Cole Palmer was back to his best as he helped Chelsea secure a 3-1 victory over Liverpool, ending his 16-week goal drought with a crucial injury-time penalty. The England forward described feeling “free” throughout the match, playing with confidence and flair that had been missing in recent months.
Palmer’s performance was a key factor in Chelsea’s win against the newly crowned Premier League champions, who made six changes to their lineup. He was instrumental in the build-up to Chelsea’s second goal and consistently troubled Liverpool’s defense with his creativity and dribbling. His penalty, awarded after a foul on Moises Caicedo, sealed the win and sparked celebrations among the Stamford Bridge crowd, marking a significant personal milestone after nearly four months without scoring.
Reflecting on his scoring drought, Palmer acknowledged that such patches are part of a footballer’s life and insisted that criticism from social media trolls did not affect him. Instead, the drought gave him extra motivation to improve and contribute to the team’s success. He praised his teammates, particularly Caicedo, for their support and highlighted his desire to keep raising his level.
Chelsea’s victory moved them level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle and strengthened their bid for a top-five finish and Champions League qualification. Manager Enzo Maresca emphasized the importance of Palmer’s return to form, hoping he and fellow attacker Nicolas Jackson will continue scoring in the crucial final games of the season.
Overall, Palmer’s display was a reminder of his unique talent and potential impact as Chelsea push for European football next season.