Chelsea are on a roll, having not lost since March and their chances of achieving their goal and reaching the Champions League have been boosted as a result – that’s without star forwards Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer firing.
Enzo Maresca’s side have won their last three matches, defeating Fulham, Everton and champions Liverpool to rise to fifth in the table with three games to go.
Reaching the Champions League was the first goal of the season, and Chelsea are also hoping to win the Conference League in Wroclaw.
In fact, Moises Caicedo has said he is desperate to lift the Conference League trophy, in what would be the Chelsea Player of the Season’s first major trophy.
Despite the feel-good factor at Stamford Bridge, there is one key statistic that shows Chelsea have actually been incredibly unfortunate this season.
Jackson and Palmer in the top three for shots hitting the woodwork
One key statistic, however, highlights that Chelsea’s two top scorers this season, Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, have been unlucky.
Senegalese forward Jackson has hit the woodwork six times this season, with only Liverpool star Mohamed Salah level in the Premier League, as per StatMuse.
Frustratingly for Maresca, Palmer ranks third, having hit the post five times so far this season, after his clever effort against Liverpool unluckily struck the right-hand upright.
Since the turn of the year, Chelsea have struggled in front of goal, and Marc Cucurella still ranks as The Blues’ fifth top scorer this season.
Palmer has come under significant criticism after his sensational start to the season petered out in 2025.
Meanwhile, Jackson finally scored his first goal for the Blues since December against Everton in April.
Perhaps though the criticism of the pair was harsh, with so many efforts mere centimetres away from hitting the back of the net.
Palmer shows class is permanent against Liverpool
Palmer has been Chelsea’s best player since he made the switch to Manchester City two summers ago.
A 15-game drought for a player of his ability is of course concerning but against Liverpool, in a crucial game for Chelsea’s Champions League hopes, he really stood up and looked like the Palmer of old.
Heavily involved in the build-up to the early Enzo Fernandez goal, Palmer then ended his drought at the death, scoring from the spot to put the game beyond doubt.
| Chances created | 4 |
| Duels won | 5 |
| Interceptions | 3 |
| Possession won | 7 |
| Shots | 4 |
| Touches in opposition box | 7 |
Palmer’s numbers against Liverpool (all team-leading)
He was awarded Player of the Match for his performance and answered social media critics afterwards, calling them ‘trolls’ and telling Sky in his post match interview: “Social media nowadays is full of idiots, the trolls and whatever. I don’t pay any attention to that.”
Chelsea fans will be hoping Palmer and Jackson can avoid striking the woodwork anymore this season and fall down that ranking next year.
The post Nicolas Jackson tops Premier League table in stat that exposes Chelsea’s misfortune this season, Cole Palmer close behind appeared first on HITC.
