Chelsea’s Cole Palmer made history as the Blues defeated their arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
Palmer has solidified his status as the most prolific penalty-taker in Premier League history, having successfully converted all 12 of his spot-kicks in the competition. The England international maintained his flawless record with a stylish Panenka, delicately chipping in the fourth goal of the afternoon. Earlier, he had confidently fired another penalty past Fraser Forster to bring the Blues level.
Yaya Touré is the only other player to score over 10 Premier League penalties with a perfect 100% conversion rate, though the Ivorian managed just 11 spot kicks during his eight-year spell at Manchester City from 2010 to 2018. After confidently converting his first penalty past Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster to bring Chelsea level, Palmer showcased his flair with a daring Panenka, chipping the ball into the center of the net to seal Chelsea’s fourth goal in their 4–3 triumph.
His two goals against Tottenham on Sunday took his season’s total to 11 in 15 matches, with Chelsea now in second place, just four points behind Liverpool. Since his move from Manchester City in August 2023 for £40 million, Palmer has scored 36 goals in 62 appearances across all competitions. In his debut season, he secured the club’s Player of the Year award and was named the PFA Young Player of the Year.
Pure composure from Cole Palmer.pic.twitter.com/jcxhkkBuA2
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 8, 2024
Before his move to west London at the end of the 2023 summer window, Palmer had never taken a penalty in senior football. Although he was a regular spot-kick taker for Manchester City’s U18 team, it wasn’t until October 2023 that he took his first senior penalty for Chelsea against Burnley, after being handed the opportunity by Raheem Sterling while chasing his first goal in the capital.
Palmer successfully converted at Turf Moor and took on the role of Chelsea’s primary penalty-taker from that moment. However, his spot-kick responsibilities have faced scrutiny from teammates. For example, when Chelsea were awarded a penalty against Arsenal later that same month, Sterling attempted to claim the ball from Palmer, but Enzo Fernandez intervened, ensuring Palmer retained the spot-kick.
In April 2024, during Chelsea’s emphatic 6-0 win over Everton, Palmer added another penalty to his impressive record. Despite already completing a hat-trick from open play, he calmly converted from the spot against Jordan Pickford after Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson fought for the ball during the match.
Read More: Former Manchester United Winger, Nani Retires at 38
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
