Paul Merson believes that Chelsea’s Cole Palmer is set to face the same challenges that have impacted Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham. Both players, representing England in the upcoming Nations League clash against Greece, are in the spotlight due to their exceptional form.
Palmer, 22, has had a fantastic start to his second season with Chelsea, contributing 11 goals in just seven Premier League matches. His performances have earned him a spot in WhoScored’s Premier League Team of the Season so far, thanks to his impressive play in the No. 10 role.
Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham, now in his second season with Real Madrid, has struggled to replicate his previous goal-scoring form. Despite not finding the net in his first eight matches, he remains a vital part of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.
Merson, speaking to Sky Sports, suggests that Palmer will eventually face the same challenges as Bellingham. He explains that opposition teams will begin to single out Palmer, just as they’ve done with Bellingham, in an attempt to neutralize his attacking threat.
“When you play at No. 10 in international football, it’s a whole different ball game. Teams start to figure you out,” Merson said. “It’s happened to Bellingham, and Palmer is next in line to experience this. But while he’s in form, you’ve got to keep playing him.”
Palmer’s unpredictability on the pitch is a key strength, making it difficult for teams to devise a strategy to stop him. Whether he can maintain this level as teams start to target him more remains to be seen, but for now, his form is hard to ignore
Paul Merson has drawn a comparison between Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, highlighting the challenges both players may face as they rise to prominence in international football. Merson noted that while Palmer is currently enjoying a stellar start to his second season with Chelsea—scoring 11 goals in just seven Premier League matches—he might soon encounter the same kind of defensive attention that Bellingham has experienced.
Bellingham has struggled to maintain his earlier goal-scoring form, failing to find the net in his first eight matches this season, yet he remains a crucial player for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Merson emphasized that as players establish themselves, opposition teams begin to focus on neutralizing their impact, a strategy that can disrupt their effectiveness.
“When you play at No. 10 in international football, it’s a whole different ball game. Teams start to figure you out,” Merson explained. He believes that Palmer, while currently thriving due to his unpredictability, will eventually face similar challenges as defenses adapt to him. However, he stressed the importance of continuing to play Palmer as long as he maintains his impressive form.
