Chelsea Star Cole Palmer Names His Toughest Opponent in Premier League

• Cole Palmer is one of the best playmakers in world football and arguably the best player in the Premier League
• He had a sensational first season at Chelsea in 2023/24 and has continued where he left off this season
• The 22-year-old England international recently named the toughest opponent he has faced in his career

Cole Palmer had a breakthrough season in 2023/24 at Chelsea after joining from Manchester City.

He stepped up for the Blues, scoring important goals to help the club bounce back after a few difficult campaigns.

The forward recently named the toughest Premier League opponent he has faced.

Last season, Palmer registered 27 goals and 15 assists in 48 matches, which earned him a nomination for the Premier League Player of the Year award.

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Who is Cole Palmer's toughest opponent?

22 of Palmer's 27 goals last season came in the Premier League. He scored against Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Newcastle United, per Transfermarkt.

In those games, he faced some of the best defenders in the world, including William Saliba, Ruben Dias, and Virgil van Dijk.

Chelsea shared a video of Palmer answering quickfire questions. When asked who his toughest opponent was, he said van Dijk without hesitation.

The Liverpool defender has been one of the best central defenders in the world in the last few years. He finished second in the 2019 Ballon d'Or behind Lionel Messi.

This season van Dijk has impressed and is considered the best in the Premier League.

Why Palmer was benched vs Newcastle

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On Wednesday, Palmer was left on the bench in Chelsea's Carabao Cup defeat to Chelsea as YEN.com.gh reported earlier.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca explained that some of the players on the pitch, Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix, were doing well, and therefore Palmer, his best player, was not needed.

Cole Palmer for Ballon d'Or?

In another report, YEN.com.gh reported that Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola tipped Palmer to win the Ballon d'Or in future.

No Chelsea player has won the award, but Frank Lampard came close, finishing second in 2005. Palmer was 25th in the 2024 Ballon d'Or rankings.

Source: TUKO.co.ke