Cole Palmer has made just four appearances for Chelsea this season(Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto)

For the first time since Cole Palmer limped off in the defeat to Manchester United last month, Chelsea clearly missed their talisman on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues threw away a one-goal lead at home to Sunderland in the Premier League, with the Black Cats scoring a 93rd-minute winner at Stamford Bridge. Enzo Maresca bemoaned his side's lack of creativity when speaking in his press conference after the game, and conceded his team were "not good enough" in the final third.

Bar Alejandro Garnacho's goal, coming inside four minutes, Chelsea really struggled to create anything in the form of clear-cut chances in SW6, with Palmer's absence feeling even more significant. The 23-year-old has been missing for the last seven games in all competitions because of a groin injury and is not expected to return until after the next international break.

Chelsea's deep pool of attacking players has papered over the cracks left by Palmer's absence in recent weeks but said cracks were extremely visible at Stamford Bridge over the weekend. Sunderland came with a...