«I've taken many penalties. People say he just scores penalties, but I'm not going to miss a penalty, am I? Touch wood.»
The words of Cole Palmer after he took – and scored – his seventh and eighth penalties of the Premier League season for Chelsea in their dramatic 4-3 victory over Manchester United last week. The 21-year-old, who signed for the Blues for £42.5million from Manchester City on deadline day last summer, has been an absolute revelation since making the move.
Palmer's assist for Noni Madueke in the second-half of Sunday's draw with Sheffield United means the England international has now directly contributed to 32 goals this season in all competitions for Chelsea – with 19 goals and 13 assists since moving to Stamford Bridge. Eight of those 19 goals have been from the penalty spot, with Palmer boasting a 100% record from 12 yards.
With eight goals from the spot, Palmer has now overtaken Jorginho's highest-ever tally for the club in the Premier League. The Italian midfielder, now playing for Arsenal, scored seven times from the penalty spot in Chelsea's 2020/21 season.
Palmer has doubled Chelsea legend Eden Hazard's highest-ever amount of penalty goals in a single Premier League season. Hazard scored four times from 12 yards in two separate campaigns for the Blues (2013/14 and 2018/19. But Palmer is still a bit off Frank Lampard.
Lampard netted a staggering 10 times from penalties in the 2009/10 season for the Blues. But with Chelsea still having eight games remaining of their Premier League season, there is every opportunity for Palmer to at least equal Lampard's tally.
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