Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer could set a club Premier League record during Wednesday evening's fixture at Southampton.
Since leaving Manchester City for Stamford Bridge in August 2023, the 22-year-old has established himself as one of the star players of world football.
A total of 33 goals and 21 assists have been contributed from 60 appearances, many of which have been recorded in England's top flight.
His latest efforts came during Sunday's 3-0 victory over Aston Villa, chipping in with an assist for Enzo Fernandez's strike before curling a magnificent shot into the top corner late in the second half.
Palmer will be looking to build on that performance against bottom-of-the-table side Southampton at St Mary's, there being an opportunity to enter his name next to yet another record.
© Imago
What record can Palmer break?
Heading into the fixture on the South Coast, Palmer has already chipped in with eight goals and six assists from his 13 appearances in this season's Premier League.
A further 14 strikes and seven assists came from January 1 onwards during 2023-24, giving Palmer 22 goals and 13 assists during the calendar year.
Palmer is now just one goal or assist contribution short of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's club record, which was set in 2001.
Teammate Nicolas Jackson heads into the game looking to stay in relative close proximity to Palmer with regards to the same statistics, the Senegal international having 15 goals and six assists to his name without having a penalty on his record.
© Imago
Southampton need a win...and fast
Southampton head into Wednesday's contest having prevailed in just one of their last 26 matches in the Premier League, that being a 1-0 victory over Everton earlier this season.
As such, they have accumulated just five points from 13 games. No team (eight) has survived in the top flight when holding such a record since Sheffield United did so in 1990-91.
Chelsea make the trip to the South coast having scored in their last 18 league fixtures away at Southampton, yet their hosts have an opportunity to win three successive league matches versus the West Londoners for the first time in 39 years.
With 17th-placed Everton playing Wolverhampton Wanderers who are 18th at the same time as Southampton play Chelsea, a win may be required to avoid falling further than six points adrift of safety in the Premier League table.
Darren Plant
