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Cole Palmer withdrawn from Chelsea line-up minutes before kick-off in major Enzo Maresca blow

Chelsea were dealt a bitter blow just minutes before kick-off against West Ham United. Cole Palmer, their talismanic midfielder, would play no part in the 5-1 mauling of the Hammers. Sky SportsPalmer has pulled out Chelsea’s line-up to face West Ham[/caption] Teenage talent Estevao was thrust into the starting line-up in Palmer’s place. The England international pulled out of the Blues’ warm-up at the London Stadium and cut a dejected figure as he walked down the tunnel. Speaking after Chelsea’s thrashing, Maresca explained the reason behind Palmer’s absence. “In the last four or five days, he was not 100 per cent,” Maresca told talkSPORT’s Ian Abrahams. “He felt something in the warm-up.” talkSPORT’s Danny Murphy reacts to Palmer’s absence talkSPORT pundit and former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said: “That’s only happened to me once or twice in my career and it’s the worst feeling in the world. “Because you’re feeling great one minute, looking forward to the game and something just tweaked. Let’s hope it’s not too bad.” Murphy added: “I’d be amazed if they draw another blank tonight with the firepower they’ve got. Although, let’s be honest, Cole Palmer is a big, big miss. “He’s their most creative force, he’s a goal scorer, he creates chances for the others. “It’s a big, big blow that is for the Chelsea side, but it gives someone else a chance.” Sky SportsThe 23-year-old cut a dejected figure on the Chelsea bench[/caption] Unfortunately for Estevao, he had a moment to forget inside the opening ten minutes. The 18-year-old coughed the ball up in Chelsea’s half and allowed the Hammers to instantly launch a counter-attack through midfielder Lucas Paqueta. Paqueta took four touches before he unleashed a vicious strike from distance that left Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez clawing at thin air to put the home side in front. However, the Hammers’ lead lasted less than ten minutes. Joao Pedro opened Chelsea’s Premier League account as he headed home Marc Cucurella’s flicked header from a corner. West Ham looked like they had nudged in front via Niclas Fullkrug, but it was chalked off by VAR due to an off-side in the build-up. The Blues barely skipped a beat without Palmer pulling the strings in midfieldChelsea via Getty It seemed as if Fullkrug’s false dawn seemed to wake up Chelsea from their slumber as Enzo Maresca’s side scored twice in the space of 11 minutes. Pedro Neto put the Blues ahead when he nipped in front of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and powered home Pedro’s driven cross. Estevao then atoned for his earlier error when a tidy give-and-go saw the Brazilian unleashed into space as he drove into the box. The teenager then squared the ball across goal for Enzo Fernandez to tap home. Things got even worse for the Hammers in the second half as Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah got in on the act.

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Cole Palmer withdrawn from Chelsea line-up minutes before kick-off in major Enzo Maresca blow

Chelsea were dealt a bitter blow just minutes before kick-off against West Ham United.

Cole Palmer, their talismanic midfielder, would play no part in the 5-1 mauling of the Hammers.

Palmer has pulled out Chelsea’s line-up to face West Ham[/caption]

Teenage talent Estevao was thrust into the starting line-up in Palmer’s place.

The England international pulled out of the Blues’ warm-up at the London Stadium and cut a dejected figure as he walked down the tunnel.

Speaking after Chelsea’s thrashing, Maresca explained the reason behind Palmer’s absence.

“In the last four or five days, he was not 100 per cent,” Maresca told talkSPORT’s Ian Abrahams.

“He felt something in the warm-up.”

talkSPORT’s Danny Murphy reacts to Palmer’s absence

talkSPORT pundit and former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said: “That’s only happened to me once or twice in my career and it’s the worst feeling in the world.

“Because you’re feeling great one minute, looking forward to the game and something just tweaked. Let’s hope it’s not too bad.”

Murphy added: “I’d be amazed if they draw another blank tonight with the firepower they’ve got. Although, let’s be honest, Cole Palmer is a big, big miss.

“He’s their most creative force, he’s a goal scorer, he creates chances for the others.

“It’s a big, big blow that is for the Chelsea side, but it gives someone else a chance.”

The 23-year-old cut a dejected figure on the Chelsea bench[/caption]

Unfortunately for Estevao, he had a moment to forget inside the opening ten minutes.

The 18-year-old coughed the ball up in Chelsea’s half and allowed the Hammers to instantly launch a counter-attack through midfielder Lucas Paqueta.

Paqueta took four touches before he unleashed a vicious strike from distance that left Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez clawing at thin air to put the home side in front.

However, the Hammers’ lead lasted less than ten minutes.

Joao Pedro opened Chelsea’s Premier League account as he headed home Marc Cucurella’s flicked header from a corner.

West Ham looked like they had nudged in front via Niclas Fullkrug, but it was chalked off by VAR due to an off-side in the build-up.

The Blues barely skipped a beat without Palmer pulling the strings in midfield

It seemed as if Fullkrug’s false dawn seemed to wake up Chelsea from their slumber as Enzo Maresca’s side scored twice in the space of 11 minutes.

Pedro Neto put the Blues ahead when he nipped in front of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and powered home Pedro’s driven cross.

Estevao then atoned for his earlier error when a tidy give-and-go saw the Brazilian unleashed into space as he drove into the box.

The teenager then squared the ball across goal for Enzo Fernandez to tap home.

Things got even worse for the Hammers in the second half as Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah got in on the act.