The Xabi Alonso era at Chelsea could hardly have got off to a better start for the club & especially Cole Palmer. The Blues opened their Premier League campaign with an entertaining 3-2 victory over Fulham, producing the kind of relentless attacking football that supporters will hope becomes a trademark of the new manager's reign.
But the star of the show was undoubtedly Cole Palmer.
The Chelsea attacking midfielder was absolutely breathtaking, finishing the game with a goal and an assist while terrorising the Fulham defence throughout the 90 minutes. More importantly, Palmer looked like a player who is finally back to his best after a disappointing campaign last season, one overshadowed by injuries and inconsistent performances whenever he was available.
So, what has changed? Here are four reasons why Cole Palmer looks back to his absolute best.
1. Morgan Rogers' Signing Could Be a Masterstroke
One of the biggest highlights of Chelsea's victory over Fulham was the chemistry between Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer.
That should come as no surprise. The two England internationals are childhood friends who spent time together at Manchester City, developing a close relationship long before becoming Premier League stars. In fact, Palmer's iconic goal celebration was originally associated with Rogers.
Having someone on the pitch whom you know extremely well and genuinely trust can make a huge difference. It provides an additional level of comfort and confidence, which can improve both the chemistry between the players and their individual performances.
Chelsea paid a huge amount for Rogers, but the signing could eventually look like a bargain.
Not only does Rogers look like a serious attacking threat himself, but his presence also appears to be bringing out the very best in Palmer. If their understanding continues to develop, Chelsea could have one of the Premier League's most dangerous attacking partnerships.
Based on what we saw against Fulham, Rogers may have taken Palmer's game to another level.
2. The Xabi Alonso Effect
The biggest reason for optimism, however, could be Xabi Alonso himself.
Alonso's time at Leverkusen was legendary, and one of the standout attacking players under him was Florian Wirtz. The German midfielder, who's now struggling at Liverpool, thrived in an attacking role within Alonso's system at Leverkusen, which encouraged creativity and gave its attacking players the freedom to express themselves.
That freedom is potentially exactly what Palmer needs.
Rather than restricting him to a rigid position or asking him to constantly follow tactical instructions in the final third, Alonso appears willing to let Palmer find spaces, take risks and simply do what he does best.
And the results against Fulham were spectacular.
Palmer looked completely liberated, constantly finding pockets of space and causing problems for the Fulham defenders. He looked like a genuine world-class player.
If Alonso can consistently get this version of Palmer throughout the season, Chelsea could become a surprise package in the Premier League.
3. Thomas Tuchel's World Cup Snub Could Have Motivated Him
Sometimes in life, when your biggest dreams are crushed, there are two types of people.
One allows the disappointment to affect them and struggles to recover. The other uses it as motivation, works harder than ever and becomes determined to prove the doubters wrong.
Palmer appears to belong firmly in the second category.
His omission from Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the 2026 World Cup could have been a significant source of motivation. Rather than allowing the disappointment to define him, Palmer seems to have used setbacks as fuel to establish himself among the elite.
Against Fulham, he looked like a player with something to prove.
There was an extra level of hunger, confidence and determination to his performance, and if he continues playing at this level, Tuchel will have very little choice but to include him in future England squads.
In hindsight, the snub may even have played a small role in Palmer's development. It gave him another reason to push himself towards reaching his true potential.
4. Palmer Himself Says He's Back
Perhaps the biggest indication that Palmer is finally back comes from the player himself.
After the Fulham game, when a reporter effectively asked whether he was ready again, Palmer's response was simple:
"Didn't you see the game?"
That confidence says a lot.
Ultimately, even when medical and fitness staff provide their assessments, the player knows their own body better than almost anyone. Palmer clearly believes he is back, and his performance against Fulham certainly backed up that confidence.
We then received another major clue in Chelsea's following Carabao Cup match against Luton.
Palmer played the entire 90 minutes.
That is significant because the Palmer of last season probably would not even have been trusted with such a workload. His ability to play the full match suggests that, from a fitness perspective, he is finally where he wants to be.
Cole Palmer Looks Ready for a Huge Season
Put everything together and the signs are extremely encouraging.
Palmer appears to be back both physically and technically, while Xabi Alonso's system could give him the freedom required to reach another level. His chemistry with Morgan Rogers adds another exciting dimension, while the setbacks of the past could provide additional motivation.
Of course, one game does not guarantee an entire season of brilliance.
But if Cole Palmer consistently produces performances like the one against Fulham, Chelsea could have one of the most devastating attacking players in the Premier League.
As things stand, Palmer looks back to his best and potentially better than ever.
