Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports and Getty
Topics: Gary Neville, Cole Palmer, Chelsea
Chris Nee
Gary Neville made a very bold judgement about Cole Palmer after Chelsea defeated Liverpool on Sunday.
Palmer scored from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time at Stamford Bridge and former Manchester United right-back Neville had his say after the match.
The Blues overpowered a makeshift Liverpool midfield to beat the new Premier League champions and boost their own hopes of a return to the Champions League.
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22-year-old Palmer's goal ended any doubts about a game that was already beyond Liverpool but it gave him a much needed boost and opened the door for Neville, on punditry duty for Sky Sports, to proffer an opinion about the midfielder's performance.
"Obviously he's had his dip but that's just natural in any forward's career," said Neville.
"What I liked about him today was he was hanging out on that right-hand side and he sort of found a space in the game, and I think the best players also find out where the game is.
"What I mean be that is they'll understand where they can go and do maximum damage.
"I think he's that type of player. And he's nowhere near [Cristiano] Ronaldo. He's nowhere near the level of Ronaldo, let's be clear, but I'm going to put him in sort of the same sentence here from the point of view of a principle.
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"Cristiano used to go and play at the point whereby the other team were the weakest and most vulnerable, and I think Cole Palmer has earned the credit... to put himself in that category."
There's no doubt Palmer is a fine player at his best but he's been having a tough time.
The England international is in the first real dip in form since his move to Chelsea from Manchester City and has struggled to have an impact in matches.
His difficulties have been laid bare by a lack of goals. Palmer's previous goal came against Bournemouth in January and he went 18 matches in all competitions without scoring.
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Football fans on social media aren't minded to let pundits off the hook lightly when it comes to statistical matters of fact and Neville's comments about Palmer sparked a reaction of their own.
"The penalty today was his goal since January btw," noted one fan on X, formerly Twitter.
"Hilariously overrated," read another review. We think they meant Palmer.
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"One pen and one [half] decent game in six months is the same bracket as Ronaldo?" questioned another fan.
"I wonder how Sky Sports keep you [on] their payroll when you provide the worst takes on weekly basis. No in-depth analysis, just pure rage bait and vibes," rattled an Arsenal fan on X who definitely hadn't been baited into rage.
"I understand why he didn't succeed as a coach," posted another user.