Aside from perhaps the purists, football fans don’t go to a match to watch zonal marking or a low defensive block.
They go to be entertained, to see goals and to witness moments of magic. They go to watch players like Cole Palmer.
“It is the reason why people pay,” said Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca after yet another eye-catching display by Palmer in Sunday’s 2-1 win against Newcastle.
“They want to see that kind of player and we are very happy to have him here.”
The England forward scored what proved to be the winner to continue his excellent form this season.
This was his seventh goal in nine Premier League games, but it wasn’t just his finish – as nice as it was – that gained the 22-year-old yet more praise.
Instead, it was an incredible 60-yard pass from inside his own half that sent Pedro Neto away down the flank to provide the assist for Nicolas Jackson’s first-half opener.
Alan Smith, co-commentating on the game for Sky Sports, declared it “the pass of the season”, but those analysing in the studio at half-time went one further.
“‘This pass over 60 yards, I mean, that’s one of the best passes I’ve seen, never mind this season, but in the Premier League,” gushed former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.
“Taking two or three Newcastle players out and then just on a plate for Neto.”
Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane added: “I love watching this kid.
“Even his awareness when he receives the ball, he knows exactly what’s happening but then to execute the pass… perfect pass, you just run and he’s going to pick you out.”
‘He’s an icon on Fifa’ – Palmer on Zola comparison
Watching Palmer’s performance at Stamford Bridge on Sunday was Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola.
The former Italy forward said in a pre-match interview that one thing he liked about the current Blues hero was his exceptional awareness in games.
“The first thing I notice is that when he receives the ball he’s already looking to do what is next,” said Zola.
“That is a quality only a few players have.”
It was an observation validated in emphatic fashion by Palmer’s brilliant ball to Neto.
Sometimes it easy to forget he is still so young.
At 22, Palmer would have been just a few months old when Zola was a Chelsea player, so could be forgiven for seemingly not being too familiar with the Italian’s artistry – just like when he said he “didn’t really watch” Dennis Bergkamp following comparisons to the Arsenal icon.
“I know he is an icon on [the video game] Fifa so he must have been good,” Palmer said of Zola.
“To be honest I didn’t really watch him play. Everyone says he was a great player, so thank you.”
‘I try not to put pressure on myself’
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Cole Palmer’s touch map against Newcastle highlighted his willingness to drop deep to help start attacks.
Almost every week Palmer is praised for his goals or a piece of dazzling skill.
It is a lot of expectation on a player who will undoubtedly have dips of form during his career.
In his debut Premier League season with Chelsea last term he scored an incredible 22 goals and had 11 assists.
It took Palmer a little while to get going, however, with three goals in his first nine Premier League games compared to seven this time, but he is determined to stay grounded amid what can be achieved.
“I always try to enjoy my football game by game,” he said. “I try not to put pressure on myself.
“Many people on the outside try to put pressure on me to replicate what I did last season in terms of numbers. It is my second season playing football and I am still very, very young.”
Palmer’s focus, instead, is on doing his best for Chelsea, with his latest winner putting them on the cusp of the top four – a point behind Arsenal and Aston Villa.
“We just try to play our own game, block the noise out from the outside. We don’t mind proving people wrong,” he added.
“We are all young and we have a top coach, but there are improvements still.”