The reason Chelsea talisman missed win against London rivals | The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentNext articleIndependent Bulletin homepageSocial PartnerWe are 8 logo (opens in a new tab)AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleFlo CliffordFriday 22 August 2025 23:31 BSTEnzo Maresca insists Cole Palmer could be Premier League's best playerChelsea's Cole Palmer was withdrawn from the starting line-up against West Ham just minutes before kick-off due to a suspected groin injury.Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the decision was precautionary, as Palmer had not been 100% in the days prior and felt something during the warm-up.Brazilian teenager Estevao Willian replaced Palmer at the last minute, making his full Premier League debut.Despite Palmer's absence and conceding an early goal, Chelsea went on to secure a dominant 5-1 victory over West Ham.Maresca praised the team's strong reaction to the setback, while teammate Marc Cucurella highlighted Estevao's impressive performance and the squad's depth.In fullWhy did Cole Palmer not feature in Premier League London derby against West Ham?Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in