Cole Palmer was forced to watch from the sidelines as Lucas Paquetá produced a stunning strike to fire West Ham ahead inside the opening six minutes. The Chelsea talisman, left on the bench, could only look on as the Brazilian midfielder lit up the match with a moment of brilliance that stunned Stamford Bridge.
Where would Chelsea be without Cole Palmer? At just 23, the forward took a major gamble by leaving Manchester City for London — a decision that has already been vindicated. Since joining the Blues, Palmer has lifted both the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup, and data-driven forecasts suggest his success is only set to grow.
Analysts have even tipped him ahead of Bukayo Saka in team-of-the-season projections. With 27 goals and 15 assists in the last campaign, Palmer has become Chelsea’s undisputed talisman. His remarkable four-goal display against Brighton exemplified his ability to change games single-handedly, while his calmness from the penalty spot and trademark celebration have cemented his status as a fan favourite.
If Chelsea can push beyond expectations and mount a genuine top-three challenge, Palmer’s influence could be decisive. For Enzo Maresca’s side, he is no longer just a promising talent — he is the centrepiece of their resurgence.
