Cole Palmer saluted Enzo Maresca's desire following Chelsea's 3-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.

The Blues moved to joint-second in the Premier League - only behind Arsenal due to alphabetical order - after a comfortable win at Stamford Bridge.

First-half goals from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez put the hosts in control, while Palmer's superb 20-yard strike sealed the points seven minutes from time.

The England winger took his league goal tally for the campaign to eight, and highlighted the influence of Maresca as a key factor in his consistently high-quality performances.

"I think if I go out and enjoy my football, the goals and assists will come," he told Sky Sports. "It's all down to the manager, the desire that he puts into the sessions and what the players give to him.

"Aston Villa are a good team so to win and go higher up the table is good. If we keep winning, I'm sure we'll be near the top four. We're just trying to keep going and win plenty of games."

Maresca, meanwhile, paid tribute to Robert Sanchez and Moises Caicedo, who started the game at right-back, as the Blues kept their first home league clean sheet of the season.

"The performance was very good," he said. "A top performance on and off the ball, and [I am] very happy with the three points.

"We don't have any doubt [about Sanchez]. It is more outside noise about him. But we are very happy because he is helping us by saving goals, and helping in the build-up.

"Moi deserves the best because he is a fantastic guy, very humble. Everything we ask, he is there to do it."

BIG, BIG WIN!!!#CFC | #CHEAVL pic.twitter.com/GWsh2rVPAo
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 1, 2024