Chelsea have ‘crazy’ Cole Palmer issue after latest Enzo Maresca injury update

Cole Palmer will be a major absentee for Chelsea as they host Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday, with Enzo Maresca providing an update on the player

Harry Redknapp has expressed serious concerns about Chelsea’s attacking prowess in the absence of Cole Palmer. The Blues clash with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, with both teams eager to get back to winning ways in the Premier League.

The former Tottenham Hotspur manager finds it ‘crazy’ that Chelsea are struggling to find the back of the net, considering their substantial spending on transfers in recent years. Head coach Enzo Maresca will have to get through the match without his star player, Palmer.

The club are due to hold talks about his fitness as he continues to be plagued by a groin issue. Consequently, Redknapp is predicting a 2-1 win for the visiting Reds at Stamford Bridge, due to concerns over Chelsea’s effectiveness without Palmer.

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The 78-year-old has been unimpressed with Maresca’s side this season. However, he also believes that the Merseysiders are not performing at their best either.

“Another massive one,” Redknapp shared with football betting site BetVictor. “Chelsea are just such a strange side at the minute.

“Even the games they’ve been winning have hardly been convincing; Benfica had chances the other night. If Cole Palmer is out, I really worry where the goals come from in this side, which is crazy considering how much money they’ve spent on it!

“As for Liverpool, the performances have caught up with them in the last week. I just think Arne Slot will want to get to the break, regroup, and figure some things out, because they haven’t really looked right all season. Despite losing their last two away games, I’m still going for the champions.”

At Friday’s press conference, Maresca revealed: “Cole (Palmer) is still out. Trevoh (Chalobah) is also suspended [after receiving a red card against Brighton], and we have seven or eight players out for tomorrow’s game.

“I don’t have any update at the moment [on Palmer]. We have a meeting this week to see how he is, and we will then decide [whether he can return after the international break].”

Though netting just twice this campaign, Palmer remains crucial for Chelsea. Fresh recruit Joao Pedro has chipped in with five strikes, whilst £106.7million acquisition Enzo Fernandez has registered four goal involvements.

The Blues have found the net 11 times across six Premier League fixtures, with five of those efforts arriving in their clash with West Ham United – a match Palmer sat out.

Nevertheless, the former Manchester City youngster has been Chelsea’s leading marksman across the previous two campaigns, amassing 66 goal involvements.

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