Cole Palmer validates Gianfranco Zola with ‘pass of the season’ in Newcastle victory | OneFootball

Cole Palmer delivered another influential performance as Chelsea ran out 2-1 winners over Newcastle this afternoon.

Eddie Howe’s men focused intently on the Blues’ most valuable player. However, as club legend Gianfranco Zola recently said, “He has the pass in mind before he receives the ball,” which ultimately proved to be the Magpies’ undoing.

Nothing illustrated Zola’s point more strikingly than Chelsea’s opening goal. Palmer turned inside his half and delivered a lovely pass behind former Stamford Bridge academy graduate Tino Livramento, allowing Neto to sprint forward. He dodged Fabian Schär’s sliding tackle and charged into the penalty area, passing the ball to Nicolas Jackson, who couldn’t miss and side-footed it into the net. It was a superb counter-attack.

“It is one of the passes of the season from Palmer,” exclaimed Alan Smith on Sky Sports commentary.

Under the leadership of Enzo Maresca, he’s been positioned behind Chelsea’s lone striker but given the freedom to drift. Palmer often finds himself on the flanks, where he played last season, or slightly deeper, allowing him to deliver long passes or initiate counter-attacks.

Even so, Palmer — who had a goal disallowed before Jackson’s effort — doesn’t monopolise possession and wasn’t one of the five Chelsea players with the most touches in the game; he does, though, maximise his time on the ball, attempting 39 passes, 17 of which were played into the final third.

His first run towards Nick Pope’s goal after the break resulted in Chelsea reclaiming their lead after Alexander Isak had drawn the game level before half-time. The visitors lost possession on the halfway line as Lavia intercepted the ball and passed it to Palmer. Chelsea’s leading man surged into the box and shot past Pope at the near post.

Palmer’s latest effort means he’s failed to score or assist in just three of his 18 Premier League starts for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, registering 26 goal involvements in these matches (21 goals, five assists).

Zola, watching from the stands, would no doubt have been pleased with his successor’s performance, especially as he recently admitted that Palmer has surprised him the most.

“I’m very impressed with Palmer because he’s doing amazing things and has been doing them for more than a season now,” he said.

“He’s probably one of the players that has surprised me the most. I could see straight away that he had qualities, but I didn’t see all of this coming.

“He has the ability to entertain. He always produces good passes and very good assists. What I love about him is when he receives the ball he is always looking up and many times he has the pass in mind before he receives the ball. This is a quality only the really big players have. I’m impressed.

“In the last game, I saw a wonderful free kick from him, which is something that lights up my eyes all the time.

“This is all down to him and the people who have coached and helped him. Now he needs to continue because he is becoming a sensational player.”

There’s no question that Palmer is currently Chelsea’s most valuable player, and he is undoubtedly satisfied with his achievements so far. Having turned 22 in May, the former Manchester City academy graduate aspires to become the best footballer in the league and potentially a contender for the Ballon d’Or.

Despite not having played a single minute of Champions League football last season, he received a nomination for this year’s prize, which is quite rare.

However, given Chelsea’s current performance, it won’t be long before they return to compete in European football’s premier club competition.

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