Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino hailed Cole Palmer’s “massive” contribution to the Blues’ attack after the former Manchester City youngster registered a goal and an assist in Saturday’s hard-fought victory over Sheffield United.
Palmer broke the Blades’ resistance when he slotted home Raheem Sterling’s pass early in the second half, before teeing up Nicolas Jackson for the Blues’ second not long afterwards.
The 21-year-old has been directly involved in 13 goals during his 19 appearances since signing from the 2022-23 Treble winners in the summer.
“For me he’s a playmaker – a player who can link the team,” Pochettino told BBC Match of the Day. “He also has the capacity to score goals and give assists.
“The contribution of Cole Palmer from day one has been massive.”
Chelsea enjoyed almost 80% possession across the 90 minutes, but Conor Gallagher’s long-range effort was their only shot on target in a forgettable first half for Pochettino’s team.
Cameron Archer curled wide for the visitors in the first half and full Chelsea debutant Djordje Petrovic pulled off a fine save from Gustavo Hamer’s low free-kick, but that was the closest the visitors came to a breakthrough.
Second-half substitute Armando Broja should have increased Chelsea’s lead late in the second half but somehow skewed Palmer’s low delivery off target from point-blank range.
The Blues move up to tenth place on 22 points, while Sheffield United remain five points from safety at the foot of the table.
Blues make dominance count
Chelsea have endured a bitterly disappointing 2023 but Pochettino will hope Saturday’s hard-fought victory is the start of a more encouraging end to the year, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Newcastle and league games against Wolves, Crystal Palace and Luton to come.
Despite enjoying swathes of possession they struggled to penetrate a dogged Sheffield United rearguard in the first half, Gallagher shooting tamely into Foderingham’s arms before Jackson curled narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
Their first-half efforts were perhaps best summed up by Mykhailo Mudryk, who blazed wildly off target midway through the first period after nutmegging Max Lowe and cutting in from the left.
There was an outpouring of relief around Stamford Bridge when Palmer converted Sterling’s cross for his eighth goal of the season. Palmer’s opener and Jackson’s close-range effort were both checked for offside by the video assistant referee (VAR) but no infringement was spotted.
Broja will be wondering how he failed to score his second Premier League goal of the season late in the game but, thankfully for Pochettino’s side, the Albanian’s miss did not prove costly.
Chelsea have had a dreadful time with injuries of late but there was positive news before kick-off as Christopher Nkunku was named in the matchday squad for the first time since signing from RB Leipzig in June.
The France forward has not featured for the Blues since suffering a knee injury in a pre-season friendly with Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in August.
Blades fall short despite encouraging display
Chris Wilder’s team claimed only their second Premier League win of the season against Brentford last weekend but were unable to build on that 1-0 victory despite another spirited display in west London.
Operating with a back four, United restricted their hosts to half chances in the opening 45 minutes and went close themselves when Archer shot wide in a rare foray.
They made a bright start to the second half too, but their resistance was broken by Palmer not long after half-time, and Jackson’s effort minutes later left the visitors with a mountain to climb.
“In the first half we got it spot on,” Wilder said. “We limited them to very few chances. It’s just the naivety of our approach in the first 15 minutes [of the second half]when we didn’t have to go after the ball.
“We quickly went from being in the game to being out of the game.”
United have now failed to score in seven of their 17 league games this term – more than any other side in the division.
It does not get any easier for the Blades over the festive period, with games against in-form Aston Villa and champions Manchester City either side of a crucial home clash with fellow strugglers Luton on 26 December.
Player of the match
PalmerCole Palmer
Chelsea
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Squad number20Player namePalmer
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Squad number8Player nameFernández
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Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
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Squad number23Player nameGallagher
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Squad number19Player nameNumbers
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Squad number10Player nameMudryk
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Squad number7Player nameSterling
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Squad number27Player nameGusto
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Squad number26Player nameColwill
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Squad number5Player nameBadiashile
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Squad number28Player namePetrovic
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Squad number25Player nameCaicedo
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Squad number29Player nameMates
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Squad number2Player nameDecember
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Squad number15Player nameJackson
Sheffield United
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Squad number10Player nameArcher
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Squad number28Player nameMcAtee
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Squad number8Player nameHamer
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Squad number5Player nameTrusty
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Squad number35Player nameBrooks
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Squad number9Player nameMcBurnie
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Squad number3Player nameLowe
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Squad number21Player nameVinicius Souza
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Squad number15Player nameAhmedhodzic
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Squad number18Player nameFoderingham
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Squad number20Player nameBogle
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Squad number32Player nameOsula
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Squad number25Player nameBen Slimane
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Squad number16Player nameNorwood
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 28Petrovic
- 2December
- 6Thiago Silva
- 5Badiashile
- 26Colwill
- 25Caicedo
- 23GallagherBooked at 52mins
- 7SterlingSubstituted forNumbersat 75′minutes
- 20PalmerSubstituted forMatesat 90+4′minutes
- 10MudrykSubstituted forFernándezat 69′minutes
- 15JacksonSubstituted forGustoat 90+4′minutes
Substitutes
- 8Fernández
- 13Bettinelli
- 18Nkunku
- 19Numbers
- 27Gusto
- 29Mates
- 42Gilchrist
- 47Bergstrom
- 52Matos
Sheff Utd
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 18Foderingham
- 20Bogle
- 15Ahmedhodzic
- 5Trusty
- 3LoweBooked at 74mins
- 21de Souza Costa
- 28McAteeBooked at 42mins
- 8HamerBooked at 63minsSubstituted forBen Slimaneat 80′minutes
- 35BrooksSubstituted forOsulaat 58′minutes
- 10Archer
- 9McBurnieSubstituted forNorwoodat 67′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Davies
- 2Baldock
- 11Traore
- 14Thomas
- 16Norwood
- 23Osborn
- 25Ben Slimane
- 27Larouci
- 32Osula
- Referee:
- Andy Madley
- Attendance:
- 39,599
Live Text
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Match ends, Chelsea 2, Sheffield United 0.
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Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Sheffield United 0.
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Axel Disasi (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Anis Ben Slimane (Sheffield United).
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Foul by Axel Disasi (Chelsea).
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Anis Ben Slimane (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Chelsea. Malo Gusto replaces Nicolas Jackson.
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Substitution, Chelsea. Ian Maatsen replaces Cole Palmer.
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Attempt missed. Cameron Archer (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Anis Ben Slimane.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Max Lowe (Sheffield United).
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Jayden Bogle.
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Attempt blocked. Armando Broja (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Thiago Silva.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Wes Foderingham.
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Attempt saved. Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt saved. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Cole Palmer (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United).
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Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.