Cole Palmer scored a first-half hat-trick at Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty)
Cole Palmer scored the quickest ever hat-trick for Chelsea in the Premier League as the Blues put Everton to the sword in a remarkable first half at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer, 21, has been a revelation since arriving in west London from Manchester City last summer and continued his stunning form against Sean Dyche’s Toffees.
The England international nutmegged Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite before placing a precise strike past Jordan Pickford to give Chelsea the lead on 13 minutes.
Shortly after Palmer headed home into an empty net after Nicolas Jackson’s shot was only half-saved by Pickford.
Palmer completed his perfect hat-trick – scoring with both feet and his head – inside half an hour as he intercepted a poor pass from Pickford and lifted a delightful lob over the stranded England goalkeeper.
‘If there is anybody in the Premier league you don’t want to give the ball to in that situation it is Cole Palmer,’ ex-Arsenal striker Alan Smith said on the Sky Sports commentary.
‘Palmer cannot believe his luck here, he takes it like it was the easiest chance in the world. He is playing with such confidence, he is bossing it.’
Palmer’s performance against Everton also saw him become the first ever Chelsea player to score in seven successive Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge.
In his most recent home appearance, Palmer scored two injury-time goals in another hat-trick to stun Manchester United in a dramatic and thrilling 4-3 win.
Chelsea added a fourth before half-time through Jackson, who took down a cross before swivelling and beating Pickford with a superb finish.
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Discussing Palmer’s first-half performance, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher said: ‘This lad has been sensational all season, one of the best players in the league. That was all class and composure. Some of the finishing was sensational.’
Palmer now has 19 goals in the Premier League this season, one behind Golden Boot leader Erling Haaland.
His overall tally of 22 goals is the most for a Chelsea player in a single season since Diego Costa reached the same figure in the 2016-17 campaign.
Everton conceded four first-half goals at Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty)
Despite Palmer’s brilliance, Chelsea have endured a largely disappointing season under Mauricio Pochettino, though three points against Everton will take them up to ninth, just one win behind sixth-placed Newcastle.
Everton, meanwhile, were sitting just 16th in the Premier League – two points above the relegation zone – prior to their trip to west London.
Chelsea’s blistering first-half performance bodes well ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final against Palmer’s former club Manchester City, who are two points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
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