Cole Palmer names Premier League star as his ‘toughest opponent’

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk as his most challenging opponent. Now 22, Palmer netted 25 goals in his debut season at Stamford Bridge, a performance that earned him a spot on England’s Euro 2024 roster.

Palmer shows no signs of slowing down; already this season, he’s scored seven goals and provided five assists across nine Premier League games. With his contract at Chelsea running until 2033, Palmer’s influence continues to grow.

Another standout in the 2024-25 season has been Van Dijk, who Palmer credits as his toughest opponent.

Van Dijk has built a legacy at Liverpool since his arrival in 2018, solidifying himself as both a club legend and one of the Premier League’s all-time great defenders.

The Dutch international played a crucial role in Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool squad that ended the club’s long wait for a Premier League title and clinched the Champions League title amid two other final appearances.

Van Dijk has been named in the Premier League Team of the Year four times in the last six seasons and was runner-up for the Ballon d’Or in 2019.

Liverpool currently boasts the best defensive record in the Premier League this season, conceding only five goals as they compete with Manchester City and Arsenal for the title.

Interestingly, Palmer has yet to score or register an assist against Liverpool in his five appearances against the Reds. In Chelsea’s recent 2-1 loss to Liverpool, Palmer had a difficult time breaking through.

However, he bounced back in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle United, scoring the decisive goal in the second half and delivering a brilliant pass that led to Nicolas Jackson’s opener.

Asked about Palmer’s influence at Stamford Bridge in the aftermath of the Premier League win, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said: ‘I’m very pleased, especially because I can see him enjoying himself.

‘That is the most important thing that they can enjoy playing football. This is the first thing and then you can see he is continuing to improve; no matter which position he is playing.

‘The other day, he was playing in a different position in a different part of the pitch and he did fantastic.

‘He has to work hard but also enjoy it. They decide to be football players, to be happy and enjoy that moment. They just have to continue doing that.’

Palmer’s form since arriving at the club has been so good he has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or in the future, according to Chelsea hero Gianfranco Zola.

‘The pass he made to Pedro Neto for the first goal – it was a brilliant pass,’ Zola recently told the Daily Mirror.

‘I see a lot of things like this that I used to work on in his game. Being able to see the pass before you receive the ball. That is one skill he is developing a lot.

‘I saw this skill a lot yesterday and I am impressed because the majority of players, they want to be able to do something when they have received the ball.

‘But actually, if you know what you are going to do with the ball before you receive it, it is like you are putting yourself ahead of the opposition.

‘I was really impressed with him. I promise you that one of the biggest compliments I can pay to a player is this type of quality.

‘He needs to work a lot on his game, of course, because he is still young and there are things that can make him better.

‘One thing for sure he can work on is his physique. He can get a little bit faster and maybe a little bit stronger in one-on-ones. I know his mind is very quick. He will have to get his body a little bit quicker.

‘But seeing him when he first played for Chelsea and seeing him now, I can see how much ground he has covered, I can see him also covering other ground.

‘If he does that, he can be in contention for the Ballon d’Or because the numbers and the skills are there. There is still work to do but potentially he can do that.

‘He has a very, very good coach to work with in Enzo Maresca and I am sure he will make sure he works on that.’