodigy Cole Palmer has rediscovered his spark at the perfect moment, transforming from a frustrated genius into the catalyst for a late-season surge.
His penalty in the dying minutes of the 3-1 win over Liverpool on May 4 ended an 18-game goal drought and capped a midfield masterclass that saw him heavily involved in all three goals.
He played a key pass for the early Enzo Fernandez opener and drew defenders in the scramble that led to Quansah’s own goal.
“I went three months without scoring but it gave me more fight and motivation,” Palmer said after the game, summing up his newfound confidence.
The win kept Chelsea inside the top five, just a point shy of third place, in a race where every point now matters more than ever.
The Numbers Behind the Man
Palmer has 42 appearances in all competitions (15 goals, 10 assists). Those 23-goal involvements are the most for any Chelsea player this season.
He has played 34 Premier League games, starting in all but one, scoring 15 goals, and providing nine assists.
In the UEFA Conference League, he has featured five times, registering one assist and an impressive 88% passing accuracy.
Palmer has combined goals, creativity and efficiency; after all, it was his passing and movement that created all three goals vs Liverpool.
Notably, before his goal, the England international led Chelsea in chances created, shots and touches in the box against Liverpool.
Cole Palmer: Maresca’s No. 10
Palmer’s renaissance is no accident of confidence alone – it reflects a deliberate tactical role crafted by head coach Enzo Maresca.
Last season Palmer often played wide; this campaign Maresca has unleashed him as a central creative hub.
In Maresca’s 4-2-3-1, Palmer has operated as the right-sided No.10, drifting into pockets where he can shoot with his left foot or thread through balls.
He is able to drive forward, combine quickly and create chances from the middle of the park.
Palmer is excellent at shooting from distance, finding teammates in space, and pressing aggressively.
Under Maresca, inverted fullbacks, such as Marc Cucurella for much of the season, provide Palmer with the freedom to roam, effectively making him a right-sided playmaker cutting in on goal.
In as much as he has struggled in the recent months, playing as 10 has shown just how much quality he possesses, especially looking back at the first few months of the 2024/25 season.
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Chelsea’s European Hunt
Palmer’s resurgence couldn’t come at a more pivotal time.
Chelsea sit locked in a tight race for UEFA Champions League qualification. After beating Liverpool, Chelsea have 63 points from 35 games (same as Newcastle United), with only Manchester City (64) and Arsenal (67) above them in a stacked table.
Crucially, this season the Premier League earned a fifth Champions League spot, so even fifth place now guarantees a place in 2025/26’s competition.
As Palmer noted, “We know they [Liverpool] are an amazing team so to win feels good…we needed to win for the Champions League.”
With just three league games to play – against Newcastle, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest – and every point critical, Palmer’s goals and creativity are a massive lift in that battle.
At the same time, Chelsea remain deep in the European mix.
The Blues advanced past Copenhagen and Legia Warsaw to reach the UEFA Conference League semi-finals.
They now stand one step from yet another European trophy – a final on May 28 in Wrocław.
Palmer’s creative spark is doubly important: it keeps Chelsea competitive on all fronts.
His form boost lifts Chelsea’s entire campaign – in both the chase for a top-four (or top-five) finish and the push for European silverware.
Should Chelsea succeed in Wroclaw, they will become the first team to win the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
Can they make history?
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Sportimage
Recording Date: 04.05.2025