Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca insisted he was “happy” with Cole Palmer’s reaction after the forward missed a critical chance in his side’s defeat at Aston Villa. The slump in form continued for the visitors at Villa Park, with Marco Asensio’s brace confining them to a 2-1 defeat after an early strike from Enzo Fernandez.

Merson told Sportskeeda: “Chelsea are struggling so badly at the moment. I look at them and they are missing Nicolas Jackson quite badly. Without him, I don’t see a real pattern of play. Jackson’s absence is also affecting Cole Palmer, who has to drop deeper now.”

Chelsea are reportedly at risk of losing a number of key players this summer if they fall short of Champions League qualification, with talisman Cole Palmer's future also in doubt