Jamie Carragher has claimed that the difference between Liverpool winning the Premier League and being also-rans could be… Cole Palmer.
The Liverpool legend has waxed lyrical about the Chelsea star and hailed him as a ‘game-changing footballer’.
Increasingly Palmer is becoming game-defining. His four goals against Brighton in September were responsible for Chelsea winning a game during which they were often second-best.
Chelsea are reaping the rewards, sitting fourth in the Premier League and six points better off than they were this time last season. Palmer has netted six and set up five goals for Enzo Maresca’s side in all competitions this term.
Liverpool are flying themselves with Arne Slot’s side top of the table and have been blessed with the form of Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah, and Ryan Gravenberch.
Cole Palmer would boost Liverpool’s chances of winning the Premier league if he signed for the, says Jamie Carragher
The Chelsea star was named the Premier League player of the month for September
‘Palmer is thriving and any team with him has a chance,’ Carragher wrote in a column
But Carragher does not see the Reds as a complete package and thinks they could be enhanced by Palmer marauding through opposition defences for them.
‘(Enzo) Maresca deserves credit, especially in getting the best from Cole Palmer who is a game-changing footballer,’ Carragher wrote in a column for The Telegraph.
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‘(Mauricio) Pochettino had begun to unlock the immense talent. Chelsea’s sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley made a smart move appointing a coach who already knew Palmer from their Manchester City days. Palmer is thriving and any team with him has a chance.
‘Coming into this season I initially thought it too soon for Chelsea to finish in the top four because the team spirit and connection with the fans was not there.
‘Palmer is the biggest reason my view has changed. Now they can do it, although given the scale of their investment that is where they should be.
‘If Palmer was at Liverpool, Arne Slot would be more likely to finish his debut season as a title winner. Palmer is that good, currently averaging more goal involvements per match than Stamford Bridge greats like Didier Drogba and Diego Costa.’
Presumably Carragher would not mean for Palmer to replace Salah, though his contract is up at the end of the season.
That would mean a casualty in the central attacking midfield position, most likely Dominik Szoboszlai, who has grown into that role for the Reds.
The Reds are flying under new boss Arne Slot with Mohamed Salah in scintillating form
Maresca hailed Palmer as the ‘best player of the Premier League’ after the win over Brighton
Carragher, 46, is not a lone voice in singing the praises of Palmer, who was this week awarded the league’s player of the month prize for September. Take it from his own manager’s lips.
‘Goals, assists, best player of the Premier League, this doesn’t change the way he is. He’s a simple guy, a humble guy and this is, for me, the most important thing,’ Maresca said after the 4-2 win over Brighton.
‘Today in football, young players, they change very quick. They score one goal and they think they are already… you know.
‘Cole, he’s scored many goals, many assists, he’s a top player but he never changes and this is the most important thing.’
