Chelsea humiliated Everton 6-0 thanks to Cole Palmer perfect first-half hat-trick and then struck a penalty to make it four for himself in the Premier League on Monday night to move to within three points of the European qualifying spots.
It was a sensational display from the England international who made it back-to-back trebles at his home ground in style, with a silky opener followed by a poacher’s second and a clinical lob with his weaker right foot after Jordan Pickford’s gift of a pass to him.
It was the fastest Premier League hat-trick by a Chelsea midfielder and means he has also scored in seven games in a row at this stadium – another Blues record.
Palmer killed the game as a contest as he completed his hat-trick inside 30 minutes before Nicolas Jackson also struck before half-time.
Palmer opened the scoring in the 13th minute by curling a beautiful strike into the bottom corner after nutmegging Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite and playing a one-two with teammate Nicolas Jackson.
He doubled the lead five minutes later, heading in a rebound after a Jackson shot had been saved by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford.
The 21-year-old completed his hat-trick midway through the first half in style after he intercepted a poor pass from Pickford before lobbing the England goalkeeper from 40 yards out.
Jackson then inflicted more pain on Everton just before the break by volleying in Marc Cucurella’s cut-back, before Palmer added his fourth from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute.
And Chelsea scored a sixth in the 90th minute when substitute Alfie Gilchrist netted his first goal for the club from a tight angle.
Chelsea stretched their Premier League unbeaten run to eight matches and are three points off seventh-placed Manchester United, who currently sit in the Premier League’s last European spot, having played one game fewer.
On the other hand, Everton were playing in their first match since receiving a two-point deduction for a second breach of Premier League financial rules. They stayed 16th, two points above the relegation zone.
He certainly has the hunger for goals – Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson were squabbling over who would take the second-half spot-kick but Palmer marched in to take the ball and tuck away his 19th Premier League goal of the season. Jackson had to settle for his well-taken swivel and shot at the end of the first half.
Palmer is having a scintillating season and once again ignited his England Euro 2024 selection hopes with his second consecutive hat-trick at Stamford Bridge.
He has scored 20 Premier League goals this season, putting him level with Erling Haaland at the top of the golden boot race. Incredibly, before his move to Chelsea from Manchester City this summer Palmer had never scored a league goal.
Palmer is now a player to reckon with for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. He has scored the most league goals in a season for the Blues since Diego Costa also hit 20 in 2016-17.
He also won Chelsea’s penalty in the second half after being fouled by Abdoulaye Doucoure and despatched the spot-kick despite arguments with teammates Jackson and Noni Madueke over who would take the penalty.
Palmer was simply sensational and had two further chances to score either side of the break but overran a Madueke cross and was later denied by the legs of Pickford.
Scoring 11 goals across his past six games in all competitions, Palmer will be after more in Chelsea’s next match against his former club Manchester City in their FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.
While Chelsea are looking up and have West Ham, Manchester United and Newcastle within reach, Everton stay two places and two points above the drop zone. This was the first time a Sean Dyche side had conceded six in the Premier League and a nervy finish to the campaign awaits, with their appeal against their second points deduction lodged.
Everton were on for the double over Chelsea after beating them at Goodison in December but a record of 28 trips to this stadium without success in the league was a worrying sign and injury to Dominic Calvert-Lewin before they even set off for London added to their task.
They brought intensity early on, though, and worried a Chelsea backline which hadn’t kept a clean sheet in nine.
Beto’s miss was a shocker – the offside call would have been overturned by VAR. And, not for the first time this season, Everton were made to pay for their wastefulness. But what an opener it was from Palmer.
Chelsea made two changes, with the injured Axel Disasi and Enzo Fernandez replaced by Malo Gusto and Mykhailo Mudryk.
Everton also made two changes, with Amadou Onana in for Andre Gomes and Beto starting in place of the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
For all their issues at the other end, Everton were still able to trouble Chelsea’s defence, with James Tarkowski blasting through the six-yard box after Beto had seen his header scrubbed off. But Jackson’s sharp work all-but ended the contest by half-time. Palmer, of course, was involved again, releasing Marc Cucurella for the assist.
There was a triple change at the break from Everton, with both central midfielders James Garner and Amadou Onana hauled off, but Chelsea kept on finding space, with Mudryk running into acres before playing Palmer in for what should have been his fourth – Pickford sticking out a leg to save the one-on-one – before sub Nathan Patterson almost bundled another push out from the goalkeeper into his own goal.
Palmer wasn’t to be denied, though. Abdoulaye Doucoure trod on his heel in the box moments before Tarkowski took out Madueke. It was later indicated the penalty was given for the first challenge – if it had been for the second Tarkowski may well have received a second yellow.
While Madueke and Jackson argued over who would take it – with Thiago Silva and then Conor Gallagher stepping in to try to calm the situation – Palmer barged his way in to convert.
Chelsea face Manchester City at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday April 20. Kick-off 5.15pm Their next Premier League match is at London rivals Arsenal on Tuesday April 23. Kick-off 8pm.
Everton will host relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday April 21, kick-off 1.30pm, before Liverpool visit on Wednesday April 24, kick-off 8pm. Everton then face Brentford and Luton in their next four matches
