Cole Palmer became the first player in Premier League history to score four first-half goals in the same game as Chelsea ended Brighton’s unbeaten start to the season in a chaotic 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Chelsea trailed after goalkeeper Robert Sanchez’s failure to claim an aerial ball gave Georgino Rutter his first Brighton goal seven minutes in. Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill were also at fault for failing to clear inside their own box.
Enzo Maresca’s side responded impressively as they ran riot against a Brighton defence that was missing Joel Veltman and Jan Paul van Hecke. Palmer was set up by Nicolas Jackson’s pull-back for his first before continuing his perfect penalty record after Jadon Sancho was fouled.
Palmer completed his hat-trick in an 11-minute window, scoring his third with an inch-perfect free-kick from 25 yards out, to seemingly put Chelsea in control until Sanchez made another error to hand Brighton a route back into the game.
EPL fixtures: Man United face Spurs as Rodri-less City meet Newcastle
Carlos Baleba pounced on the Chelsea goalkeeper’s poor pass out three minutes after Palmer’s third to raise the tension inside Stamford Bridge. Palmer soon eased those nerves, though, making history with his fourth after being set up by Sancho.
Chelsea’s impressive start to the season under Enzo Maresca sees them one point behind title challengers Manchester City and Arsenal after six games, while Brighton are in eighth place after their first defeat.
Speaking after the game, Chelsea manager Maresca said Palmer is the “best in the Premier League”.
Maresca said: “He scored four but he also could have scored two or three more.
“It’s important he stays hungry, ambitious and I know him from many years ago with the U23s at (Manchester) City and with the first team.
“What he is today as a boy is exactly what he was three or four years ago. Goals, assists, best player of the Premier League – this doesn’t change the way he is.”
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