Cole Palmer became the first player to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League game as Chelsea defeated Brighton to take third place in the standings... Palmer, 22, also struck the crossbar and had another goal disallowed before halftime in an extremely entertaining game as Chelsea’s quick front line took advantage of Brighton’s obstinate insistence on using a high defensive line.
In a remarkably entertaining match, Palmer, 22, also hit the post and had a further goal ruled out before the break as Chelsea’s rapid frontline cashed in on Brighton’s stubborn insistence on playing a high defensive line.
Albion scored twice early on themselves as fans were treated at a sun-kissed Stamford Bridge, with both of their strikes owing something to errors from Chelsea’s former Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
But, after Georginio Rutter headed the visitors ahead, Palmer took a firm grasp of the game with a stunning individual display.
The England player had hit the post and put the ball in the net from an offside position before opening the scoring from Nicolas Jackson’s pass – with all three chances coming in the space of 138 breathless seconds.
Palmer then scored his 10th consecutive successful penalty for Chelsea after the impressive Jadon Sancho was brought down, before capping a 10-minute hat-trick with a brilliant 25-yard free kick into the top corner.
A fourth for Palmer, arrowed in from a Sancho pass, came soon after Carlos Baleba had seized on Sanchez’s poor ball out to give Brighton hope.
Chelsea, who put six past Wolves last month, were again superb going forwards but Brighton’s refusal to change their approach after such a flurry of identical chances was bizarre, bordering on naive as young manager Fabian Hurzeler tasted defeat for the first time.
The second half was much less event-packed, as might be expected, though Palmer did miss a fantastic opportunity to score a fifth when he shot wide.
But when Georginio Rutter gave the visitors the lead, Palmer cemented his grip on the match with a superb solo effort.
In a remarkably entertaining match, Palmer, 22, also hit the post and had a further goal ruled out before the break as Chelsea’s rapid frontline cashed in on Brighton’s stubborn insistence on playing a high defensive line.
Albion scored twice early on themselves as fans were treated at a sun-kissed Stamford Bridge, with both of their strikes owing something to errors from Chelsea’s former Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
But, after Georginio Rutter headed the visitors ahead, Palmer took a firm grasp of the game with a stunning individual display.
The England player had hit the post and put the ball in the net from an offside position before opening the scoring from Nicolas Jackson’s pass – with all three chances coming in the space of 138 breathless seconds.
Palmer then scored his 10th consecutive successful penalty for Chelsea after the impressive Jadon Sancho was brought down, before capping a 10-minute hat-trick with a brilliant 25-yard free kick into the top corner.
A fourth for Palmer, arrowed in from a Sancho pass, came soon after Carlos Baleba had seized on Sanchez’s poor ball out to give Brighton hope.
Chelsea, who put six past Wolves last month, were again superb going forwards but Brighton’s refusal to change their approach after such a flurry of identical chances was bizarre, bordering on naive as young manager Fabian Hurzeler tasted defeat for the first time.
The second half was much less event-packed, as might be expected, though Palmer did miss a fantastic opportunity to score a fifth when he shot wide.
Palmer then scored his 10th consecutive successful penalty for Chelsea after the impressive Jadon Sancho was brought down, before capping a 10-minute hat-trick with a brilliant 25-yard free kick into the top corner.
A In a remarkably entertaining match, Palmer, 22, also hit the post and had a further goal ruled out before the break as Chelsea’s rapid frontline cashed in on Brighton’s stubborn insistence on playing a high defensive line.
Albion scored twice early on themselves as fans were treated at a sun-kissed Stamford Bridge, with both of their strikes owing something to errors from Chelsea’s former Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
But, after Georginio Rutter headed the visitors ahead, Palmer took a firm grasp of the game with a stunning individual display.
The England player had hit the post and put the ball in the net from an offside position before opening the scoring from Nicolas Jackson’s pass – with all three chances coming in the space of 138 breathless seconds.
Palmer then scored his 10th consecutive successful penalty for Chelsea after the impressive Jadon Sancho was brought down, before capping a 10-minute hat-trick with a brilliant 25-yard free kick into the top corner.
A fourth for Palmer, arrowed in from a Sancho pass, came soon after Carlos Baleba had seized on Sanchez’s poor ball out to give Brighton hope.
Chelsea, who put six past Wolves last month, were again superb going forwards but Brighton’s refusal to change their approach after such a flurry of identical chances was bizarre, bordering on naive as young manager Fabian Hurzeler tasted defeat for the first time.
Perhaps predictably the second half was far less incident-packed – although Palmer did waste a great chance for a fifth when he fired wide.
Chelsea, who defeated Wolves 6-1 last month, was excellent offensively once more, but Brighton’s inability to adjust their strategy following a series of nearly identical opportunities was strange and almost childish as new manager Fabian Hurzeler experienced defeat for the first time.
In a remarkably entertaining match, Palmer, 22, also hit the post and had a further goal ruled out before the break as Chelsea’s rapid frontline cashed in on Brighton’s stubborn insistence on playing a high defensive line.
In a remarkably entertaining match, Palmer, 22, also hit the post and had a further goal ruled out before the break as Chelsea’s rapid frontline cashed in on Brighton’s stubborn insistence on playing a high defensive line.
Albion scored twice early on themselves as fans were treated at a sun-kissed Stamford Bridge, with both of their strikes owing something to errors from Chelsea’s former Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
But, after Georginio Rutter headed the visitors ahead, Palmer took a firm grasp of the game with a stunning individual display.
The England player had hit the post and put the ball in the net from an offside position before opening the scoring from Nicolas Jackson’s pass – with all three chances coming in the space of 138 breathless seconds.
Palmer then scored his 10th consecutive successful penalty for Chelsea after the impressive Jadon Sancho was brought down, before capping a 10-minute hat-trick with a brilliant 25-yard free kick into the top corner.
A fourth for Palmer, arrowed in from a Sancho pass, came soon after Carlos Baleba had seized on Sanchez’s poor ball out to give Brighton hope.
Chelsea, who put six past Wolves last month, were again superb going forwards but Brighton’s refusal to change their approach after such a flurry of identical chances was bizarre, bordering on naive as young manager Fabian Hurzeler tasted defeat for the first time.
Perhaps predictably the second half was far less incident-packed – although Palmer did waste a great chance for a fifth when he fired wide.
But, after Georginio Rutter headed the visitors ahead, Palmer took a firm grasp of the game with a stunning individual display.
The England player had hit the post and put the ball in the net from an offside position before opening the scoring from Nicolas Jackson’s pass – with all three chances coming in the space of 138 breathless seconds.
Palmer then scored his 10th consecutive successful penalty for Chelsea after the impressive Jadon Sancho was brought down, before capping a 10-minute hat-trick with a brilliant 25-yard free kick into the top corner.
A fourth for Palmer, arrowed in from a Sancho pass, came soon after Carlos Baleba had seized on Sanchez’s poor ball out to give Brighton hope.
Chelsea, who put six past Wolves last month, were again superb going forwards but Brighton’s refusal to change their approach after such a flurry of identical chances was bizarre, bordering on naive as young manager Fabian Hurzeler tasted defeat for the first time.
The second half was much less event-packed, as might be expected, though Palmer did miss a fantastic opportunity to score a fifth when he shot wide.
