Cole Palmer became the first player since Eden Hazard to score 20 goals for Chelsea in a season by netting a hat-trick inside the first 29 minutes to give the Blues a 3-0 lead in their Premier League home game against Everton.
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.
Five minutes later, Palmer nodded in after Pickford could only parry Jackson’s shot into his path in front of goal.
Pickford then gifted Palmer possession to complete his treble, sending a brilliant first-time lob into the net as the goalkeeper backtracked helplessly.
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“That sums up his Chelsea career,” former England forward Alan Smith told Sky Sports after Palmer’s first.
“Absolutely brilliant. It’s a nice little exchange – Jackson plays his part – but there’s still a lot to do and Pickford is not an easy man to beat from those distances. It’s so slick, so cute and so skilful.”
Palmer goals v Everton
Palmer has now scored five times in his last 30 minutes of football at Stamford Bridge and contributed well over half of Chelsea’s goals since his debut, as well as providing nine assists.
Mauricio Pochettino’s expensively-assembled squad have had an underwhelming season but are hopeful of qualifying for European competition with a late winning run.
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
Chelsea will be three points behind sixth-placed Newcastle with a game in hand if they beat the Toffees.
The key man in their season is the first Chelsea player to score in seven successive home games, breaking legendary striker Didier Drogba’s record.
Palmer’s dazzling form has put him firmly on course to be selected for England’s Uefa Euro 2024 squad.
The Mancunian made a bold move by leaving City, whose academy he had come through.
City manager Pep Guardiola recently praised Palmer’s decision but may be increasingly wondering whether the same could be said of his former club allowing him to leave for a fee which already looks good value.
Palmer scored his first senior hat-trick in Chelsea’s extraordinarily dramatic previous home game, including goals in the 100th and 101st minutes to seal a 4-3 comeback victory.
