Cole Palmer scored a perfect hat-trick and added a fourth in the second half as Chelsea blew Everton away with a 6-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.
The 21-year-old is the joint-top scorer in the Premier League alongside Erling Haaland after scoring an early curled left-foot finish, a header five minutes later, and a 35-yard right-foot lob inside half an hour.
Nicolas Jackson added a fourth with a perfect touch, turn and finish at the near post. Palmer scored the fifth, and his fourth, in the second half from the penalty spot after Conor Gallagher wrestled the ball from arguing duo Jackson and Noni Madueke, before Alfie Gilchrist capped a perfect night late on.
The win puts Chelsea just one point behind West Ham and three behind Newcastle and Man United in the European race.
WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED?! 🤯
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 15, 2024
29 minutes played and Cole Palmer has a HAT-TRICK! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vsP5sCxCLf
Nizaar Kinsella was at Stamford Bridge to rate the Chelsea players...
Djordje Petrovic - 6
No nonsense with his kicking, but he struggled to claim crosses which came into the box.
Malo Gusto - 6
Gave away a needless corner in the land of the giants but recovered to be solid enough.
Trevoh Chalobah - 6
Unsurprisingly struggled to defend set pieces against Everton but was good on the ball.
Thiago Silva - 6
The 39-year-old excelled and struggled in the exact same way as Chalobah.
Marc Cucurella - 7
Jackson turned in his good cross for Chelsea’s fourth goal.
Mosies Caicedo - 7
His front-footed pressing was sharper and helped spark attacks after a poor display at Sheffield United.
Conor Gallagher - 6
The stand-in captain did a lot of the much-needed dirty work for Chelsea.
Noni Madueke - 8
He was very bright and lively from the beginning as his impressive dribbling troubled Everton. He then won the penalty.
Cole Palmer - 10
An exceptional 29-minute hat-trick involving a nutmeg and curled finish, a Frank Lampard-esque late arrival into the box and a 35-yard lob was perfection. He could have sat in the centre circle sipping margaritas for the remaining 71 minutes and still got a 10/10.
Mykhailo Mudryk - 7
A bright display, creating chances and his cross led to the second goal.
Nicolas Jackson - 8
Jackson was involved in two of Palmer’s goals and netted a wonderful strike just before half-time.
Substitutes
Carney Chukwuemeka - 6
An unremarkable cameo, with little to play for.
Cesare Casadei - 6
See above.
Ben Chilwell - 6
Built up his minutes after coming back from a two-week injury lay-off, setting up Gilchrist’s goal.
Alfie Gilchrist - 8
Hammered in his first goal for his boyhood club.
Deivid Washington - N/A
Unused subs Bettinelli; Badiashile, Dyer; George.
