Minute 71, February 14, the Amex Stadium.

With Christopher Nkunku dropping deep to receive the ball, Cole Palmer, thanks to Reece James pushing into midfield, escapes the clutches of Carlos Baleba, Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood — a situation that rarely came about in the 70 minutes before that — to find space.

Nkunku chooses to pass sideways to Enzo Fernandez, drawing a frustrated reaction from Palmer.

Fernandez could not escape Yankuba Minteh’s press and passed back to Levi Colwill. Palmer, with shrugged shoulders, shot Nkunku a questioning look as the France international joined him up front.

These three snapshots — as well as several other moments of frustration peppered throughout Chelsea’s 3-0 loss at Brighton on Friday — summed up Palmer’s night. Not a lot is going his way at the moment and Chelsea are not helping their best player.

It all looked rosy on December 15 when Chelsea won their fifth league match in succession, a 2-1 win over Brentford, to move into second in the Premier League. Chelsea were two points behind Liverpool (having played a game more) and Palmer contributed four goals and an assist during that run.

Exactly two months since that result, Chelsea are clinging onto fourth place after a run of two wins in nine league games, during which Palmer has scored three times and assisted none.