Chelsea and England star Cole Palmer (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea and England star Cole Palmer has named Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk as his ‘toughest opponent’.
Palmer has taken the Premier League by storm since joining Chelsea in a £40m move from Manchester City in the summer of 2023.
The 22-year-old scored 25 goals during his first season at Stamford Bridge, with his sensational form earning him a call-up to the England squad for Euro 2024.
Palmer’s form shows no sign of slowing down, with the playmaker – who is contracted to Chelsea until 2033 – already scoring seven goals and making five assists in nine Premier League games this season.
Another player who has made a superb start to the 2024-25 campaign is Van Dijk, who Palmer rates as his ‘toughest opponent’.
Van Dijk has established himself not only as a Liverpool legend but an all-time Premier League great since arriving at Anfield in 2018.
The Netherlands international was a key member of the Jurgen Klopp team that ended Liverpool’s long wait for a Premier League title and lifted the Champions League trophy either side of two runs to the final.
Liverpool legend Virgil van Dijk (Picture: Getty)
Van Dijk has been named in the Premier League Team of the Year four times in the last six seasons and finished runner-up for the Ballon d’Or in 2019.
Liverpool boast by far the best defensive record in the Premier League so far this season, Arne Slot’s side conceding just five times as they look to rival Manchester City and Arsenal for the title.
Liverpool are one of the few Premier League clubs Palmer is yet to score against. In five games against the Reds he has also yet to register an assist.
Chelsea suffered only their second defeat of the season against Liverpool a week and a half ago and Palmer struggled to make an impact.
Quickfire questions with Cole Palmer! ð¯ï¸ pic.twitter.com/XUoFY0vSJl
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 29, 2024
He produced an influential performance in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United, however, scoring the second-half winner and playing a sensational pass in the build-up to Nicolas Jackson’s opener.
Asked about Palmer’s influence at Stamford Bridge in the aftermath of the Premier League win, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said: ‘I’m very pleased, especially because I can see him enjoying himself.
‘That is the most important thing that they can enjoy playing football. This is the first thing and then you can see he is continuing to improve; no matter which position he is playing.
‘The other day, he was playing in a different position in a different part of the pitch and he did fantastic.
Van Dijk and Palmer embrace after the Euro 2024 semi-final (Picture: Getty)
‘He has to work hard but also enjoy it. They decide to be football players, to be happy and enjoy that moment. They just have to continue doing that.’
Palmer’s form since arriving in west London has been so good he has the potential to …read more
Source:: Metro
