Chelsea’s young star Cole Palmer saw his flawless penalty record come to an end on Sunday as Leicester City goalkeeper Mads Hermansen denied him from the spot during their Premier League clash.
The 22-year-old had previously boasted the best penalty record in league history, converting all 12 of his attempts.
Palmer stepped up to take the spot kick after Jadon Sancho was fouled in the box.
However, his low-driven effort was read perfectly by Hermansen, who dived to his left to make an impressive save.
This was the first time Palmer had failed to convert a penalty in the Premier League, putting an end to a remarkable streak that placed him above penalty legends like Yaya Touré (11 out of 11) and Dimitar Berbatov (nine out of nine).
Before Sunday’s miss, Palmer was also one of only two players with a 100% penalty conversion rate in the last five Premier League seasons, alongside Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson.
Also Check: Transfer Gossip Today: Olympiacos Duo Kostoulas, Mouzakitis Attract Tottenham, Chelsea, Villa, Forest Interest
Palmer has struggled to replicate last season’s form, failing to score in his last eight matches across all competitions.
Despite his recent struggles in front of goal, the England international remains a key player for Chelsea, having netted 27 goals and provided 15 assists in his breakout campaign last season.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca downplayed concerns about Palmer’s goal drought ahead of the Leicester game, emphasizing that the attacking midfielder remains in good spirits.
“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 in a press conference.
“He knows he’s struggled to score goals in this moment, but that it’s something normal that can happen during a season. Watching him in training, you don’t think it’s affecting him. He’s fantastic.”
Despite missing his penalty, Palmer will likely retain his spot as Chelsea’s primary penalty taker. With the Blues pushing for a strong finish to the season, the young midfielder will be eager to rediscover his scoring touch and help his team secure crucial points in the race for European qualification.
While his perfect penalty record may be gone, Palmer’s ability from the spot remains undisputed. The Chelsea star will be determined to bounce back and continue proving why he is one of the most exciting young talents in English football.
