TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves has lavished praise on Chelsea attacking midfielder Cole Palmer after he scored four goals against Brighton at the weekend.

The 22-year-old has been phenomenal ever since joining the Blues from Manchester City last year and Hargreaves says the player is operating on a completely different level to both his teammates and opponents:

“Okay, let’s be honest, Cole Palmer is playing in a different league to anybody in the Premier League. He could argue that he could win the Premier League Player of the Year last season, in terms of numbers, goals and assists.”

“But in terms of finishing, this is insane (free-kick goal). He shouldn’t score from there. Top bins. He barely even celebrates. I think he is one of the most clinical finishers in the Premier League. I think it’s Haaland, then it’s him. In front of the goal, he is lethal.”

Palmer has been extremely clinical

The England international has hit the back of the net 6 times in 6 Premier League starts this campaign, with his goals coming from an xG of just 3.7. That means he is overperforming his expected goals by 2.3.

There are only 4 other top-flight players who can better that figure; the aforementioned Haaland (+3.8), Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo (+3.0), Everton’s Dwight McNeil (+2.5) and Liverpool’s Luis Diaz (+2.4). Palmer is one of the best finishers out there.

Chelsea have so many threats in the final third

While Palmer’s form will delight head coach Enzo Maresca, he is not the only forward performing well. Despite fluffing his lines against Brighton, Nicolas Jackson has scored 4 times this season, Christoper Nkunku has bagged 6 in all competitions, while Noni Madueke has also contributed 3.

There is ammunition on the bench too, with Pedro Neto, Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk available to the manager. It should hold them in good stead as they challenge for a top 4 finish.

Find out who is in Chelsea’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here