Cole Palmer: Chelsea superstar matches Drogba and Lampard’s Premier League record

Cole Palmer has matched Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba’s Premier League feat with his latest Chelsea assist for Mauricio Pochettino’s men against Nottingham Forest.

The Blues opened the scoring at City Ground when Palmer slipped Mykhailo Mudryk in, who finished with aplomb in the eighth minute. 

However, Willy Boly equalised eight minutes later and Callum Hudson-Odoi put Forest 2-1 ahead with 15 minutes remaining. The West London side levelled through Raheem Sterling in the 80th minute and the returning Reece James assisted Nicolas Jackson two minutes later to complete the turnaround. 

Another admirable Palmer showing at Forest saw the Chelsea man claim another Man of the Match award, having fashioned five chances for teammates, including his assist for Mudryk's first away goal in Premier League football and a first since October 2023 at Fulham. 

Setting up the wide attacker means the England international is up to double figures for goals and assists in his debut season in West London. Palmer has netted 21 goals and played in teammates 10 times to finish in 2023-24, thus seeing him become the first Chelsea player to do so since 2010. 

Lampard and Drogba did likewise in the title-winning Premier League campaign in 2009-10, with the Englishman scoring 22 times and assisting 14, while the retired centre-forward notched the Golden Boot with 29 goals and set up 10.

Palmer's latest goal contributions take him level with Ollie Watkins for direct involvements leading to goals (31) this term. 

Chelsea are making a late play for sixth spot, moving level with Newcastle United on 57 points, with both sides having two games to play.

Pochettino's team travel to Brighton on Wednesday, keen to secure their 17th league victory of the season and potentially move into sixth as the Magpies travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.