Backing Cole Palmer to score these days seems like an obvious choice, but looking at Chelsea’s Premier League fixtures for November makes it all the more appealing.

Man United, Leicester, and Arsenal lie in wait for Palmer, who is currently leading the way in the Premier League for goals and assists so far this season (12). Up first is a Man United side in which Palmer managed to score four times against last season, including a hattrick in the dramatic 4-3 win at Stamford Bridge.

United boast the 7th-worst xGA in the league this season (1.67 P90), with Chelsea boasting the 3rd-best xGF so far under manager Enzo Maresca (1.89 P90).

Next up is Arsenal, who while possessing one of the best defences in Europe, are conceding goals of late (1.11 P90). Palmer will also be on set-pieces against an Arsenal side who are the 4th-highest foulers in the league (12.30 P90).

Last up for Palmer in November is a trip to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester, who are already looking like strugglers this season in the Premier League. The Foxes rank third in the league for xGA (2.03 P90) and have already shipped 17 goals in just nine league games.

Cole Palmer currently sits second in the Premier League assist charts this season, with five to his name and only two behind Bukayo Saka.

Palmer is head and shoulders above any Chelsea player when it comes to expected assists this season. Stats show he boasts an xAG of 4.2 for the current season, and to put that into context, the next best is Moises Caceido with 0.17.

The impending arrival of new United manager Ruben Amirom means the Portuguese will take the reigns of his first game against Ipswich on the 24th, so interim Ruud van Nisterlrooy will be in the dugout for Sunday’s clash. While they got off to a good start against Leicester in the Carabao Cup, not much will change in terms of personnel and style of play for the game against Chelsea, and given United’s woeful defensive frailties this season, Palmer will be relishing the opportunity to feed the in-form Nicolas Jackson at Old Trafford.

Arsenal will no doubt be the toughest for Chelsea and Palmer this month. Palmer, who was absent from the 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal in April, was still at the heart of the action in the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge last season. He scored and played one key pass in a game where he played a false-nine role. Expect Palmer to drop deeper to service the in-form Nicolas Jackson and cause trouble for an ill-disciplined Arsenal defence.

Palmer is yet to test himself against one of the newly promoted sides this season, but Leicester’s defensive stats read in his favour. Leicester have the 4th-worst XGA against in the league (1.41 P90), and with Steve Cooper’s head already on the chopping block, Palmer should relish the opportunity of pulling the strings against a team that look to be in a struggle to stay afloat in the league.

Cole Palmer is drawing the most fouls out of any player to play at least two total 90 minutes in the Chelsea squad for this Premier League season (2.44 P90).

He was fouled three times by Man United at Stamford Bridge last season, and again once in the return leg at Old Trafford.

Arsenal as mentioned before are one of the more consistent foulers in the league this season, ranking 4th in the fouls table with an average of 12.3 P90. He also was fouled once in his only league appearance against the Gunners in the league last season.

While there is no data for any Palmer performance against Leicester given The Foxes gained promotion this season, they still rank in the top half of the Premier League for fouls committed 90 (11.90).