Chelsea 6-0 Everton: Perfect Palmer hits four as Blues thrash sorry Toffees
Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer scored four goals, including a hat-trick in the first 30 minutes, as his team thrashed Everton 6-0 on Monday to keep their European hopes alive and leave the visitors just above the relegation zone.
The 21-year-old Palmer demonstrated his England credentials with a classic left foot, header, right foot treble before adding a second-half penalty as Chelsea ran riot.
Nicolas Jackson and substitute Alfie Gilchrist also scored for Chelsea, who remain ninth with 47 points but have games in hand on all teams above them.
"When we signed him (Palmer) he was a great talent," Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino said. "He is doing fantastic, he is doing really well and he has adapted himself. The impact on the team was amazing from day one."
Sean Dyche's visitors had a sobering night, as the heavy defeat dropped Everton to 16th place with 27 points, two places and two points above the relegation zone.
"A horrid night, miles away from where we want to be," said Dyche. "The hard yards, simple tackling, basic principles - all out the window and it was a massive reminder of where we are."
Everton had the first good chance, but Beto blasted over from point blank range after 10 minutes, and things went downhill from there.
Palmer got things going after 13 minutes when he nutmegged Jarrad Branthwaite, played a one-two with Jackson, and clipped in a shot from outside the box.
Five minutes later, more intricate passing - albeit with tentative Everton defending - set up the second, with Jordan Pickford parrying a Jackson shot straight to Palmer, who nodded the ball into an empty net.
Pickford also set up Palmer's third goal, as the midfielder intercepted a poor clearance 30 metres out and chipped brilliantly over the retreating keeper after 29 minutes.
Jackson made it 4-0 just before halftime, and Palmer added his fourth from the penalty spot in the 64th minute, but only after captain Conor Gallagher intervened to push away Jackson and Noni Madueke as they squabbled for the ball after the latter was brought down in the box.
Palmer joined Manchester City's Erling Haaland at the top of the league scoring charts with 20 goals, bringing his total in all competitions to 23. He became the first Chelsea player to reach 20 since Eden Hazard in 2018/19.
Pochettino was furious about the penalty taking incident that preceded it, though, apologising for the "bad image" it sent around the world. "I made it clear that I won't accept this again - I promise that," he said.
Young substitute Gilchrist scored the sixth goal in the final minute, leaving Chelsea fans dreaming of Europe. While it may not be a return to the Champions League, which they won in 2021, it would still represent progress after they appeared stuck in mid-table two months ago.
Everton, on the other hand, are still in danger of relegation for the first time since 1951, and they face a massive home game against fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on Sunday, having seen their goal difference and confidence plummet.
"We underperformed - the most embarrassed I have felt as an individual," said centre back James Tarkowski.
"It shows where we are at today, we can only apologise to the fans who supported us. It is on the players. It is not on the manager and the staff. No excuses on our behalf. We need to brush ourselves down as we have a big few weeks coming up."
SportsLigue