Enzo Maresca compares Cole Palmer influence to Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah

Enzo Maresca said Cole Palmer can be Chelsea’s answer to Mohamed Salah as he compared the England international’s influence to that of Liverpool’s talisman.

The head coach reiterated his praise for Palmer’s display during Monday’s 3-1 victory over Wolves which ended a five-match winless run, in particular the way in which the 22-year-old took charge of a potentially hazardous situation to help his side see out a much-needed result.

Jitters descended around Stamford Bridge when goalkeeper Robert Sanchez blundered to gift the visitors an equaliser late in the first half, but after quickfire goals from Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke had restored the lead, Palmer stepped up with an assured performance in midfield to install calm and ensure the win.

The recent winless streak reopened a conversation over the character of Maresca’s squad, which at just under 23 years old is on average the youngest in the Premier League, but former Manchester City forward Palmer – who is the team’s top scorer this season with 14 – has shown the clearest example of maturity blooming in the ranks.

“He is improving a lot but not just in terms of numbers of goals and assists,” said Maresca. “The second half against Wolves for me was one of the best moments since I arrived here. He was showing personality, he was asking for the ball in any moment that the team needed it.

“Liverpool when they have some (difficult) moment, Salah is asking for the ball. Arsenal when they have some problem, (Martin) Odegaard is asking for the ball.

“We need that kind of player when we are in some difficult moment, who is turning to his team-mates and saying ‘give me the ball, don’t worry, I will be in charge’.

“This kind of personality that we have to show in a difficult moment. Against Wolves in the second half he was top.”

Salah, who is the league’s top scorer this season and looks set to lead Liverpool to the title, has scored 233 goals for the Reds since moving to Anfield in 2017 and has won both the Premier League and Champions League.

It leaves Palmer, who has 39 Chelsea goals, with a distance to cover to match the 32-year-old Egyptian’s achievements, but he could be in for a long stay at Stamford Bridge after penning a new deal last summer until 2033.

He became the second fastest Blues player to hit 30 Premier League goals when he struck against Aston Villa in December, narrowly behind Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

A relative snip at £40million amidst the roughly £1.5billion spent since Clearlake Capital bought the club, Maresca was asked whether he thought former club City – who face Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday – regretted letting Palmer leave.

“I don’t think so, because having so many options there I think it was difficult for Pep (Guardiola) to give Cole minutes,” said Maresca, also a former City man.

“No one at City was thinking that Cole was not good enough. Everyone was sure that he is a top player.

“The problem was that if Cole played then Phil Foden has not to play, or (Kevin) De Bruyne. It’s a matter of balance and a matter of decisions. But everyone was convinced that he is a top player.”