Chelsea made it back-to-back Premier League wins yesterday with a 1-0 triumph over relegation-threatened Leicester City at Stamford Bridge.
Marc Cucurella scored the only goal in West London, helping Enzo Maresca’s side jump back into the top four and massively boosting their Champions League qualification hopes.
The result secured a double for the Italian over the side he left for the Blues in the summer, potentially pushing them closer to an immediate return to the Championship.
However, despite the win, it wasn’t a vintage display, only managing to put one goal past a side who have shipped three or more goals in nine matches throughout the Premier League campaign.
One first-team player failed to impress at the Bridge, continuing the trend of his recent decline in form – something which is unimaginable given his success since his move to the club.
Cole Palmer’s stats against Leicester City
Since his £40m move to Chelsea in the summer of 2023, forward Cole Palmer has often been the go-to man in terms of goal contributions, as seen by his tally of 60 – the highest of any player in that timeframe.
This season alone, he’s registered 20 contributions but has been unable to notch a single goal or assist in any of his last nine matches, including the victory against Leicester.
Palmer missed a penalty in the first half, summing up his poor run of form, but was unable to put the disappointment behind him, failing to deliver throughout the contest.
He failed to score with any of the five efforts he registered at goal, also failing to provide his teammates with the goods after completing none of his attempted crosses.
There’s no denying that he’s been disappointing in recent weeks, ultimately being a victim of his own success in West London, with one of his teammates taking over as one of the club’s most important players.
The Chelsea player who’s becoming more important than Palmer
In Chelsea’s hunt for a return to a Champions League spot, it’s pivotal that Maresca gets the most out of his squad to enhance their chances of returning to the best club competition in the world.
As previously mentioned, Palmer has so often been the key player in the side, leading them out of tricky moments and helping them achieve their goal come the end of the season.
However, his decline in recent matches has allowed Moises Caicedo to take many of the plaudits, starring at the heart of the side alongside Enzo Fernández.
The Ecuadorian already had high expectations after his £115m transfer, but has managed to produce the goods as seen against the Foxes yesterday.
The 23-year-old featured for the entirety of the clash, completing 93% of the passes he attempted and achieving a total of 81 touches in the process.
He also completed 100% of the dribbles he attempted, winning three tackles – the most of any player on the pitch – showcasing his impressive ability to regain possession.
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Caicedo’s stats for Chelsea against Leicester |
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|---|---|
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Statistics |
Tally |
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Minutes played |
90 |
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Touches |
81 |
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Dribbles completed |
2/2 (100%) |
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Tackles won |
3/4 (75%) |
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Duels won |
11/12 (92%) |
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Passes completed |
57/61 (93%) |
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Fouls won |
4 |
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Stats via SofaScore |
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Caicedo won 11 out of the 12 duels he entered, achieving a success rate of 92% – once again the most of any Blues first team member, highlighting his importance to the manager.
Palmer’s lack of form has handed the opportunity for other stars to showcase their performance levels, earning the recognition they may have been devoid of during his incredible run.
The midfielder may have cost a small fortune a couple of years ago, but yesterday was another example of the sensational levels he’s capable of producing – having the opportunity to improve further, given his tender age.
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Chelsea claimed a 1-0 win over Leicester City at Stamford Bridge earlier this afternoon.
