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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Palmer on fire for Chelsea this season</li><li>Involved in all three goals at Luton</li><li>But has come in for surprise criticism</li></ul>

'Needs to watch himself' - Chelsea hero Cole Palmer sensationally slammed for 'losing touch' with Luton game & 'ducking out of headers' after scoring twice at Kenilworth Road

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The former Manchester City star has been <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/rip-off-shrewd-bargain-cole-palmer-proving-man-city-doubters-wrong-chelsea/blte5175a4c18e07169" target="_blank">the Blues' standout player this term</a>, and he continued that fine form in a 3-2 win at Kenilworth Road in their last outing. Palmer rifled home expertly for Chelsea's first, before cooly rounding the goalkeeper and shaking off several defenders for his second and what turned out to be the game's decisive goal. It was the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/chelsea-player-ratings-luton-town-cole-palmer/blt5699112a5714767e" target="_blank">cutting edge Chelsea have been lacking all season</a>, but those two efforts - as well as <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/cold-palmer-chelsea-stars-nickname-revealed-after-luton-heroics-explains-new-celebration/blt9ee9c6f0e1ddf03b" target="_blank">an assist for Noni Madueke</a> - haven't sheltered him from some bizarre criticism.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Known sometimes for his unorthodox takes, former Tottenham and Manchester United forward Garth Crooks was at it again with his review of Palmer's display on Saturday. He told <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67865895" target="_blank">BBC Sport</a>: "Chelsea recovered from a poor performance against Wolves with a win over Crystal Palace and then went to Kenilworth Road a few days later to beat a stubborn Luton Town side. That said, Chelsea made very hard work of this victory. The disapproving shaking of the head by Thiago Silva at the end of the match said it all. The only bright spark for the visitors was Palmer, whose two goals were taken quite brilliantly. But the English midfielder needs to watch himself. Ducking out of headers on defensive set plays doesn't endear yourself to your team-mates, neither does suddenly losing touch with the game having scored two goals when really he should have been searching for his hat-trick."

WHAT CROOKS SAID

Indeed, Chelsea did make work hard for themselves, with a late floury of Luton goals piling the pressure on at a raucous Kenilworth Road. Were it not for the heroics of Djordje Petrovic in the Blues' goal, who tipped Carlton Morris' header onto the bar in the closing stages, the Hatters could have secured a memorable point. That said, it seems harsh to pin <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/watch-thiago-silva-chelsea-defender-pushes-camera-narrow-luton-win/bltbd3f73f0d7d6c12e" target="_blank">Chelsea's capitulation</a> solely Palmer's efforts, and rather speaks to an innate lack of game management from Mauricio Pochettino's young side.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Palmer's two goals and an assist takes his tally to 12 goal contributions for Chelsea in the league this term, which is the most at the club for the entirety of 2023, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/Squawka/status/1741098162062823507" target="_blank">Squawka</a>. This season, he also leads the way in most passes into the box (74), most chances created (27), most goals (eight), most big chances created (seven) and joint-most assists (four).

DID YOU KNOW?

Now a stalwart in Pochettino's side, it remains to be seen whether Palmer will be rested as part of a weaker-looking squad against Preston on Saturday in their FA Cup third-round clash. Chelsea then travel to Middlesbrough in a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg just three days later.

WHAT NEXT FOR PALMER?

'Needs to watch himself' - Chelsea hero Cole Palmer sensationally slammed for 'losing touch' with Luton game & 'ducking out of headers' after scoring twice at Kenilworth Road | Goal.com UK

Chelsea star Cole Palmer has received some surprise criticism, despite scoring two goals and assisting one against Luton on Saturday.

&apos;Needs to watch himself&apos; - Chelsea hero Cole Palmer sensationally slammed for &apos;losing touch&apos; with Luton game &amp; &apos;ducking out of headers&apos; after scoring twice at Kenilworth Road