Cole Palmer scored four goals as Chelsea thrashed Everton 6-0 at Stamford Bridge on Monday night. The 22-year-old bagged a hat-trick inside of half an hour, and there was a debut goal for Alfie Gilchrist too.
Chelsea moved within a point of 8th-placed West Ham United with the win. They also have two games in hand, so they’re in a good place for a strong finish to the season.
Everton, however, are now seven points adrift of 13th-placed Bournemouth and only two points above 15th-placed Crystal Palace. The Toffees haven’t beaten the Blues at the Bridge in the league for 30 years and didn’t start well…
Palmer won the game in the first 30 minutes
Everton should have taken the lead early on, with Beto missing the target with a tap-in from close range. Beto got on the end of a cutback from Seamus Coleman but somehow blazed his effort over the bar. Chelsea would punish Everton for the missed opportunity by scoring minutes later.
Palmer scored a brilliant opening goal, curling a first-time effort past Jordan Pickford on the edge of the box. The 22-year-old began the move nutmegging one player before a give-and-go with Nicolas Jackson saw him free and in space.
Palmer’s second goal of the game came five minutes later and saw him head home a rebound from close range. Pickford saved from Jackson’s close-range effort but could nothing about Palmer’s follow-up.
And ten minutes after his second, the England international completed his hat-trick, lobbing Jordan Pickford from distance after an error. Jackson got himself on the scoresheet before half-time for 4-0, volleying under Pickford after collecting a Marc Cucurella cross.
Mauricio Pochettino was able to bring on fringe players
After the break, Palmer would bag his fourth of the game from the penalty spot when Noni Madueke was felled. Palmer had to fight Madueke and Jackson to take the penalty but made no mistake for 5-0.
And Gilchrist wrapped up the scoring late on, volleying home from close range after Everton failed to clear their lines. Another positive was Mauricio Pochettino being able to give Gilchrist, Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei and Deivid Washington a second-half run-out.
