Cole Palmer’s season has never really caught fire. Injuries have played their part, but Paul Merson believes there is another reason why Chelsea’s most creative player has looked frustrated in recent weeks.
Palmer has been carefully managed by head coach Liam Rosenior after a lingering groin problem, starting some games and missing others.
He completed 90 minutes against West Ham and scored from the spot against Brentford but was then left out of the defeat to Arsenal as Chelsea continue to balance fitness with form.
Yet, according to Merson, Palmer’s issues go beyond minutes and muscle niggles.
In his view, something fundamental in Chelsea’s attack has changed, and it has taken away one of Palmer’s biggest strengths.
Paul Merson explains what Cole Palmer is missing
Speaking on the Stick To Football podcast, Merson suggested Palmer is suffering from a lack of runners in front of him, particularly when building attacks through the middle.
When Palmer receives the ball between the lines now, the picture is very different to what it was last season.
“You watch Palmer now,” Merson explained. “He puts his foot on the ball and there’s nothing there.”
For Merson, that lack of movement is the key problem. Palmer thrives when he knows where the next run is coming from, when defenders are being pushed back and space is opening up for him to play quickly.
Why Joao Pedro is making life harder for Cole Palmer
Merson pointed to Joao Pedro as a key reason Palmer is finding things more difficult.
The £60 million forward has impressed in spells, but his tendency to drop deep into pockets rather than threaten in behind is, in Merson’s view, negating Palmer’s influence.
“Joao Pedro wants to come short,” Merson said. “There’s no movement in front of him.”
Instead of stretching centre-backs and creating gaps, Pedro often occupies similar spaces to Palmer.
That leaves Chelsea’s play narrow and predictable, with Palmer forced to…
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