Cole Palmer has now taken 12 penalties in his Premier League career and has scored every single one. Is he the best penalty taker in Premier League history?
As Cole Palmer stood over the ball, you could forgive him for being nervous. After all, this penalty was the opportunity to effectively seal all three points away at Tottenham in a game in which Chelsea had trailed 2-0.
Palmer had already levelled the match at 2-2 from the spot, sending Fraser Forster the wrong way to score his 11th Premier League penalty from as many attempts.
It’s not always easy to take another penalty in the same match – some players go as far as to avoid that situation altogether. But not Palmer.
With a puff of the cheeks, he languidly strolled up to the ball and audaciously chipped it down the middle, with Forster once again helpless.
That delightful Panenka took Palmer to 12 from 12, and saw him set a Premier League record for the most penalties taken without ever missing. His second against Tottenham at the weekend took him past former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré, who converted 11/11 of his penalties in his Premier League career.
Cole Palmer penalty locations
Jonathan Manuel / Data Analyst
There are 244 players who have a 100% record from the spot in Premier League history, but just 26 who’ve taken five or more penalties and scored them all.
Aside from Palmer and Touré, Dimitar Berbatov, Rúben Neves and Raúl Jiménez are the next on the list when it comes to those who have taken the most spot-kicks without missing.
Most penalties taken in Premier League history without missing
You could genuinely argue Palmer is the best Premier League penalty taker of all-time. He (obviously) tops the list of all-time Premier League conversion rates from the spot (below). He’s also got a 100% record for England as well, scoring his penalty in the Euro 2024 shootout win against Switzerland.
Granted, he’s not had the chance to take a lot of penalties so far – Matt Le Tissier’s record of 25 from 26 is arguably more impressive – but a few more attempts and Palmer will definitely be in the conversation.
Of current players, Jiménez (8/8), Bryan Mbeumo (7/7) and Chris Wood (7/7) are the only ones with a realistic chance of matching him.
Best Premier League Penalty Takers (Min. 10 Attempts)
Cole Palmer: 100% scored (12/12)
Yaya Touré: 100% (11/11)
Matt Le Tissier: 96.2% (25/26)
Danny Murphy: 94.7% (18/19)
Callum Wilson: 94.1% (16/17)
James Beattie: 94.1% (16/17)
Julian Dicks: 93.8% (15/16)
Erling Haaland: 93.8% (15/16)
Thierry Henry: 92.0% (23/25)
Ivan Toney: 91.7% (11/12)
Bukayo Saka: 91.7% (11/12)
Leighton Baines: 90.9% (20/22)
Danny Ings: 90.9% (10/11)
Gary Speed: 90.9% (10/11)
Frank Leboeuf: 90.9% (10/11)
Peter Beardsley: 90.0% (18/20)
Alexis Mac Allister: 90.0% (9/10)
Palmer has also become just the 11th player in Premier League history to score 12 consecutive penalties. Of the below list, he’s the only one never to miss.
Players To Score 12+ Consecutive Penalties
Matt Le Tissier: 23
Harry Kane: 15
Mohamed Salah: 15
Alan Shearer: 14
Leighton Baines: 14
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink: 13
Luka Milivojevic: 13
Frank Lampard: 12
Ruud van Nistelrooy: 12
Callum Wilson: 12
Cole Palmer: 12
For a player who is coolness personified, it was apt that it was a Panenka that earnt Palmer the record. He has been a revelation since signing for Chelsea and his two penalties took him to 50 goal involvements (33 goals, 17 assists) in 48 Premier League games for the Blues.
Only Erling Haaland for Manchester City (39), Andrew Cole for Newcastle United (43), and Mohamed Salah for Liverpool (46) have ever reached 50 goal involvements in fewer Premier League appearances for a club.
Opta Stats Hub Premier League
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