By Opta Analyst | Created at 2025-01-08 13:07:04 | Updated at 2025-01-09 07:23:55
18 hours ago
It may not have proved decisive in the end, but Cole Palmer’s goal against Fulham broke a Chelsea club record that had stood for over 20 years.
Cole Palmer’s goal against Fulham was the embodiment of someone who’s had a good year. Dropping between the lines to pick up the ball on the half-turn, Palmer skipped past two Fulham midfielders before nonchalantly caressing the ball into the net from the edge of the penalty area. It was so silky smooth that it felt like Palmer was walking on air as he glided through Fulham’s defence.
Although the goal ended up proving a mere consolation – Marco Silva’s side roared back to win their first ever Premier League game at Stamford Bridge – it did break a long-standing Chelsea record.
That strike was Palmer’s 26th Premier League goal of 2024, the most ever scored by a Chelsea player in a calendar year in the competition. It saw him move one ahead of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s tally of 25 in 2001.
It also means he’s scored more league goals in a single year than Chelsea legends Didier Drogba (22 in 2010), Diego Costa (21 in 2016) and Frank Lampard (20 in 2005).
Granted, eight of those goals have been penalties, the most of any in the below list, but nervelessness from the spot is still an incredible asset. Let’s not forget Palmer currently holds the record for the most penalties taken in Premier League history without ever missing one.
Palmer’s strike against Fulham was also his 39th goal involvement of an incredible year (26G, 13A). That was a record he already held for Chelsea, having surpassed Hasselbaink’s record of 36 with his two goals against Tottenham earlier this month. With one game to go in 2024, Palmer could still break the Chelsea record for the most Premier League assists in a calendar year. That is currently owned by Lampard’s 14 in 2009.
Despite Hasselbaink’s incredible 2001 calendar year – he finished as the Premier League top scorer in 2000-01 and was one goal off the top in 2001-02 – Chelsea could only finish sixth in both campaigns.
With Liverpool surging ahead at the top of the league this season, Palmer’s goals may not be enough to propel Chelsea to a title, but they can definitely guide the Blues to a top-four finish in 2023-24.
That would certainly resemble success as Enzo Maresca starts to build his new dynasty, with Palmer very much at the forefront.
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