Palmer said he felt "the best in a very, very long time" under Marcos Alonso at Chelsea as he puts a difficult season behind him.

The 24-year-old endured a difficult 2024-25 season, struggling with a groin injury that limited him to just two appearances between August and December.

Although he eventually scored 10 Premier League goals, managing only one in his final eight matches saw him excluded from England's World Cup squad.

On Monday, Palmer put that disappointment behind him, scoring in Chelsea's 3-2 opening-day victory over Fulham—a performance that once again showcased his world-class quality.

"Physically I feel good – probably the best in a very, very long time, but I think I can still get better with more games and more minutes," Palmer told Sky Sports.

"Before the groin injury, I'd probably never been injured, or very rarely. So when I came back, I was coming back when I shouldn't have been playing."

"Obviously, the World Cup was coming up, so I was a bit torn, thinking, 'If I don't play, I won't go, but if I do play, I'm not really performing well.'"

"It was a complicated situation. I didn't really know what to do, but that's how it was. I spoke to different people and got different opinions on why I was injured, what the issue was."

"Since I came back, I've just been working hard every day to make sure it doesn't happen again. I just want to stay fit, and if I'm on the pitch, I know what I can do."

And although the new season is just one match old, Palmer appears to have rediscovered his freedom under Alonso.

Under Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, there was a sense that Palmer was constrained by a more rigid tactical system—something he himself alluded to, though he expressed that this is no longer the case after speaking with his new manager.

"He (Alonso) just said I'd have more freedom to roam around the pitch. And you see with the goal against Fulham, that's what happened."

"Last season, I wouldn't even have made that run because it wouldn't have been in the 'safe zone'. But he said to move across the pitch, drop in, take the ball, create, do your job."

This newfound freedom could help Palmer, Joao Félix, and new signing Morgan Rogers form a formidable attacking trio, with all three scoring against Fulham at Craven Cottage and subsequently dubbed "JP Morgan".

And although Palmer is clearly not a fan of the nickname, he is enthusiastic about the understanding building between the three.

"That's a terrible name. We need to find something better," he said with a laugh. "I think we're all different. Joao can do everything, Morgan is more physical and I'm more technical, so I think we blend well together."

The victory over Fulham has given Chelsea an ideal start, and with Alonso at the helm and no European football this season, there are already whispers that Chelsea could be dark horses for the title.

Gary Neville on Monday Night Football suggested Arsenal may be too strong to overcome, but he felt Chelsea were well-positioned and backed them to finish second.

However, Palmer revealed that talk of the table hasn't emerged in the dressing room yet.

"We haven't even discussed it. This isn't about talking titles; it's only been one game," Palmer said.

When asked if he thought they had the capability to challenge, Palmer replied: "Yeah, I think so."

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