Liverpool suffered just their third defeat of the season — and their heaviest under Arne Slot — on Sunday night, falling 3-1 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues gave the newly crowned Premier League champions a guard of honour before kick-off, but that was where the hospitality ended.
Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring for Chelsea, with Cole Palmer heavily involved in the build-up. Jarell Quansah then put the ball into his own net to double the hosts’ lead.
Virgil van Dijk pulled one back late on, but Quansah conceded a stoppage-time penalty, which Palmer converted to score his first goal since January.
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Chelsea star Cole Palmer leaves Gary Neville impressed with skill
Gary Neville was full of praise for Cole Palmer’s performance against the Reds.
In particular, Neville lauded the role he played in Chelsea’s opener, raving about his movement off the ball that created the goal, reminding him of Arjen Robben.
“Looking at the first goal. I remember playing against players that did things that were sort of like took them into the ‘world-class’ category. Just intelligence, understanding, timing of movement and that double movement and the spin. what he did to Curtis Jones on that first goal was really special.
“I used to think that when I played against a left winger that moved like that, I was in real trouble because the timing of it, the way in which they do it so sort of effortlessly, it doesn’t look like, you know, it’s not obvious.
“The way in which they drift into a position and all of a sudden it’s that change of pace and that acceleration and that sudden change of direction which made Curtis Jones slip.
“And I’ve been there as a defender when I’ve slipped when someone’s done that to me. playing against a player say for instance like Arjen Robben who was a great great player, one of the real great wingers I think in world football, had some of the best movement that you’ll ever see just moving towards a position all of a sudden he’s just gone and he’s turned and he’s you know spun away from you.
“So that first goal was really really special (for Chelsea).
Cole Palmer’s dip in form at Chelsea under Enzo Maresca
Palmer has been Chelsea’s best player since joining the club from Manchester City in 2023.
However, he has been going through a dry patch recently under Enzo Maresca, having not scored a goal from open play since the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth in January.
It is suggested that Maresca’s tactics are to blame for Palmer’s form, with Glen Hoddle suggesting that the attacker is at his best when allowed to play with freedom.
Cole Palmer stats under Manager Games Goals Assists
Mauricio Pochettino 45 25 16
Enzo Maresca 41 15 10
Cole Palmer stats under Mauricio Pochettino and Enzo Maresca
In contrast, Palmer thrived under Mauricio Pochettino, under whom he scored 25 goals and 16 assists in 45 games across all competitions.
While the Manchester United-linked Cole Palmer may not be enjoying his best season, he has still produced a respectable return with 15 goals and 9 assists in 34 appearances.
Given his strong start to the season, it may not be entirely due to Maresca’s tactics; it could simply be a natural dip in form that many professional players experience.
It remains to be seen whether he can rediscover his goalscoring touch for the remainder of the season, especially after ending his drought against Liverpool.