Cole Palmer scored four goals to put Chelsea within touching distance of the Premier League’s top six following their 6-0 thrashing of Everton at Stamford Bridge on Monday evening.
In an otherwise poor season for the Blues, the England international has been a bright spot. In the competition for the Golden Boot, he has already tied Manchester City striker Erling Haaland’s record of 20 Premier League goals.
Before Nicolas Jackson added a goal just before halftime, Palmer finished his hat-trick in under 30 minutes, ending the game as a contest.
In the second half, Alfie Gilchrist’s first goal for his boyhood club and a penalty from Palmer completed the scoring.
Chelsea is still in ninth place in the Premier League despite going eight games without a loss. With one game remaining, Chelsea is only three points behind Newcastle in sixth place.
And they’ll be sure that they can stop the holders’ pursuit of a second straight triple going into Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final versus City.
After a heartbreaking loss, Everton is still in danger, sitting only two points above the relegation zone.
On Monday, the Toffees filed an appeal against a two-point penalty for violating Premier League sustainability regulations. This season, they were also punished six more points for a different infraction.
The fight for survival appears to be coming down to the wire, and Everton could use the boost of making up some of those lost points.
In order to extend their 70-year tenure in the top division, Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest team will need to make improvements at both ends of the pitch when they visit Goodison Park on Sunday in a crucial six-pointer relegation match.
A blow to the visitors came just before kickoff when Dominic Calvert-Lewin pulled up with a hamstring injury.
Beto, his deputy, wasted a fantastic opportunity to start the scoring when he mishandled a cross from Seamus Coleman that was in close range.
At the other end, Palmer was less merciful as he continued to argue for the title of Premier League player of the year.
The 21-year-old’s departure in September for what now appears to be a steal of £40 million ($50 million) must be regretted by City.
After nutmegging Jarrad Branthwaite, Palmer and Jackson exchanged a deft one-two, and Palmer curled the ball home from the edge of the box to open the score.
Mauricio Pochettino started Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk on either side of Palmer and Jackson for the first time because Enzo Fernandez was out with an injury.
The skill of that front four was too much for Everton to handle, and after Jordan Pickford saved Jackson from a Mudryk cross, Palmer had an easy task to head in his second.
Then, halfway inside the Everton half, Palmer casually chipped his international teammate with his weaker right foot, giving the England custodian a moment to forget.
Jackson, in contrast to Palmer, has had a mixed first season at Chelsea. However, just before halftime, he scored his 13th goal of the year with a superb touch and finish.
Even though Pochettino’s team was having a typical night, there was still drama when they were given a penalty at the hour.
Conor Gallagher, the captain, violently removed Madueke and Jackson from their attempts to take over penalty responsibilities so Palmer could receive the ball.
With nine of his nine successful spot kicks this season, he promptly made it to twenty-five for the season in both Chelsea and City colours.
Shortly after Pickford parried Ben Chilwell’s effort in the sixth, academy graduate Gilchrist scored with a rocket of his own.
Photo by Backpagepix
