Chelsea: Cole Palmer 'in same sentence' as Cristiano Ronaldo, claims Gary Neville | OneFootball

Palmer had gone 18 matches without a goal before he found the scoresheet in strong performance against Liverpool

Gary Neville compared Cole Palmer to Cristiano Ronaldo after the Chelsea star made a long-awaited return to the scoresheet.

Palmer ended an 18-match run without a goal as he scored a late penalty in the Blues’ 3-1 over champions Liverpool on Sunday, keeping them firmly in the hunt for a place in next season’s Champions League.

Neville was effusive in his praise for Palmer, going as far as making comparisons with Ronaldo’s ability to impact a game.

“He's nowhere near the level of Ronaldo, let’s be clear, but I'm going to put him in the same sentence here from a point of view of a principal,” Neville said.

“Cristiano used to go and play at that point where the team were weakest and most vulnerable. I think Cole Palmer has earned the credit and the ability that he’s got to put himself in that category.

“Wherever the game is for Chelsea, he can go and put himself there. A real outstanding talent and someone who Chelsea are going to build around.”

Before his penalty to seal victory over Liverpool, Palmer’s last goal had come on January 14 against Bournemouth and he also only contributed two assists during that barren three-and-a-half month run.

However, he has still scored at least five more Premier League goals than any other Chelsea player this season, with Nicolas Jackson the only other member of Enzo Maresca’s squad to make it into double figures in the league.

“He’s had a quiet time and a dip, but that’s just natural in any forward’s career,” Neville said of Palmer’s goal drought.

“He’s got 15 Premier League goals this season - that’s an outstanding return. If the others were contributing at the levels he is, Chelsea would be top of the league.”