Chelsea’s players have been warned by Enzo Maresca they can’t just rely on Cole Palmer to solve “all their problems” as they prepare for Sunday’s game with Liverpool.
The Blues face their toughest test of the season at Anfield and if they are going to get a positive result it will need to be a team effort.
Maresca’s men have made a good start to the campaign and currently sit fourth with 14 points from a possible 21, whilst they haven’t lost since their defeat to Manchester City on the opening day.
Maresca warns Chelsea’s players they can’t rely on Palmer
Maresca will be without two of his first choice back four in Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana, with the pair both suspended and it’s likely Renato Veiga and Tosin Adarabioyo will come into the backline.
The 44-year-old recently offered some tactical insight into how the Blues will approach the game as Chelsea go in search of a first win at Anfield since 2021, whilst they haven’t beat the Reds in the last nine meetings between the sides.
Maresca’s men certainly have the attacking weapons to cause Liverpool problems, and are further boosted by the fact Reece James is available for selection for the first time this season.
However ahead of a tough run of fixtures, which includes Newcastle, Manchester United and Arsenal before the next international break, Maresca has warned his players they can’t rely on Palmer to solve all their problems.
“If we think that Cole is going to solve all our problems, it’s a big mistake,” he told reporters in quotes picked up by The Independent.
“We put all the pressure on his shoulders and that is wrong.
“Also because we have Cole but we have many players that are doing well; Noni (Madueke), Pedro (Neto), Nicolas (Jackson), Christo (Christopher Nkunku), Enzo (Fernandez). It’s not just about Cole, it’s about all the squad.”
Whilst Palmer is still very much Chelsea’s main man the supporting cast have shown they can step up and at this early stage it doesn’t feel like the Blues are as reliant on the England international as they were last season.
