Chelsea and England star Cole Palmer (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea and England star Cole Palmer has named Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk as his ‘toughest opponent’.

Palmer has taken the Premier League by storm since joining Chelsea in a £40m move from Manchester City in the summer of 2023.

The 22-year-old scored 25 goals during his first season at Stamford Bridge, with his sensational form earning him a call-up to the England squad for Euro 2024.

Palmer’s form shows no sign of slowing down, with the playmaker – who is contracted to Chelsea until 2033 – already scoring seven goals and making five assists in nine Premier League games this season.

Another player who has made a superb start to the 2024-25 campaign is Van Dijk, who Palmer rates as his ‘toughest opponent’.
Van Dijk has established himself not only as a Liverpool legend but an all-time Premier League great since arriving at Anfield in 2018.

The Netherlands international was a key member of the Jurgen Klopp team that ended Liverpool’s long wait for a Premier League title and lifted the Champions League trophy either side of two runs to the final.

Liverpool legend Virgil van Dijk (Picture: Getty)

Van Dijk has been named in the Premier League Team of the Year four times in the last six seasons and finished runner-up for the Ballon d’Or in 2019.

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