What does data say about Palmer's season to date?

Cole Palmer was named the eighth‑best player in the world at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in September, but both data and the eye test indicate a dip in form.

The 23-year-old is still regarded within Chelsea as "untouchable". However, even by the reigning PFA Young Player of the Year's own admission, Palmer is not yet operating at his fluid, brilliant best - with several mitigating factors contributing to that downturn.

Palmer has seven goals and three assists in 16 matches since returning from the groin issue in December. However, four of those goals have come from the penalty spot.

Penalties have boosted Palmer's numbers throughout his career. Only former midfielders Mark Noble and Mikel Arteta have a higher proportion of penalties among players with 40 or more Premier League goals, compared with Palmer's current 40% ratio.

No player in the Premier League has scored more penalties than Palmer's 18 since his Chelsea debut in September 2023 - underlining why the man nicknamed 'Cold' is already viewed as one of the best finishers from 12 yards in the competition's modern era.

Palmer's form has dipped since his sensational 2024 calendar year. From his Chelsea debut to the meeting with Bournemouth in January 2025, Palmer scored 36 league goals (33% of them penalties) and provided 17 assists in 54 matches.

Since then, he has scored nine league goals (66% penalties) and registered three assists in 33 games. Palmer is taking fewer shots, creating fewer chances and posting lower expected‑goals and expected‑assists numbers across those two periods.

Interestingly, Chelsea have also shown they can compete without him.

Without Palmer, Chelsea have won 73% of their games this season compared with just 24% when he plays. They have taken 2.27 points per match without him compared with 1.18 with him and have improved from 1.5 to 2.2 goals per game in his absence.

They are curious statistics given Palmer's decisive performances in both the Conference League final victory over Real Betis in May and the Club World Cup triumph against Paris St‑Germain in July, wins that confirmed his status as Chelsea's main match-winner.