Welcome to The Radar, the Sky Sports feature where Nick Wright blends statistics with insight to highlight the Premier League stories you need to know. This edition covers three main topics: - The dynamic partnership of Palmer and Rogers - Scott’s standout performances for Bournemouth - The hard‑tackling approach of Crystal Palace Morgan Rogers was taken aback when he discovered that Cole Palmer had been named man of the match after Chelsea’s victory over Leeds.
"I registered four assists," Rogers protested. "I think you should have gotten it," Palmer replied with a grin.
"Don’t bring me up – I’m just watching from the sidelines," Rogers added. The banter, caught on Sky Sports cameras before the post‑match interview, highlighted the easy rapport between the two.
Their on‑field chemistry is just as evident. "It feels like we’ve been playing together forever," Rogers answered when asked about their connection. Both players grew up together in England and Manchester City’s youth set‑ups, and they have seamlessly continued that partnership at Chelsea.
In the first five games of the season they have combined for eleven goals and assists, a tally that only Arsenal has managed to keep relatively low. Their halftime talks sparked Chelsea’s comeback on Wednesday. After Rogers cleverly flicked the ball off his backside to set up Palmer’s equaliser, the duo were also involved in the build‑up to the third and sixth goals. Those inter‑plays have become a recurring theme.
In Chelsea’s five fixtures so far, Rogers has delivered almost twice as many passes to Palmer – nineteen in total – as any other teammate. Only defender Josh Acheampong has received more passes from Palmer, with fifteen. Surprisingly, they have directly combined for just one goal, but the potential for more is clear.
In the 4‑3 win over Brighton, they alternated creating chances for each other, only to be denied by last‑minute blocks. In the opening match against Fulham, Rogers fashioned three shooting opportunities for Palmer, who was unable to finish. Overall, the pair have generated nine chances for one another, more than double any other partnership in the league. They sit ahead of five other duos, including Palmer with Joao Pedro and Antoine Semenyo with Erling Haaland, who have produced four each.
While many expected Palmer to be the primary provider for Rogers, the early season trend has been the opposite. Palmer finished last season with a modest return of one goal in thirteen appearances, yet he has already netted four in five games this term, a surge partly credited to his new teammate’s influence. Rogers explained the mutual benefit of their partnership: "We bring different qualities and styles to the game. Ultimately it’s about scoring, creating and linking play, and we each do that in our own way." This contrast is evident in how they supply each other.
Rogers often looks to thread the ball into the space between the opposition’s defensive line and midfield, creating pockets for Palmer to exploit. Conversely, Palmer seeks to stretch the defense by delivering passes that target Rogers’ runs behind the line, adding a direct threat that complements Rogers’ ability to find gaps in the middle third.
Xabi Alonso’s system further enhances this relationship by using wing‑backs to provide width, allowing Rogers and Palmer to drift inside and operate in close proximity, increasing the frequency of their central combinations. Because of this central focus, Chelsea now launch a higher proportion of attacks through the middle third than any other Premier League side. Their next test comes against Hull City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, a match that could put an end to Hull’s recent run of three clean sheets.
Chelsea’s offensive upgrade with Rogers has been clear, but their midfield reinforcements have not delivered the same impact. One summer departure continues to thrive elsewhere – at Bournemouth.
Alex Scott has earned high praise from both Andoni Iraola and Marco Rose. "I love him," Rose said after their 2‑2 draw with Newcastle. That match marked the third consecutive game in which Bournemouth surrendered a late lead, a pattern that felt especially harsh on Scott. The 23‑year‑old, who scored Bournemouth’s opener against Everton in the previous fixture, was the standout at St James’ Park.
He contributed to both goals, logged the most touches, completed the highest number of final‑third passes, and won more duels than any of his teammates. His performances underline a strong start to the season.
Scott blends physicality with technical skill, tirelessly shuttling between both penalty areas. There are signs he is taking on greater responsibility, which bodes well for his future.
If he maintains this level, clubs that pursued him in the summer are likely to return with offers in the January window. For now, Bournemouth will hope he continues to deliver when they face Brentford at the Vitality Stadium. At Crystal Palace, Anan Khalaili has big shoes to fill after replacing Daniel Munoz as right wing‑back.
He demonstrated his attacking instincts with a driving run that set up Ben Chilwell’s winning goal against Fulham last weekend. Defensively, Khalaili has been busy. While he has had a few awkward moments, he clearly enjoys one‑on‑one battles and often comes out on top.
In fact, he currently ranks second in the league for duels won and leads the division in tackles, with seventeen – a five‑tackle margin over the next best player – despite having started only twice. Brentford’s Igor Thiago will travel to Bournemouth on Saturday looking to open his scoring account. He has accumulated an expected‑goals tally of 2.30 after three games without finding the net, the highest xG of any player yet to score this season.
It may be time for his fortunes to change. Sky Sports will broadcast four Premier League matches this weekend. Saturday night kicks off with Tottenham versus Everton, followed on Sunday by Coventry hosting Brighton at 2 pm and the Manchester derby – Manchester United versus Manchester City – at 4.30 pm. Monday Night Football concludes the weekend’s live coverage with Leeds taking on Newcastle at 8 pm, with pre‑game coverage starting at 6.30 pm.
The previous column focused on Arsenal’s improving defence ahead of their clash with Morgan Rogers and Chelsea. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1 million – entry is free!