Cole Palmer Names Former Manchester City Teammate ’Best in the Premier League’

Erling Haaland has received praise from former Man City teammate Cole Palmer.

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Palmer is remembered by City fans for his brief but impactful spell in the first team at the Etihad Stadium, most notably with goals in the FA Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup in his final appearances for the club in 2023.

Now one of the league’s most high-profile players in London, Palmer recently took part in a tongue-in-cheek game for Sky Sports that host Joe Thomlinson christened the ’Cole Palmer Awards’. Palmer was handed a whiteboard and asked to name his winner across a series of categories.

One category in particular is likely to get Manchester City fans talking. Asked to name the best player in the Premier League, the Chelsea forward did not hesitate for a moment before writing down his pick. His choice, tellingly, was one of his former club’s current stars.

The name on the whiteboard was Erling Haaland. In a clip shared by Sky Sports, Palmer can be seen jotting down the Manchester City striker’s name almost before the question has finished.

Thomlinson teed him up perfectly, asking how unbelievable Haaland was as a footballer. “Very good,” said Palmer. “Even in the World Cup for Norway, every time he scores - that’s why.”

The Norwegian has been in typically ruthless form for Manchester City this season, racking up 17 goals in all competitions and sitting atop the Premier League’s scoring charts once again.

Along the way he has continued to rewrite the record books, having recently become the club’s all-time leading scorer in the Champions League. He is now City’s third-highest goalscorer of all time, only one behind Eric Brook - after which only Sergio Agüero will stand ahead of Haaland.

As Palmer alluded to, Haaland’s goals also fired Norway to the 2026 FIFA World Cup - their first appearance at the tournament since 1998 - where he was one of the tournament’s most prolific marksmen.

Palmer briefly played alongside Haaland in the senior team at the Etihad Stadium, featuring in that unforgettable season that saw Pep Guardiola’s side win the treble. For all the creative talent lighting up the Premier League, including Palmer himself, it was the City 9 who earned Palmer’s instant vote as the division’s finest.