With Cole Palmer nearing his long-awaited Chelsea return, Enzo Maresca’s job gets that bit harder.
Chelsea return to Premier League action this weekend with an early kick-off against Burnley at Turf Moor.
After spending most of the season on the sidelines, Palmer is due to return for Chelsea very soon.
There was a bit of a setback this week, with the latest Palmer injury update suggesting he won’t be back for Barcelona, as previously thought.
But whether he’s available or not, Paul Merson has the same advice for the Chelsea boss, and it’s to do with another young Englishman.
Cole Palmer and Liam Delap in action during CR Flamengo v Chelsea FC: Group D - FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Photo by Carl Recine – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Paul Merson says Liam Delap has to start even when Cole Palmer returns
Merson was doing his usual predictions for the weekend, and took some time to share his thoughts on Chelsea’s new number nine, who hasn’t seen many minutes at the start of the season.
He reckons Maresca’s strongest XI to face Burnley has to include Delap, as does his preferred lineup moving forward.
Writing for Sportskeeda, he says: “Burnley need to start winning games at home. But I just think Chelsea will be stronger all over the pitch and I expect the visitors to win.”
Merson is backing Chelsea for a 2-0 away win, but reckons Maresca needs to make use of Delap for best results, both on Saturday and moving forward.
Chelsea’s last five results at Turf Moor
Burnley 1-4 Chelsea – 07/10/23
Burnley 0-4 Chelsea – 05/03/22
Burnley 0-3 Chelsea – 31/10/20
Burnley 2-4 Chelsea – 26/10/19
Burnley 0-4 Chelsea – 28/10/18
He continues: “I would go with Liam Delap as the striker for this game and I’d stick to that even after Cole Palmer returns from injury.”
Delap is that traditional striker, and a weapon Chelsea are yet to use effectively in the league. Merson wants Delap to be given the responsibility of leading the Chelsea line, but where does that leave the other attackers?
Liam Delap as a regular Chelsea starter opens up a difficult left-sided decision
Chelsea obviously bought Delap to play him, but they spent even more money on a certain Brazilian who hasn’t given Maresca reason to drop him. Joao Pedro has been brilliant since arriving at Stamford Bridge.
But Merson thinks he’s not the ideal line-leader to complement Chelsea’s star man.
As he puts it: “Palmer is someone who needs runners with him, that is why Nicolas Jackson was such a good option for Chelsea.
“If Joao Pedro plays as striker, he will drop deep and that will not free up enough space for Palmer to operate. Delap, on the other hand, is a willing runner and a proper number nine who will suit Palmer in my opinion.”
Fitting all three in — with Estevao having locked down the right — will mean less opportunity for the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens, both of whom have done well in recent weeks.
Pedro is a better player than both, but starting him on the left is a big change from the more direct winger profile.
Maresca has troves of talent at his disposal, but that makes these selection decisions all the more difficult. For Burnley, at least, he doesn’t have to factor Palmer in, but his imminent return is sure to cause the Italian headaches in the coming weeks.