Cole Palmer admitted he felt like he was letting Chelsea down during his 18-game goal drought, which finally ended in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool.
After netting 14 league goals by mid-January, Palmer looked set to surpass his 22-goal haul from last season. However, he went nearly four months without scoring in any competition, a barren run that stretched across the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Conference League.
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Despite contributing occasional assists, Palmer was unable to find the net in key matches, including defeats to Aston Villa and Brighton and frustrating draws with Brentford and Ipswich — results that complicated Chelsea’s push for Champions League qualification.
Speaking after the win at Stamford Bridge, Palmer was honest about his struggles:
“Getting chances and not scoring, it feels like you’re letting your team down,” he said. “I feel like I am mentally strong anyway. I feel pride in helping the team. If I’m not doing that, I’m not happy. I went three months without scoring but it just gives me more fight and motivation to do more for myself and for the team.”
Chelsea capitalized on a rotated Liverpool lineup, who had little to play for with the title already secured. The win strengthens the Blues’ position in the race for a top-five finish, giving them a three-point edge and better goal difference over sixth-place Nottingham Forest.
