How England should line up once Tuchel takes charge

Chelsea young guns driving perfect start to post-Hayes era

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

England's biggest winners & losers from the Nations League

Top 25 Serie A players of the 21st century - ranked

Felix dazzles but Ronaldo-less Portugal lack finishers

Kane the lock-picker! Perfect pass opens England floodgates

Van Nistelrooy left 'devastated' by Man Utd exit

Szoboszlai in tears as Netherlands vs Hungary is halted

Another problem for Arsenal! Trossard forced off injured 

Amorim calls up 16-year-old for first Man Utd training session

Man Utd man 'very down' after picking up another injury

Weghorst slammed for goal celebration after Hungary coach collapses

Manchester City

Manchester United

Liverpool

Arsenal

Chelsea

Other

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>Chelsea draw 2-2 against Sheffield United</li><li>Palmer subbed of before end of the game</li><li>Pochettino reveals why 21-year-old was taken off</li></ul>

Is Cole Palmer injured? Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino explains surprise decision to substitute 16-goal forward when protecting narrow lead at Sheffield United

Premier League

Leicester

Championship

Coventry

Sheffield United

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino took the former Manchester City forward off in the 74th minute with the Blues winning the game 2-1 at that point. However, an injury-time equaliser by Oli McBurnie meant that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-in/lists/chelsea-player-ratings-vs-sheffield-utd-one-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-mauricio-pochettino-as-marc-cucurella-and-djordje-petrovic-flop-in-disappointing-draw/blt24c27c2d623f0d08" target="_blank">the Londoners only left Bramall Lane with a point</a>. Pochettino has now explained his decision to sub off the 21-year-old despite the game being tightly contested.

WHAT HAPPENED?

When asked in the post-match conference if Palmer was injured, Pochettino said <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2024/04/07/chelsea-dressing-room-silent-amid-cole-palmer-injury-update-20603780/?ico=mosaic_football" target="_blank">[via Metro UK]</a>: "No, no, no. I think he was tired. My feeling was he was tired. Carney [Chukwuemeka] is another number 10 who can play there and do the job. We need to protect him. He got a knock against Manchester United and was a bit more tired than normal. We wanted to protect him after scoring the second goal – trying to avoid a problem in the future."

WHAT POCHETTINO SAID

In what has been a terribly bad season for Chelsea, the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-in/lists/cole-palmer-chelsea-set-for-bumper-pay-rise-after-signing-from-man-city/blta739c26fc2a88848" target="_blank">rise of Palmer has possibly been the only glimmer of hope for the Blues fans</a>. The 21-year-old has scored a total of 16 goals and provided nine assists in 25 Premier League matches for the Blues this season. Despite his form, Chelsea have struggled to bring in the points this season and Pochettino could very well lose his job at the end of the season.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Considering that the England international is only fatigued and not injured, he could likely not start Chelsea's next match against Everton in the Premier League so that he can be fully fit for their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on April 20.

WHAT NEXT FOR PALMER?

Is Cole Palmer injured? Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino explains surprise decision to substitute 16-goal forward when protecting narrow lead at Sheffield United | Goal.com Singapore

As Chelsea were rocked by a 2-2 draw against Sheffield United, in-form forward Cole Palmer was subbed off while Chelsea still lead.