Enzo Maresca says Cole Palmer remains calm despite his recent Chelsea goal drought and believes he will be back scoring, with Leicester City next up in the Premier League.
Palmer enjoyed a breakout season for the Blues last term, scoring 27 goals and bagging 15 assists across all competitions, but has not scored in any of his last eight outings for Chelsea.
It coincides with a tough run of form for the club, who have won just three of their last 11 Premier League matches, though all of those victories came at home.
Chelsea are still in the fight for a Champions League place though, sitting just one point behind fourth-place Manchester City heading into the weekend’s games.
Maresca is confident in Palmer’s ability though and is not worried by his lack of goals in recent weeks.
“When you score a goal, you are more happy because your goals help the team to win. But overall, Cole is fine. He’s happy,” Maresca said.
“He knows he’s struggled to score goals in this moment, but that it’s something normal that during the season can happen. Watching him during the training session, you don’t think it’s affecting him, he’s fantastic.”
Leicester are having troubles of their own, sitting 19th in the table, five points adrift of safety with 11 games remaining.
They have won just one of their last 13 Premier League matches and have lost their last four without scoring.
And with so few games remaining, Ruud van Nistelrooy admitted there was little room for error for the rest of the season.
“The approach is, and always has been, to get the maximum amount out of the game, and to win,” Van Nistelrooy said.
“If you can’t win, then to protect the result at the end. It’s a similar approach to Sunday as it is for all the games.
“We’re in a situation where we all have to show our character and be resilient to the circumstances but still be able to show the best of the team.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chelsea – Cole Palmer
Palmer has not scored or assisted in any of his last six Premier League games, his longest drought since joining Chelsea last season.
However, he has been involved in 11 goals in just nine games against promoted teams for the Blues (seven goals, four assists).
Leicester City – Jamie Vardy
Leicester have failed to score in each of their last four Premier League games, with Jamie Vardy struggling in front of goal during that run.
He has not managed a single shot in three of the games during that run and has only had 10 touches in the opposition box in that span, with four of those coming in their defeat to Brentford (also the only match in which he had attempts on goal).
MATCH PREDICTION: CHELSEA WIN
After a six-game winless run against Leicester in the Premier League between 2018 and 2021 (D4 L2), Chelsea have now won five of their last six against the Foxes (D1).
While Chelsea lost 2-0 to Ipswich Town in December, they have not lost multiple games against promoted sides in a single Premier League campaign since 2012-13 (vs West Ham and Southampton).
After winning five consecutive Premier League games in November and December, Chelsea have since won just three of their last 11 (D3 L5). However, each of those three victories have come across their last three home games, and by an aggregate score of 9-2.
Meanwhile, Leicester have won just one of their last 11 Premier League away games against Chelsea (D4 L6), netting just seven goals in that time and never more than once in a match.
Leicester are on a torrid run, having lost 11 of their last 12 Premier League games, losing four in a row to nil while conceding at least twice since beating Tottenham in January. The Foxes could lose five straight league matches by a 2+ goal margin for the third time after January 1915 and December 1930.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Chelsea – 75%
Draw – 14.4%
Leicester City – 10.6%
