Cole Palmer scored his second successive home hat-trick with four goals as Chelsea cruised to victory over relegation-threatened Everton to lift their hopes of qualifying for European football.
Midfielder Palmer deceived Jarrad Branthwaite with a nutmeg, exchanged passes with Nicolas Jackson and beat fellow England international Jordan Pickford with a curler from 20 yards to open the scoring in the 13th minute and continue his sensational campaign since signing from Manchester City for £45 million at the start of the season.
The 21-year-old nodded in his second five minutes later and completed his treble after 29 minutes, sending a brilliant first-time lob into the net after Pickford gifted him possession.
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Jackson turned inside the box to fire in a fourth a minute before the break but there was an surprising sour note in the build-up to Palmer’s successful 64th-minute penalty when Chelsea’s top scorer rowed with Jackson and Noni Madueke, who appeared to be incensed, about who should take the opportunity.
Defender Alfie Gilchrist lashed in a late sixth after Pickford could not hold substitute Ben Chilwell’s drive.
Palmer goals v Everton – and a penalty row
The headlines should belong almost exclusively to Palmer after the star of Chelsea’s campaign continued his astonishing form, becoming the first Chelsea player since Eden Hazard to score 20 times in a season.
Having completed his first senior hat-trick by netting in the 100th and 101st minutes against Manchester United in Chelsea’s previous home game, the City academy product broke legendary striker Didier Drogba’s record by scoring in a seventh successive game at Stamford Bridge.
WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED?! 🤯
29 minutes played and Cole Palmer has a HAT-TRICK! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vsP5sCxCLf
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 15, 2024
There were extraordinary scenes after Palmer was fouled for his spot kick, though, as the familiar sight of Chelsea players clashing over a penalty returned.
Madueke had challenged Palmer over the opportunity to take one in the last-gasp win over United and Raheem Sterling took the ball off Palmer before missing against Leicester City in the FA Cup on March 17.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino looked unimpressed on the sideline and will inevitably face the annoyance of being asked about the incident rather than concentrating solely on a positive result.
😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/qCP4uALalE
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 15, 2024
Chelsea are now three points behind sixth-placed Newcastle with a game in hand, Palmer having scored more than half of their Premier League goals since signing in September.
On a day when Everton formally appealed against their two-point deduction by the Premier League – their second punishment of the season – Sean Dyche’s side were left two points above third-bottom Luton Town with a game in hand.
Everton have won once in the top flight in 2024 and are the lowest scorers in the division apart from bottom club Sheffield United.
