Cole Palmer’s season has been severely disrupted by groin and toe injuries that have forced him to miss 10 of Chelsea’s 15 Premier League matches so far. Now fit and available, the talented 23-year-old is expected to start against Everton this weekend, arriving at a crucial moment as Chelsea desperately need to rediscover their attacking spark after winless run in recent fixtures.
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Why Has Chelsea’s Attack Struggled Without Cole Palmer?
Chelsea have stuttered since emphatically beating Barcelona 3-0 in the UEFA Champions League in November and are without a win in four matches in all competitions.
While they deserved credit for a strong performance with 10 men against Arsenal, Chelsea were undeniably flat against Leeds United, AFC Bournemouth and Atalanta, failing to create the quality chances that characterized their earlier season performances.
Chelsea’s Attacking Decline in Numbers
| Metric | Matchweek 1-11 (Per 90) | Matchweek 12-15 (Per 90) |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1.90 | 1.00 |
| Expected Goals | 1.89 | 1.09 |
| Big Chances | 3.36 | 1.00 |
| Shots on Target | 5.64 | 3.75 |
As the table demonstrates, Chelsea’s creative numbers have been poor across their last four top-flight matches. Averaging just one big chance and goal per game, they have been short on ideas compared to earlier in the campaign when Cole Palmer was available. The drop in shots on target from 5.64 to 3.75 per 90 minutes particularly highlights the loss of their most reliable goal threat.
With Liam Delap injured and Joao Pedro not in prolific form—scoring just twice in the league since August—Cole Palmer’s availability will provide Chelsea with a welcome lift. He was quiet in the goalless draw at Vitality Stadium, registering just a single shot, but after being rested for Chelsea’s midweek defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League, Cole Palmer should be much sharper on Saturday.
What Makes Cole Palmer Indispensable to Chelsea?
While Enzo Maresca will be pleased that 11 players have shared out Chelsea’s top-flight goals this season, he knows that Cole Palmer is his most reliable player in terms of productivity. Since he joined the Blues in the summer of 2023, only three Premier League players have delivered more direct goal contributions than the England international.
Most Premier League Goals and Assists Since Start of 2023/24
| Player | Goals + Assists |
|---|---|
| Mohamed Salah | 81 |
| Erling Haaland | 75 |
| Ollie Watkins | 59 |
| Cole Palmer | 57 |
Last season, Cole Palmer was Chelsea’s leading scorer with 15 goals and leading assister with eight assists, creating 24 big chances for teammates. Putting that into context, Enzo Fernandez was the next closest with just 13 big chances created. Cole Palmer adds a significant layer to Chelsea’s creativity inside the final third, as he is always willing to shoot and stays calm at key moments.
Chelsea’s Most Productive Players Since September 2023
| Player | Goals + Assists |
|---|---|
| Cole Palmer | 57 |
| Nicolas Jackson | 33 |
| Enzo Fernandez | 23 |
| Noni Madueke | 17 |
| Pedro Neto | 17 |
| Conor Gallagher | 12 |
| Moises Caicedo | 11 |
| Raheem Sterling | 10 |
| Marc Cucurella | 10 |
Since joining Chelsea from Manchester City, Cole Palmer has been far and away the Blues’ most productive player, and that guarantee of goals and assists has been sorely missed during his injury absences.
How Do Chelsea Perform With and Without Cole Palmer?
The statistics paint a clear picture of Cole Palmer’s importance to Chelsea. The team tends to score more goals and win more matches when their talisman is available to start, demonstrating his irreplaceable value to Enzo Maresca’s system.
Chelsea’s Record With and Without Cole Palmer Since 2023/24
| Statistic | With Palmer | Without Palmer |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 68 | 20 |
| Wins | 35 | 9 |
| Draws | 17 | 4 |
| Defeats | 16 | 7 |
| Average Goals For | 1.9 | 1.5 |
| Average Goals Against | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| Win Ratio | 51.50% | 45.0% |
| Points Per Match | 1.79 | 1.55 |
The data reveals that Chelsea average 0.4 more goals per game when Cole Palmer plays, while their win ratio improves by over six percentage points. Most tellingly, their points-per-match average increases from 1.55 to 1.79, the difference between mid-table mediocrity and Champions League qualification.
Where Will Cole Palmer Play Against Everton?
The smart money will be on Cole Palmer starting against the Toffees in his favored central No. 10 spot. It is where he featured last time out, and the position from which he scored his only Premier League goal of 2025/26 so far, at Brentford back in September after coming on as a second-half substitute. Guiding a precise half-volley into the corner, it was a reminder of how clinical Cole Palmer can be.
In general, Enzo Maresca has preferred to use Cole Palmer in behind his center-forward. He was superb coming in off the right flank in 2023/24, but with a plethora of natural wingers in his squad, it makes more sense to use Cole Palmer in a free role instead. Since Maresca arrived at Stamford Bridge, the majority of Cole Palmer’s minutes have come in that No. 10 position.
Interestingly, when studying Cole Palmer’s heat map for this campaign across three starts and two substitute appearances, he has leaned heavily to pockets which are left of center. This positioning accommodates the forward runs of Enzo Fernandez, who plays deeper when Cole Palmer is named as the No. 10. The Argentine loves to drive forward from positions to the right of center, with Chelsea’s shape developing into a 4-1-4-1 formation when they are on the front foot.
Can Cole Palmer and Estevao Form a Dynamic Partnership?
Chelsea supporters are understandably excited at the prospect of wonderkid Estevao teaming up with Cole Palmer. Their only start together came at Manchester United, but that was curtailed after just six minutes when Estevao was sacrificed following Robert Sanchez’s red card, leaving fans disappointed at missing out on seeing the partnership in action.
While Maresca has gone on record to suggest that in the long term he views the 18-year-old Brazilian as a No. 10, he has promised to use them in tandem, with Estevao out on the right. “They can play together,” Maresca said when asked about Cole Palmer and Estevao before their recent encounter with Arsenal. “It depends on which team; it depends a little bit on the game plan, but the fans are excited to watch both together. We are also excited, thinking that at the end we always need a balance between the two phases.”
Having rested both players in Italy on Tuesday night, there is a strong chance we could see Cole Palmer operating on the inside of right winger Estevao this weekend against Everton. That is a combination bursting with promise and natural talent that could get Chelsea back on track.
What is Maresca’s Plan B for Cole Palmer?
Chelsea’s astute head coach is not wedded to the idea that Cole Palmer must play in central areas. In some of Chelsea’s toughest tests, we have seen the Italian utilize him floating in off the right side, just as he did under previous boss Mauricio Pochettino.
The best examples came in their astounding 3-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup final, and in a 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Beefing up his midfield with Moises Caicedo, Reece James and Fernandez just ahead of them on both occasions, Cole Palmer was sensational coming in off the right, combining very well with Joao Pedro and creating numerous chances.
Cole Palmer also has a strong rapport with right-back Malo Gusto when he features in this hybrid role. With the Frenchman supplying the width, Cole Palmer has proved adept at popping up on his inside to hurt opponents. While he is unlikely to adopt this tactic against Everton, do not be surprised if Maresca chooses this approach in matches where Chelsea are viewed as underdogs.
Cole Palmer’s ability to wreak havoc in this hybrid role allows Chelsea to sacrifice an out-and-out No. 10 in matches where they are expected to defend more often, providing tactical flexibility that few players in the Premier League can offer.
Read More: Can Marc Guehi Lead Crystal Palace to an Unlikely Champions League Berth?
FAQs
How many matches has Cole Palmer missed this season?
Cole Palmer has missed 10 of Chelsea’s 15 Premier League matches this season due to groin and toe injuries that have severely disrupted his campaign.
What is Cole Palmer’s goal and assist record at Chelsea?
Since joining Chelsea from Manchester City in summer 2023, Cole Palmer has recorded 57 goals and assists combined in the Premier League, making him the fourth-most productive player in the division during that period.
How does Chelsea perform without Cole Palmer?
Chelsea’s win ratio drops from 51.50% to 45.0% without Cole Palmer, while their average goals per game decreases from 1.9 to 1.5, and their points per match fall from 1.79 to 1.55.
Where does Cole Palmer play for Chelsea?
Cole Palmer primarily plays as a No. 10 in behind the center-forward under Enzo Maresca, though he can also operate effectively from the right flank in a hybrid role depending on the opposition.
Can Cole Palmer and Estevao play together?
Yes, manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed they can play together, with Estevao typically operating on the right wing while Cole Palmer plays centrally or drifts inside from the right depending on the game plan.
