Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers Lead Chelsea’s Early-Season Attack
Cole Palmer has withdrawn from the latest England squad after being recalled by Thomas Tuchel, while Chelsea team-mate Morgan Rogers remains with the Three Lions. The pair have already made a fast start to their club campaign, combining goals and assists across seven matches in all competitions.
Palmer and Rogers set early attacking pace
Palmer has scored four times and supplied two assists so far. Rogers, 24, has three goals and four assists, leaving him narrowly ahead of his fellow playmaker for direct goal contributions.
- Palmer: four goals and two assists in seven appearances across competitions.
- Rogers: three goals and four assists in the same period.
- Rogers’ best single-season scoring return stands at 14 goals, achieved in two Aston Villa campaigns.
- Palmer is trying to recapture the form that brought 25 goals in his first Chelsea season and the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
Rogers and Palmer have known each other since their younger days and now offer Chelsea two inventive No.10 options, with Palmer wearing the club’s famous shirt number. Their partnership has been mentioned alongside the creative talent of Michael Olise, Luis Diaz, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
Cole sees a Premier League-leading forward line
Former Chelsea striker Cole believes the relationship between Palmer and Rogers can strengthen a forward unit led by Brazilian striker Joao Pedro.
“On paper, their front line is probably among the Premier League’s best when you compare the individuals,” Cole said. “Morgan has arrived at the club he supported as a boy and he is playing with Cole Palmer, someone he has known and played alongside for years.
“They have that friendship and the banter between them, which can make the whole group more relaxed. On the pitch, both want to unlock defences, create chances and score. There will surely be a competition between them over who scores the most this season.”
Cole pointed to their playful exchange after the cup tie against Leeds, when Rogers had created four goals and Palmer scored twice. Rogers questioned how Palmer had been named man of the match, an exchange Cole felt showed a happy, characterful dressing room.
Defensive problems threaten Chelsea’s progress
Chelsea’s attack has been asked to compensate for a defence that has continued to concede heavily. The club have not won any of their last three Premier League games, taking only one point while shipping seven goals.
| Last three Premier League matches | Total |
|---|---|
| Wins | 0 |
| Points | 1 |
| Goals conceded | 7 |
Cole stressed that Palmer and Rogers cannot be blamed for Chelsea’s defensive shortcomings. “It is not only their job to score every goal,” he said. “If they do not produce and the side is conceding, then people start questioning them too. There has to be balance, and Chelsea need to fix it quickly or it could affect the mood around the squad.”
What happens next
Chelsea return on October 10 when Bournemouth visit. Palmer and Rogers will again be central to the hosts’ hopes of ending their league winless run, but the defensive improvement Cole has demanded will be just as important.
