Chelsea need to evolve beyond over reliance on Cole Palmer,he needs to start this player and trust me the Outcome would be Better.”… Gary Neville believes there’s a Chelsea Player in the Bench that would make a better Replacement for Cole Palmer.

Last April, Mauricio Pochettino faced a challenge leading Chelsea into a game against Arsenal without one of his key players, Cole Palmer, who was out due to injury. Palmer’s absence left a noticeable gap in Chelsea’s lineup, leading Pochettino to encourage the team to view it as a chance to prove Chelsea’s strength beyond any individual player. “If I were one of Cole Palmer’s teammates,” he told them, “I’d be inspired to show that this is Chelsea Football Club, not Cole Palmer Football Club.” Despite his motivational words, Chelsea struggled and suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat, the only loss in Pochettino’s final 15 league games with the team and the only match Palmer didn’t play, underscoring the squad’s reliance on him.

When Enzo Maresca took over as Chelsea’s manager that summer, he, too, noticed the team’s dependency on Palmer, which became evident in a recent 2-1 loss to Liverpool. During the match, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones effectively neutralized Palmer, leaving Chelsea with only two shots on target and exposing the team’s vulnerability when Palmer is marked out of play. This reliance on Palmer has become a growing concern for Maresca as Chelsea faces a tough schedule.

Palmer has been a consistent contributor in his 45 Premier League appearances, but Chelsea’s performance suffers when he isn’t involved in scoring. Without a goal or assist from Palmer, Chelsea averages less than a point per game, compared to 1.9 points when he contributes. This season, Palmer has played a pivotal role, scoring or assisting in 11 of Chelsea’s 17 league goals and accounting for 53% of the team’s non-penalty expected goals—a feat unmatched by any other Premier League player.

Palmer leads Chelsea in key metrics such as goals, assists, shots, and attacking-third touches, creating as many chances this season as Enzo Fernandez, Jadon Sancho, and Noni Madueke combined, totaling 24 key passes. His influence has made Chelsea heavily reliant on his skills, prompting discussions on alternative strategies.

Ahead of Chelsea’s match against Newcastle United, Maresca acknowledged that opponents are now using man-marking to limit Palmer’s impact. He suggested Chelsea could turn this tactic to their advantage by diversifying their attack. Maresca explained that while they previously structured play around Palmer for his physical presence, they are now exploring new offensive options.

Jadon Sancho presents one potential alternative, though he has yet to find consistency. To maximize Sancho’s impact, Chelsea might adjust their build-up play to include an overlapping full-back, which could be possible with Reece James’s return. Known for his attacking strength, James could provide the support Sancho needs on the wing, adding a new layer to Chelsea’s attack.

Maresca’s real challenge is that Palmer’s brilliance isn’t solely about giving him the ball. Palmer averages fewer touches in the opposition’s penalty area than six other Chelsea players, yet his effectiveness comes from his skill, vision, and finishing—qualities not easily replicated by his teammates. Pochettino hinted at this last season, joking that Palmer’s teammates were less jealous of his role and more intrigued by the “magic” behind his standout performances.

As Chelsea continues to navigate this dependency on Palmer, the player himself might need to adapt to being closely marked. Rather than viewing it as a limitation, Palmer could leverage the extra attention to create opportunities for teammates, pulling defenders away and opening space for others.