'Poor' Palmer owes Cucu a drink! Curly-haired Spaniard fixes Cole's penalty blunder

Through suffering to the stars! That's the summary of Chelsea's clash against Leicester at Stamford Bridge today. The Blues suffered a lot, but in the end, they managed not to reach stars but to note a significant victory - 1-0

However, Enzo Maresca will have a lot of problems to solve, as his lads put in a bad performance against the penultimate Premier League team. An additional issue - and probably the key one - will be Cole Palmer's severe downfall. The forward who led Chelsea during the season's opening months and was once one of the best players in the league has been goalless since January 14 and hasn't made an assist since December 1?!

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On top of everything, he crowned another poor display with a missed penalty midway through the first half, and if it had not been for Marc Cucurella and his long-range winner, Chelsea would have dropped valuable points.

Enzo Maresca's half-time talk had to be strict and harsh, as his players' first-half performance against the penultimate team in the league was embarrassing. As if they lacked willpower and motivation, the Blues were mild, and their game control only left a phoney impression of dominance.

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The only man keen on playing in the home crew was Cole Palmer, though his reasons were rather personal than team, as he wanted to break a terrible goalless run lasting since January 14. And after a few long-distance attempts, the forward got an ideal chance to net - a penalty!

However, instead of confidently smashing it home, the Englishman shot awfully, as Mads Hermansen stopped his effort! Following that moment, Palmer became invisible, while his decision-making was poor. And when "Cold" doesn't play, Chelsea don't play either.

Moreover, Leicester could have taken the lead before the break, as Tosin Adarabioyo hit the bar of his own goal (?!) after a misunderstanding with the custodian Robert Sanchez. Still, the rivals remained goalless at the break.

And when the forwards - Palmer, Christopher Nkunku, and Jadon Sancho - couldn't break Leicester's wall in front of Hermansen, Marc Cucurella did it! At the hour mark, the Spaniard unleashed a precise effort from distance, finding the bottom-left corner of the Foxes' goal - 1-0!

At that point the Blues got what they wanted and practically stopped playing, while the visitors clearly did not have enough quality to threaten more dangerously and pursue the leveller. Thanks to this triumph, Chelsea closed the gap behind Nottingham Forest in third spot to two points, while Leicester remained six points away from the safe zone.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 28

Saturday

Nott. Forest - Man. City 1-0 (0-0)

/Hudson-Odoi 83/

Brighton - Fulham 2-1 (1-1)

/Van Hecke 41, Pedro 90+8 - Jimenez 35/

Crystal Palace - Ipswich 1-0 (0-0)

/Sarr 82/

Liverpool - Southampton 3-1 (0-1)

/Nunez 51, Salah 54 pen, 88 pen - Smallbone 45+1/

Brentford - Aston Villa 0-1 (0-0)

/Watkins 49/

Wolverhampton - Everton 1-1 (1-1)

/Munetsi 40 - Harrison 33/

Sunday

Chelsea - Leicester 1-0 (0-0)

/Cucurella 60/

Tottenham - Bournemouth 2-2 (0-1)

/Sarr 67, Son 84 pen - Tavernier 42, Evanilson 67/

19:30: (5.10) Man.Utd. (3.60) Arsenal (1.80)

Monday

23:00: (3.25) West Ham (3.50) Newcastle (2.30)

***odds are subject to change***