Cole Palmer Makes Premier League History as Chelsea Hands Brighton Their First League Defeat
Cole Palmer etched his name into Premier League history by becoming the first player to score four goals in the first half of a league match as Chelsea triumphed 4-2 over Brighton and Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer’s record-breaking performance not only propelled the Blues to victory but also handed the Seagulls their first defeat of the season after five unbeaten games.
Chelsea’s afternoon began on a sour note as Brighton capitalized on loose defending to take an early lead in the 8th minute. Despite the setback, Chelsea quickly found their rhythm, taking full advantage of Brighton’s high defensive line.
Palmer initially thought he had leveled the score when he slotted home a goal, but it was ruled out for offside.
Just minutes later, Chelsea’s Nicholas Jackson intercepted a wayward back pass from Adam Webster and squared the ball to Palmer, who made no mistake with his finish, scoring the equalizer and his first of the day.
Chelsea then surged ahead when Jadon Sancho won a penalty, which Palmer expertly converted for his second goal. The 21-year-old was far from done.
In the 31st minute, Palmer completed a remarkable first-half hat-trick with a stunning free-kick from 35 yards, extending Chelsea’s lead to 3-1.
Brighton attempted a comeback, as Carlos Baleba took advantage of a misplaced pass by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
However, Palmer sealed his historic performance just before halftime by scoring his fourth goal of the game, securing Chelsea’s two-goal advantage at the break and becoming the first player in Premier League history to score four goals in the first half.
Despite tactical changes from both managers in the second half, Chelsea held on to their lead and secured a vital three points. The victory marked Chelsea’s resurgence under Enzo Maresca, and Palmer’s brilliant display was the driving force behind their success.
Cole Palmer’s Record-Breaking Feat
Palmer’s performance wasn’t just a milestone in Premier League history but also a landmark achievement for Chelsea. His stats from the match were nothing short of remarkable:
He became the first player to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League game.
Palmer also recorded the fastest-ever hat-trick by a Chelsea player in the Premier League, scoring three goals in just nine minutes and 48 seconds.
His four goals came in a blistering 19-minute and 57-second spell, making him the second-fastest player to score four goals in the Premier League, behind Jermain Defoe, who did it in 2009 for Tottenham.
Palmer has now netted three Premier League hat-tricks since joining Chelsea, tying with club legends Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Frank Lampard for the most hat-tricks in the league for the Blues.
Remarkably, Palmer has converted all 10 of his penalties for Chelsea, equaling the club’s second-longest streak behind Hasselbaink (12 out of 12) and just one behind Yaya Toure’s record of 11 out of 11 for Manchester City.
Since the start of the 2023-24 season, Palmer has been directly involved in 43 Premier League goals (28 goals, 15 assists), more than any other player in that period.
He joins an elite group of players to score four goals in two or more Premier League matches, alongside legends such as Frank Lampard, Sergio Aguero, Michael Owen, and Robbie Fowler.