Liam Rosenior will have been relieved, more than anything, to see his Chelsea side limp to a 2-0 win over Brentford on Saturday afternoon. Especially because Chelsea were largely second-best.
Joao Pedro and a Cole Palmer penalty saw Chelsea end a month without a Premier League win, having last won against Everton on December 13. A first clean sheet and a second win in three for Rosenior.
A very solid start to life as Chelsea manager. Even though they didn’t win, they pushed Arsenal to the limit despite lacking, Malo Gusto, Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Reece James and other key players on the night.
Who would you rather have as Chelsea manager right now?
Enzo Maresca or Liam Rosenior 🤜🤛
Liam Rosenior or Enzo Maresca
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
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Rosenior will have been delighted with Robert Sanchez’s performance against Brentford, and the way in which Chelsea scored their goals. The high press working and forcing Brentford to make key mistakes.
Cole Palmer situation concerns Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer
Palmer was back on Saturday after injury had prevented him from the games against Fulham and then Arsenal. He started and saw out the entire match, but Palmer made his way straight down the tunnel.
Cole Palmer v Brentford
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
After his goal, it wasn’t his normal celebration and clearly, something wasn’t right. Lineker and Shearer discussed Palmer’s situation on The Rest Is Football, with Shearer claiming Palmer “didn’t look happy”.
Lineker started: “It looked like Cole Palmer was struggling with his groin again at the end?” Shearer replied: “He didn’t look happy. Even when he stuck his penalty away, I don’t know, he didn’t look happy.”
Lineker continued: “Apparently, it was the same groin that has been causing him problems so it might be getting to him a bit. There’s a World Cup coming up too, so massively important that gets sorted out.”
How Chelsea have done with and without Cole Palmer so far
Palmer has managed just 13 appearances in all competitions so far, 12 of which have come in the Premier League and the England star has scored five goals. But a groin issue and a broken toe has kept him out.
Discuss: Chelsea are a better side without Cole Palmer at the moment… 🫨
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Interestingly, Chelsea have only won twice in the 13 games Palmer has featured in this season. They have drawn six and lost five, with Saturday’s win only the second time Palmer has experienced victory this term.
In the 20 games without Palmer this season, Chelsea have won 14 times, drawn twice and lost four games. With Palmer frustrated at full-time again, the chances are he won’t be involved against Pafos this week.
But judging by Chelsea’s form with him and without him, it might be a blessing in disguise with Chelsea in need of a big win to push themselves into the top eight of the Champions League first-round table.
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