Despite losing 2-1 to Aston Villa on Saturday, there were a couple of good performances in the Chelsea side.
Reece James and Robert Sanchez, for example, were excellent for Enzo Maresca’s team.
Sanchez’s display was one positive from the defeat, with the Spaniard now looking like one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.
Why aren’t Chelsea killing off games? 👎
Chelsea have dropped 11 points from winning positions in home Premier League matches this season — four more than any other side.
— BBC Sport
Cole Palmer of Chelsea runs with the ball
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
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However, one of his Chelsea teammates failed to impress during the loss to Villa at Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer of Chelsea and Youri Tielemans of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Aston Villa
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Chelsea will be concerned with Cole Palmer’s form
Maresca was pleased with Cole Palmer’s performance against Villa before substituting him in the 72nd minute.
Speaking to the BBC after the game, the Chelsea head coach said: “I think he was working very hard but he was a bit tired. Overall, he had a good game.”
Palmer, though, had just one shot on target and failed to register a single key pass, according to Sofascore.
Since returning from injury, the attacking midfielder has struggled to make much of an impact.
In the five Premier League games that Palmer has played against Villa, Newcastle United, Everton, Bournemouth and Leeds United, the 23-year-old has only managed to score one goal. Across those matches, he has not recorded a single assist.
His groin injury was quite problematic, so it may take a while for Palmer to get back into the rhythm of things.
But knowing what he is capable of, some at Stamford Bridge would have been hoping for more from Maresca’s star player.
Enzo Maresca manager of Chelsea looking frustrated
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Cole Palmer isn’t improving under Enzo Maresca
Palmer has put in some stunning displays under Maresca. His match-winning performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final is the first that comes to mind.
But has the Englishman really improved since Maresca replaced Mauricio Pochettino? It is hard to argue that he has.
Cole Palmer’s four-goal display against Everton was just insane! 🔥
Who has utilised Palmer better, Enzo Maresca or Mauricio Pochettino? 🤔
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In the Premier League last season, Palmer went on a 12-game goal drought, while he is struggling for form at this moment in time.
For whatever reason, Maresca has not been able to get as much out of Palmer as Pochettino did when the Argentine was in the Stamford Bridge dugout.
Amid links to Manchester City, Maresca’s long-term future is already uncertain. If his management of Palmer does not improve, critics are going to question whether he is the right man to take Chelsea forward.
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