Chelsea star Cole Palmer turns heads in disguise at Notting Hill Carnival after injury absence

Star Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer gave surprise to his fans by arriving for the Notting Hill Carnival in disguise. The English player missed Chelsea's 5-1 win against West Ham United last Saturday after picking up an injury during warm-up.

Later, Enzo Maresca revealed that Palmer had not been fully fit in the buildup to the match.

“Cole, in the last four or five days, was not 100 per cent. He tried to warm up but he felt something again. Probably against Palace he was not fully fit but he has been trying to make a big effort for the club, for the team and for the fans,” said Maresca.

Amid concerns regarding his fitness, Palmer appeared at the Notting Hill Carnival on Monday, donning a hat with artificial dreadlocks, along with a face mask and sunglasses. He posted a picture on social media with the caption:

"Blendinggg."

Many supporters, however, quickly discovered Palmer in the crowd. The midfielder joined Chelsea from Manchester City in the summer of 2023 and has since become the club's talisman.

Last season, Palmer scored 18 goals and produced 14 assists from 52 matches for the Blues across all competitions. Enzo Maresca's side, though, did not feel his absence over the weekend as they made light work of the Hammers. However, fans will be hoping that the Englishman can get back to his best soon, as he remains crucial to Chelsea's plans.

Moises Caicedo makes 100th appearance special

Moises Caicedo marked his 100th game for Chelsea in style, scoring to inspire his team to a commanding 5-1 victory against West Ham on Friday night. It was Chelsea's first Premier Legue of the 2025-16 season as they came from a goal behind to go to the top of the table.

West Ham's Lucas Paqueta gave an unlikely lead just six minutes in, but Enzo Maresca's side showed their determination as they scored three goals in the first half. Caicedo scored Chelsea's fourth goal in the 59th minute with a volley after Hammers goalkeeper Mads Hemansen flopped at an Enzo Fernandez corner.

After scoring the goal, Caicedo also produced an outstanding performance. He was a star in midfield, winning three tackles and produced a key interception to prevent a West Ham goal at 5-1.