'Needs to watch himself' - Chelsea hero Cole Palmer sensationally slammed for 'losing touch' with Luton game & 'ducking out of headers' after scoring twice at Kenilworth Road

The former Manchester City star has been the Blues' standout player this term, and he continued that fine form in a 3-2 win at Kenilworth Road in their last outing. Palmer rifled home expertly for Chelsea's first, before cooly rounding the goalkeeper and shaking off several defenders for his second and what turned out to be the game's decisive goal. It was the cutting edge Chelsea have been lacking all season, but those two efforts - as well as an assist for Noni Madueke - haven't sheltered him from some bizarre criticism.

Known sometimes for his unorthodox takes, former Tottenham and Manchester United forward Garth Crooks was at it again with his review of Palmer's display on Saturday. He told BBC Sport: "Chelsea recovered from a poor performance against Wolves with a win over Crystal Palace and then went to Kenilworth Road a few days later to beat a stubborn Luton Town side. That said, Chelsea made very hard work of this victory. The disapproving shaking of the head by Thiago Silva at the end of the match said it all. The only bright spark for the visitors was Palmer, whose two goals were taken quite brilliantly. But the English midfielder needs to watch himself. Ducking out of headers on defensive set plays doesn't endear yourself to your team-mates, neither does suddenly losing touch with the game having scored two goals when really he should have been searching for his hat-trick."

Indeed, Chelsea did make work hard for themselves, with a late floury of Luton goals piling the pressure on at a raucous Kenilworth Road. Were it not for the heroics of Djordje Petrovic in the Blues' goal, who tipped Carlton Morris' header onto the bar in the closing stages, the Hatters could have secured a memorable point. That said, it seems harsh to pin Chelsea's capitulation solely Palmer's efforts, and rather speaks to an innate lack of game management from Mauricio Pochettino's young side.

Palmer's two goals and an assist takes his tally to 12 goal contributions for Chelsea in the league this term, which is the most at the club for the entirety of 2023, according to Squawka. This season, he also leads the way in most passes into the box (74), most chances created (27), most goals (eight), most big chances created (seven) and joint-most assists (four).

Now a stalwart in Pochettino's side, it remains to be seen whether Palmer will be rested as part of a weaker-looking squad against Preston on Saturday in their FA Cup third-round clash. Chelsea then travel to Middlesbrough in a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg just three days later.