Cole Palmer calls for 'Chelsea perfection' ahead of Man City encounter

Chelsea returned from the international break in emphatic fashion, thrashing Port Vale 7-0 in the FA Cup. The result lifted spirits after a difficult run of four straight defeats that had dented confidence within the squad.

Palmer, who captained the side for the first time in that victory, made it clear that the focus has already shifted back to the Premier League and the challenge ahead.

"The gaffer has said it needs to be a perfect week; everyone needs to be on it," Palmer said. "Every time you win, it's nice. Losing those four games was not good and it's fair to say confidence was down. It's natural for it to drop.

"But the win meant everyone was happy, and now we've got a clear week. We need to have a good game on Sunday."

Chelsea are still pushing for a top-four finish, while City, led by Pep Guardiola, remain firmly in the title race behind Arsenal. The stakes are high for both sides, with little margin for error as the season enters its final stretch.

Palmer believes Chelsea must build on their recent performance and approach the game with belief and intensity.

"We're looking forward to it - it should be a good one," he added.

The England international also provided a personal update, suggesting he is ready to make a strong impact in the closing weeks of the campaign.

"I feel good. I feel I've turned a corner. Physically, I feel good now, I can shoot again, do everything again. Now it's a case of kicking on and performing."

If Palmer delivers on that promise, Chelsea's hopes of finishing the season strongly could receive a timely boost against one of the league's toughest opponents.