Cole Palmer impressed as Chelsea won 3-2 at Luton Town on Saturday. The 21-year-old had a hand in all three goals at Kenilworth Road, scoring twice and grabbing one assist.
Chelsea had suffered four consecutive away defeats in the Premier League prior but have finally stopped the rot. It’s now their third win in four games overall too, so Mauricio Pochettino’s men are hitting fine form.
Palmer was outstanding
Palmer missed Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace due to suspension and made up for lost time against Luton. He opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a brilliant low drive just inside the area. After Luton failed to clear their lines, the England international smashed an effort into the bottom corner.
Palmer turned creator in the 37th minute, collecting the ball in the middle and finding Noni Madueke in space. Madueke edged into the box, took the ball on his right foot and rifled a shot into the roof of the net.
And in the 70th minute, Palmer thought he had wrapped up the game with his second goal and Chelsea’s third. The 21-year-old collected as pass from Nicolas Jackson, rolled the ball past the goalkeeper and finished into an empty net. It was a brilliant goal and one of Palmer’s best, but Luton staged a comeback.
Hatters aren’t to be underestimated
Despite being 3-0 down at home with 20 minutes remaining, Luton weren’t giving up. Elijah Adebayo thought he pulled a goal back after converting Alfie Doughty’s cross, but it was ruled out for offside. Adebayo then hit the bar with a diving header after being brilliantly picked out by Chiedozie Ogbene.
Doughty did get his assist in the 80th minute after Ross Barkley headed home an in-swinging corner. And minutes later, Luton halved the deficit through Adebayo, who tapped in from close range after Doughty’s header was saved. Chelsea held on for the win, but they were given a late scare.
Pochettino’s men finished the day 10th and with a chance of overtaking 7th-placed Manchester United in gameweek 21.
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