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View image in fullscreenAnalysisCole Palmer moves off-grid to break free from ghost in Chelsea’s machine at Stamford Bridge

Attacker was a captive spirit on the right and he delivered unprescribed moments of quality despite Maresca’s rigid system

With 84 minutes gone at Stamford Bridge Cole Palmer did something off-grid, unprescribed and, in context, quite surprising, skittering past Conor Bradley near the corner flag, veering inside with that surprising gangly turn of speed and shooting from a fine angle and, in a clever, you-blink-first way, going inside Alisson as he came for the cross, a super-smart little piece of invention.

The ball curved away just enough to hit the post and bounce away from goal.



Maybe he won’t get told off too much.

Palmer breaks goal drought as champions Liverpool beaten by ChelseaRead more

Happily for Palmer, two minutes into stoppage time Chelsea were awarded a penalty.

But this is clearly not the greatest use of Cole Palmer, and another note in the lingering bad taste around this place at times.

Victory makes it four in a row at just the right time.

This mannered Chelsea team playing to save its mannered season.

And also Palmer, a captive spirit on the right, but still the architect of this victory, even if watching him in this Chelsea team can feel a bit like watching Salvador Dalí pretend to be an accountant, diligently filing documents, notarising things, and all the while secretly painting a cup of fur under his desk.

Stamford Bridge had a chilly, grudging late-spring feel.

Under Maresca, Palmer has looked like a ghost in the machine, unsurprisingly, given he is the only player in this team anywhere near his type and quality.
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