Frank Lampard has heaped praise on Cole Palmer following Chelsea's 4-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. The 22-year-old midfielder fired the Blues to victory in North London on Sunday afternoon, claiming three crucial points in the Premier League title race.
Palmer netted an equaliser for Chelsea in the second-half after Yves Bissouma was penalised for fouling Moises Caicedo inside the box. Then, the former Manchester City ace teed up Enzo Fernandez, who put the west Londoners ahead with a quarter of an hour still to play.
In the final minutes, Palmer scored another spot-kick to double Chelsea's lead, calling Fraser Forster's bluff and chipping the ball down the middle. After the game, the England international marked the victory with a celebratory post on Instagram, which eclipsed 800,000 likes by Monday morning.
The comment section was flooded by thousands of fans, friends and family congratulating Palmer on his man-of-the-match performance. But, one message from Frank Lampard stood out; the Blues legend wrote: "Class [three blue heart emojis]."
John Terry and Thiago Silva also heaped praise on the Chelsea talisman, alongside the likes of Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella. Nevertheless, speaking to reporters after the game, Maresca was asked what makes Palmer so good at spot-kicks.
"Since we started, I have not seen Cole shooting penalties," said the Italian. "In terms of the second penalty, he's Cole. He's Cole. The good thing about him tonight was Bissouma was marking him man-to-man, so he needs to learn how to play against a team that goes man-to-man with him, but he was fantastic."
Maresca added: "Because Cole belongs to that kind of players. They are not normal players, they are top players. Top players do things that normal players, or us, cannot do that. It's because he's top. We can expect this from him."
On if Palmer is the best player in the Premier League, the Chelsea boss replied: "For us, for sure. But in the Premier League, there are top players, top talents. Cole belongs to those players. I had Cole with one year - four years ago at Man City Under-23s, so I know Cole from then.
"The best thing about him, he was then in one way and now after two years, 20 goals, 25 goals last season, and considered one of the best - he is exactly the same guy. Loves football, humble.
"No strange things and this is the best thing for Cole. Today, young players, if they play one good game they already think... and then they lose the balance. Cole is always the same."
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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