Alan Shearer slams Raheem Sterling for taking penalty off Cole Palmer in Chelsea’s FA Cup win over Leicester and dismisses ‘bulls***’ Micah Richards’ theory about the Blues under-fire forward

• Raheem Sterling took the ball off Cole Palmer after Chelsea won a penalty
• The former England international then missed from the spot against Leicester 
• CHRIS SUTTON reveals his favourite last-minute goals of all time – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast 

Alan Shearer has slammed Raheem Sterling for taking a penalty instead of Cole Palmer – and missing it – during Chelsea’s FA Cup quarter-final win over Leicester on Sunday.

Leading 1-0 at Stamford Bridge courtesy of Marc Cucurrella’s goal, the Blues were awarded a penalty halfway through the first half when Sterling was brought down in the box by Leicester winger Abdul Fatawu.

Palmer, Chelsea’s designated penalty taker, looked set to place the ball on the sport, only for Sterling to take it off his hands.

But the former England international’s tame effort down the middle was saved by Jakub Stolarczyk’s legs.

Palmer has scored 16 goals in all competitions this season, five of them coming from the spot in as many attempts. 

Sterling, meanwhile, has eight goals in all competitions to his name this season but has more penalties misses in his career than he has scored in his career – five to four.

The 29-year-old’s poor record from the spot and Palmer’s immaculate conversion rate made Sterling’s decision to take the penalty even harder to comprehend, according to Shearer.

‘What on Earth is going on there? Seriously, I was getting angry and I didn’t really care,’ the Newcastle legend told The Rest Is Football podcast on Monday. 

‘I was thinking: “Why on earth is he taking the ball off Palmer?” Palmer’s scored five out of five.

‘He [Palmer] has been the best player for Chelsea, he looks confident when he’s taking them. 

‘Why would you even contemplate taking it off him? Why would you put yourself forward when you have a record like that?’

Co-host Micah Richards interjected suggesting Sterling, who has one goal in his last 12 Premier League appearances, had in fact been offered the chance to take the penalty by Palmer.

‘It’s confidence. Cole Palmer’s flying, but sometimes a striker in form would give it to a player who is suffering a little bit in confidence,’ he said.

‘Just to get his confidence back. No disrespect, it was Leicester at home.’

Shearer, however, swiftly dismissed the suggestion.  

‘What do you mean it’s confidence? Bulls***. It’s the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, man,’ he said.

‘Forget about who you’re playing or who you want to be nice to and all that s***. Give the penalty to the penalty taker.

‘Forget about all that being nice s***, “I want to get my confidence up” and all that. He’s not on the pens. 

‘Cole Palmer’s on the pens and he’s been successful at them, five out of five. Get off, I’m taking it, simple.’

After Sterling’s penalty miss, Palmer eventually doubled Chelsea’s lead just before the break, only for Leicester to draw level in the second half courtesy of an Axel Disasi own goal and of a brilliant finish from Stephy Mavididi. 

But Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke, who replaced Sterling, both scored in injury time to earn Chelsea a 4-2 win and a semi-final spot against Manchester City.

As well as missing from the penalty spot, Sterling also sent a glorious opportunity wide of the post after he was sent through one-on-one with the Leicester goalkeeper in the first-half.

And after the former Liverpool and Man City star skied a free-kick in the second-half, Chelsea fans responded with loud jeers for the 29-year-old.

Mauricio Pochettino said supporters were perfectly entitled to boo Sterling, but insisted he will never be pressured into hooking a player as he vowed to support his forward.

‘The feelings weren’t good for him but we are going to support him. He has an unbelievable CV,’ he said.

‘Today he missed the penalty and some chances but I am happy with him and are going to support him. We need to accept the situation. The fans in football live with expectation. The fans are entitled to say what they want.

‘I hope in the next game our fans will always be unconditionally behind the team because we are representing Chelsea. We want to make our fans happy and we are going to try.’