Chelsea lead at Stamford Bridge, and of course it’s Cole Palmer who has got the Blues on track.
Picking it up on the half turn, Palmer took a couple of strides into the box and then just rolled the ball into the net with an almost mockingly low powered shot.
We’ve all seen players side foot a goal in – we can’t remember one side footing one so lightly as this. It went between a defender’s legs, and was so precise that the goalkeeper couldn’t reach it. It was almost a mockery of the stopper by Palmer.
That’s his 12th goal to add to his 6 assists this season. And he could add a couple more by the end of this game. He’s already tested the keeper twice since this goal went in.
You can see the goal in the clips embedded here:
Cole Palmer casually passing it into the back of the net for Chelsea’s opener 🥶👏#PLonPrime #CHEFUL pic.twitter.com/P1YHHHneQM
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 26, 2024
[Footage from Amazon Prime]
Cole Palmer delivers a late Christmas present for Chelsea fans. 🥶
📺 Peacock | #CHEFUL pic.twitter.com/jzHS8ss0LP
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 26, 2024
[Footage from NBC Sport]
COLE PALMER IS GENERATIONAL! 1-0 🥶 pic.twitter.com/u4Y3SefTVy
— Chels HQ (@Chels_HQ) December 26, 2024
[Footage from Bein Sport]
Silent menace Palmer outdoes himself with superb side foot finish
Chelsea didn’t start this game too well – Fulham were all over their switches of play and looking hungry in transition.
Palmer had had a quiet game at the weekend, and had barely touched the ball in the opening 15 minutes. Yet that is his genius – he goes from nothing to a potentially match winning moment in just 3 or 4 strides and one perfect strike of the ball.
We really want to see the Blues pick up another goal and then start making changes in the second half. The attackers today need a break if we want them at full power for the game on Monday and then next week. We can’t risk it until we have at least a second goal – but players like Palmer and Nicolas Jackson need as many minutes off as they can get.
