Enzo Maresca Reveals why Cole Palmer was Taken Off from Chelsea Starting lineup Against West Ham

Chelsea were dealt an unexpected setback ahead of their clash with West Ham as star man Cole Palmer was pulled out of the squad after picking up a problem in the warm-up.

The 22-year-old forward, who has been Chelsea’s brightest spark since arriving from Manchester City last summer, was spotted leaving the pitch before kick-off at Stamford Bridge. Blues boss Enzo Maresca later confirmed that Palmer “felt something” and was withdrawn as a precaution.

Speaking to Sky Sports before the match, Maresca explained:

“Cole felt something during the warm-up. We didn’t want to take any risks, so we took him out of the team as a precaution.”

Cole Palmer is out of tonight’s game due to an injury suffered in the warm-up, Estêvão replaces him for Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/kpWifxAWzU

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 22, 2025

Palmer’s absence was a huge blow for the Blues, who have relied heavily on his creativity and goals this season. The England international registered 12 goals and 7 assists in the Premier League last season, making him Chelsea’s top scorer and one of the few consistent performers in a turbulent campaign.

Chelsea’s reliance on Palmer

Palmer’s influence has been enormous since his move to west London. In fact, he has been directly involved in nearly 40% of Chelsea’s league goals last season, underlining just how crucial he has become in such a short time.

His calmness from the penalty spot, combined with his ability to create chances out of nothing, has given the Blues a cutting edge they often lacked in previous years. Without him, Chelsea’s attack looks far less threatening, which is why his injury scare has raised alarm bells among fans.

Fans’ fears over fitness

Chelsea supporters quickly voiced their concern online after seeing Palmer leave the warm-up. Many fear that the club could struggle in key fixtures if the youngster faces a spell on the sidelines.

With European qualification still within reach, Palmer’s availability could be the difference between success and disappointment for Maresca’s side. Chelsea have already had to cope with a string of injuries this season, and losing Palmer would be the most damaging setback yet.

Precaution or bigger problem?

While Maresca insisted that the decision was precautionary, Chelsea will be keeping a close eye on Palmer in the coming days. With fixtures against top-four rivals looming, the Blues cannot afford to lose their main attacking outlet for any length of time.

Palmer’s rapid rise since joining Chelsea has also put him firmly in Gareth Southgate’s plans for the England squad ahead of this summer’s European Championship. The England boss will be just as anxious as Chelsea fans to hear positive news about the attacker’s fitness.

For now, Maresca will have to rely on other players to step up in Palmer’s absence. Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, and Pedro Neto will be expected to carry the attacking burden. But none of them have shown the same consistency as Palmer, which makes his absence even harder to fill.

Chelsea will hope that this scare proves to be nothing more than tightness or fatigue, rather than a serious injury. With Palmer’s importance to both club and country growing by the week, all eyes will be on the medical update in the next 48 hours.