Jamie Carragher picks out 'best player in the Premier League' with Phil Foden claim
Jamie Carragher has revealed the player he feels is currently the best in the Premier League and compared him to former Tottenham and Real Madrid star Gareth Bale
by Matthew Cooper · The MirrorJamie Carragher believes Chelsea star Cole Palmer is the best player in the Premier League right now after he made history by scoring four goals against Brighton.
Palmer became the first player to score four times in the first half of a Premier League game as Chelsea beat the Seagulls 4-2 and Carragher has hailed the 22-year-old, who has starred for the Blues since making a £42.5million move from Manchester City last summer.
He scored 27 goals and provided 15 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions in his debut campaign for Chelsea and Carragher has admitted he felt Palmer was the best player in the league last season, even though said at the time it was Phil Foden.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Carragher said: "Last season I was a little bit reticent to say he was the best player in the Premier League. I actually felt he was, but the fact Chelsea hadn't had such a great season meant I went for [Phil] Foden just above him.
"Most people thought the same because Foden got the two player of the year awards, but inside me I felt Palmer was the best player in the Premier League. On the back of last season, if he carries on again through this season then I think he's the best player in the Premier League.
"He's not playing with the absolute elite at a Manchester City, he's moved on from there. When I look at him now and I think of the last player who I classed as the best player in the Premier League who didn't play for one of the teams who were going for the title, it was probably Gareth Bale.
"He's a different type of player, but for a couple of years at Tottenham he was the best player in the Premier League even though his team were just battling for the Champions League places as Cole Palmers will be."
Carragher went on to explain that he feels sorry for Foden, insisting Palmer now "has to play in the England team" ahead of him. "I actually feel a little bit for Phil Foden, he's never really grabbed that England position," he continued.
"Players have come from nowhere and almost taken his place. At one stage, I felt like he was going to be the right winger for England and then Saka comes in. Then he was the No.10... Jude Bellingham comes in.
"Then you think we'll get him in the team somewhere and Cole Palmer comes along. I absolutely adore Phil Foden, but Cole Palmer has to play in the England team because right now there is no better player in the Premier League over the last 15 months."
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