Chelsea kept their European football hopes alive with an unbridled 6-0 thrashing of Everton on Monday night. Cole Palmer continued to be the star man at Stamford Bridge with his second hat-trick in three games.
The 21-year-old scored four times against the Toffees – including three in 16 first-half minutes – and joined Erling Haaland as the Premier League’s top scorer with 20.
Nicolas Jackson scored one of his best goals since his summer move from Villareal before Alfie Gilchrist added a sixth goal late on with his first senior goal for the club.
The win puts Chelsea in ninth place in the Premier League, just three points behind Newcastle in sixth. Depending on how the UEFA coefficient rankings turn out this season, eighth place could offer European football.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side still have to face Arsenal, Aston Villa, Tottenham, West Ham and Brighton in the league and remain in the hat to win the FA Cup. Monday night’s victory means the Blues are now unbeaten in eight league games, meaning confidence is starting to flow again at Cobham.
Despite Everton’s thrashing, there was a moment involving Noni Madueke, Jackson and Palmer when Chelsea were awarded a penalty in the second half.
READ MORE: Palmer sensational, Jackson and Madueke worried – Chelsea winners and losers after Everton win
READ MORE: Chelsea teammates are in awe of Cole Palmer as John Terry sends a subtle message after an Everton hat-trick
That said, here’s a look at how the national media reacted to the West Londoners’ biggest win of the season.
‘Chelsea will learn the lesson’
Thom Gibbs of The Telegraph wrote: “Normally you would call this a good season when it comes to penalties at Chelsea. After Monday night’s thumping of Everton, Mauricio Pochettino’s side have conceded 14 and scored 12. Cole Palmer has taken nine and scored them all, Noni Madueke is also clear from his two attempts. Enzo Fernandez has scored one try from two from twelve yards. Raheem Sterling has taken one and missed
“This leaves out the psychodrama that has enveloped the ritual on a number of occasions. On an otherwise smooth evening for the home side on Monday, there was another row over who should take the kick.
“Cole Palmer was fouled with his team 4-0 up and Noni Madueke picked up the ball and stood over the spot. Captain Conor Gallagher ordered Madueke to pass the ball to Palmer, passed it himself and Nicolas Jackson Apparently came in to plead Madueke’s case, Palmer pushed him away, sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way and made it 5-0.
“All this seemed highly unnecessary given the scoreline and the generally optimistic mood. Perhaps Palmer should have scored three goals for the evening and gifted his penalty to his teammate, but the decision to take it certainly should not have happened.” caused internal unrest where it seemed equally likely that teammates could come to blows.
“This is not the first time this has happened this season, nor the second, nor even the third. Sterling took the ball from Palmer against Leicester in the cup and missed, Madueke argued for the right to take the penalty with which Palmer equalized against Manchester United in the league earlier this month and Palmer and Sterling argued over the right player against Arsenal in October. Again, Palmer scored.
“Maybe one day Chelsea will learn the lesson that seems clear to all neutral observers: let Palmer handle it.”
‘There was no need for mini tantrums’
Alyson Rudd of The Times wrote: “If there was any doubt, and there probably wasn’t much at all, about who will be named the PFA Young Player of the Year, there is no more now. Cole Palmer scored four goals with such aplomb it’s hard to believe is.” he’s still only 21. He could even win the Golden Boot award of the campaign as he has 20 goals so far, level with Erling Haaland.
“Palmer received a standing ovation when he was taken off the pitch in the 80th minute, having scored his second hat-trick of the season, before scoring a fourth hat-trick from the penalty spot – but only after an argument between teammates over who got the ball would take a penalty that Mauricio Pochettino described as “unacceptable”.
“Noni Madueke was brought down in the penalty area by James Tarkowski and made it clear that he wanted to take the subsequent penalty, and so much unseemly bickering ensued, as Palmer is the team’s penalty specialist. However, the penalty was actually awarded for a previous offense on Palmer by Abdoulaye Doucouré, meaning the mini-tantrums were unnecessary after all, and Pochettino branded the behavior “unacceptable” and said he wouldn’t do it again.
“Needless to say, Palmer won the argument and curled the ball into the bottom corner, becoming the first player to score four goals in one game for Chelsea in the Premier League since Frank Lampard in 2010.”
‘A touch of shame’
Matt Barlow of The Daily Mail wrote: “For Chelsea this season, victory was five out of five on Monday night, but they couldn’t complete the win without a hint of embarrassment as players bickered over who should take the penalty.
“Noni Madueke wanted to take him because he thought he had won, although it later emerged that the reward had been awarded because of an earlier foul on Palmer. Nicolas Jackson, who had scored the fourth of the evening just before half-time, wanted to take him, too.
“Then Palmer stepped forward and grabbed the ball, supported by captain Conor Gallagher.
“The home crowd booed as Jackson refused to retreat quietly. Even after Palmer had beaten Jordan Pickford from the spot with his trademark nonchalance, Jackson had to be reminded by Madueke to go and congratulate the goalscorer. Something he did reluctantly .
“Otherwise it was a wonderful evening for Mauricio Pochettino, highlighted by a popular sixth place, the first of his senior career for Alfie Gilchrist. That went down well with the home crowd as Chelsea closed in on the European places, with some momentum.”
‘Cole Palmer Team’
Matt Law of The Telegraph wrote: “Pep Guardiola used to call Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur team the ‘Harry Kane team’ and the Argentine now has the ‘Cole Palmer team’ at Chelsea.
“But some of the luster was taken off Palmer’s four-goal display by a pathetic pushing match between Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke after a second-half penalty.
“The penalty was ultimately taken and scored by Palmer, and it is unthinkable to think where Chelsea would be in ninth place this season without him and his twenty Premier League goals.
“Thanks to four goals against Everton, including an incredible perfect hat-trick, Palmer is now the League’s top scorer along with Erling Haaland and could still fire FA Cup semi-finalists Chelsea to European qualification and an unlikely trophy.
“England assistant manager Steve Holland was at Stamford Bridge on Monday evening and he and Gareth Southgate will find it difficult to leave Palmer out of the squad for the European Championship.”