Chelsea

Cole Palmer has a chance of winning the Premier League Golden Boot after hitting four goals past Everton at Stamford Bridge, having scored a hat-trick inside the first 29 minutes of the game.

The midfielder has recorded 20 Premier League goals so far this season, bringing him level with Erling Haaland of Manchester City, and he has now scored the most league goals in a campaign for the Blues since Diego Costa in 2016-17.

Leicester City defender Conor Coady praised the 21-year-old for becoming the Blues' "main man" this season on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club: "He is keeping Chelsea going a little bit this season.

"He has been a bright spark for Chelsea. What he is doing is fantastic. Everybody asked the question at the start of the season about whether he should be leaving [Manchester] City. He has shown everybody why he left City and why he is becoming the main man at Chelsea."

Coady also commented on whether he believes England manager Gareth Southgate should be looking to take Palmer to the Euros: "You have got to take him in the summer because he can affect games. That is what England need.

"Whether the England gaffer takes him for that, we don't know, but what a fantastic player this season.

"He deserves it as well."

Watch Monday Night Club on BBC iPlayer or listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea player of the match Cole Palmer was "buzzing" after scoring four goals at Stamford Bridge in what was an overall "good performance" against Everton.

"It all happened so fast," he told Sky Sports. "We started well and I scored another hat-trick - buzzing. The team needed that after Sunday, but we did well."

The 21-year-old became the first Blues player to score a first-half hat-trick in the Premier League and just the second to score a hat-trick in back-to-back home appearances in the competition since Didier Drogba in 2010.

He is also the first to net four times in a league match for the club since Frank Lampard against Aston Villa in March 2010.

"The first one was my favourite," Palmer added. "My right foot was a bit of a swinger. We needed to come out and show something and it was a good performance."

On 20-year-old Alfie Gilchrist, who scored his first goal for the club: "He has been a Chelsea fan all his life and everyone is buzzing for him."

Image source, Getty Images

Mauricio Pochettino told BBC Sport he is "happy" with Chelsea's 6-0 thrashing of Everton and praised their "very clinical" performance.

However, the Blues boss did "apologise to the fans" for Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke's behaviour when they were arguing with Cole Palmer over who would take the penalty.

"It is a shame," Pochettino said. "It is a process for a young team who need to learn a lot. I was talking about this to the players after the game. It is the last time I want to see something like this.

"They need to learn and be professional. We need to be focused on the collective. They knew it was Cole [Plamer]. Cole is the taker. It is a clear example that it is a process we still need to learn."

On whether he expected Palmer to score so many goals: "No. You expect him to perform well but he is performing fantastic and doing amazing for the team. I am happy for him scoring four goals."

Did you know?

• Palmer became the first Chelsea player to score in seven successive home league appearances at Stamford Bridge.

• The Blues secured their biggest league victory since a 6-0 win at Southampton in April 2022, extending their home unbeaten run over Everton to 29 games in the Premier League.

• Palmer has converted all nine penalties he has taken in the league, with only Yaya Toure (11) posting a better 100% conversion rate from the spot in the competition's history. Only Frank Lampard (10 in 2009-10) has scored more penalties than Palmer in a Premier League campaign for Chelsea.

Newcastle United are intensifying their scouting of RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, as they look to beat Chelsea to the signing of the 20-year-old Slovenia striker. (Teamtalk), external

Chelsea have triggered contract extensions for midfielder Enzo Fernandez and Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk, with both having another year added on to what were already long-term deals. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Cole Palmer is having a phenomenal season and once again boosted his England Euro 2024 selection hopes with his second consecutive hat-trick at Stamford Bridge.

He has scored 20 Premier League goals this season, putting him level with Erling Haaland at the top of the golden boot race. Incredibly, before his move to Chelsea from Manchester City this summer Palmer had never scored a league goal.

Now the 21-year-old is a lynchpin for Mauricio Pochettino's side. He has scored the most league goals in a season for the Blues since Diego Costa also hit 20 in 2016-17.

He took his first three goals superbly, with his left foot, his head and his right foot, to score the fastest Premier League 'perfect' hat-trick since Gracenote started recording that data in 2008-09.

His successful penalty in the second half was a deserved bonus for a stunning performance.

Having scored 11 goals across his past six games in all competitions, Palmer will be after more in Chelsea's next match against his former club Manchester City in their FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.

Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer scored four goals, including a hat-trick inside the first 29 minutes, as his side thrashed sorry Everton at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.

Palmer opened the scoring in the 13th minute by curling a beautiful strike into the bottom corner after nutmegging Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite and playing a one-two with team-mate Nicolas Jackson.

He doubled the lead five minutes later, heading in a rebound after a Jackson shot had been saved by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford.

And the 21-year-old completed his hat-trick midway through the first half in style after he intercepted a poor pass from Pickford before lobbing the England goalkeeper from 40 yards out.

Jackson then inflicted more doom on Everton just before the break by volleying in Marc Cucurella's cut-back, before Palmer added his fourth from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute.

And Chelsea scored a sixth in the 90th minute when substitute Alfie Gilchrist netted his first goal for the club from a tight angle.

Chelsea stretched their Premier League unbeaten run to eight matches and are three points off seventh-placed Manchester United, who currently sit in the Premier League's last European spot, having played one game fewer.

As for Everton, they were playing in their first match since receiving a two-point deduction for a second breach of Premier League financial rules. They stayed 16th, two points above the relegation zone.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Chelsea fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Everton fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

The team news for the Premier League game between Chelsea and Everton is in, with less than an hour to go until kick-off at Stamford Bridge.

Follow all the build-up and live text updates of the match here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on actor and Leyton Orient fan Daniel Mays.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

As usual with Chelsea, I don't have a clue what to go for here.

If you look back at their results then they are on a seven-game unbeaten run in the league, but they have drawn four of those matches because they always seem to shoot themselves in the foot.

Everton beat Mauricio Pochettino's side at Goodison Park in December, but only got their first league win of 2024 last week.

Beating Burnley was massive for them, but they need to follow that up by getting something at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are still a developing team so I am going to go with the Toffees to take a point.

Mays' prediction: 2-1

I bumped into Everton boss Sean Dyche in a restaurant on the South Bank about two weeks ago. He went: 'I know you - you're an actor.' And I went: 'Well, I know you too'. We had our photograph taken together and he was very nice. After what Everton have been through this season, I hope they stay up - but I think Chelsea will win this one.

See the full list of predictions here

Chelsea are preparing a bid for 26-year-old Netherlands midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, having sent scouts to watch him during Atalanta's Europa League win at Liverpool. (Sportmediaset - in Italian), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino says he wants to "find the situation" for both Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke to play together in his starting line-up.

Manchester City academy graduate Palmer has been the Blues' stand-out player this season since his arrival in September, scoring 19 goals and making 13 assists in his 37 appearances across all competitions.

Team-mate Madueke, who signed from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, has had a stuttering start to his life at Stamford Bridge.

The 22-year-old has struggled to get consistent minutes but has played a more prominent role in recent games - scoring last time out in the Premier League against Sheffield United and getting a vital goal late on against Leicester in the FA Cup.

Both Madueke and Palmer favour playing on the right-hand side of the pitch and, asked in his pre-match news conference about fitting them into the team, Pochettino said: "It is about having the space for him [Madueke].

"The club sign Cole Palmer, we already have him [Madueke], we were signing another player that plays in the same position as him. It is all about adaptation and finding the situation that Palmer and him can play together.

"Of course, always the hope is a player with talent like Noni can be consistent playing in the team and starting XI and show his quality. [It is] always about finding balance of the team and when Palmer arrived and was doing really well, sometimes you can't play in the same position with two players.

"He has the talent. I hope he can grow and be an important player for Chelsea."

Manager Mauricio Pochettino has been speaking to the media before Chelsea host Everton in the Premier League on Monday (20:00 BST kick-off).

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• Ben Chilwell is back in partial team training and could be included on the bench. Axel Disasi and Enzo Fernandez have not trained since draw at Sheffield United match and are being assessed. Raheem Sterling has missed training with an illness.

• On the disappointment of dropping points at Bramall Lane: "I need to be more cautious with my words after the game. It is a fact that we have a young squad but also I need to adapt a different message. We need to be more positive and we need to accept that is the reality. Sometimes I need to be more positive because we have a really good squad and we need to work to support them."

• On the frustration over the number of injuries the Blues have had this season: "It should be fair for us to have a fit squad, to prove that we are a good squad and that we can compete for big things. At the moment it is not fair to judge players."

• But he added: "It's very tough when you don't have the squad fit. We want to increase the competition between them, but that's not an excuse. I don't want to talk about excuses. Now I want to be positive - it’s a good opportunity for the young guys."

• On the difficulties of facing sides fighting relegation: "When we face teams like Manchester City, Manchester United, or Liverpool, the team always shows good quality. The problem for us is to be consistent. When we analyse the team, it is lack of maturity. It is only with time that we can get the right balance."

• Chelsea have conceded at least two goals in their past seven games and Pochettino said: "In the past seven or eight games we didn't lose in the Premier League. The most important thing is to win games. The priority would be to have a clean sheet and not to concede, but at the moment it's about winning games. We need three points."

• On playing more defensively, he added: "If we are only thinking about having a clean sheet, we need to play with the keeper and see if we can score one goal on transition. Chelsea, in my opinion, is about going forward to create chances and score goals."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences

Here are the key facts and figures before Monday's game between Chelsea and Everton in the Premier League.

• Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 28 Premier League home games against Everton (W15 D13) since a 1-0 loss in November 1994. It is their longest unbeaten home run against a side in their top-flight history.

• Following their 2-0 win at Goodison Park in December, Everton are looking to complete their first league double over Chelsea since 1978-79.

• Chelsea have both scored and conceded at least twice in each of their last seven matches in all competitions. In English football history, no top-flight side has ever done so in eight consecutive games before.

• Everton’s 1-0 win against Burnley last time out ended a 13-game winless run in the Premier League. Each of their last five league wins have been to nil, with the Toffees failing to win any of their last 12 when conceding at least once (D4 L8).

• Cole Palmer has been involved in 25 goals in his last 22 Premier League games, scoring 16 and assisting nine. One more assist would see him become the first Chelsea player to register double figures for both goals and assists in his first Premier League season with the club.

• After a run of 18 Premier League games without a goal, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored in his last two appearances, with these strikes earning Everton three points. He last scored in three consecutive league games in August 2021.

Arsenal and Chelsea are closely monitoring Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney, 28, who would cost up to £40m this summer. (Florian Plettenberg), external

Chelsea are targeting Napoli and Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, 25, this summer but the club will focus first on selling players in order to raise funds. (Football Transfers), external

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino and his coaches have been unimpressed by 23-year-old Ukraine forward Mykhailo Mudryk's progress this season and the Blues will be in the market for a new winger this summer. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea have announced they have reached an agreement to purchase the Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions site.

The 1.9-acre site, which is adjacent to Stamford Bridge, includes a charity's housing and community facilities for vulnerable veterans who have left the armed forces. It will provide the club with more possibilities around potential redevelopment of the stadium.

Chelsea's parent company, BlueCo, have worked with the Stoll charity and closely with the Hammersmith & Fulham Council over the deal. Stoll recently agreed to acquire 128 affordable housing properties in a new housing development within Fulham.

The residents from the Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions will be rehomed either at the new Fulham site or at an existing Stoll site and the charity will retain one block at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea's chief operating office Jason Gannon said: "We are delighted to increase our footprint at Stamford Bridge and take a significant step towards ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the club.

"We appreciate the opportunity to work with Stoll throughout a competitive tender process and we are pleased to help ensure those veterans that wish to remain inside the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham will be able to do so."

Hammersmith & Fulham Council deputy leader Ben Coleman added: "When we found out about the plight of the Stoll veterans, I asked Chelsea to pause the sale until Stoll had agreed to make no one homeless and work with the council on finding a suitable site in Fulham that kept the community together.

"I am extremely grateful to Chelsea for agreeing to do so and for the way they have worked with us to find a solution that puts the interest of the vets first."

Stoll chief executive Will Campbell-Wroe maintained the charity's commitment to their residents: "We understand that any transition to a new home will be challenging for many of our residents and we are committed to providing every resident with an enhanced programme of financial, wellbeing and rehousing support - as we have been throughout this process.

"To be clear - no veteran at the Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions will be left without a home."

Chelsea could sell 11 players this summer, including midfielder Conor Gallagher and striker Armando Broja, who is on loan at Fulham. (Football London, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

This Chelsea season has been widely - and accurately - described as a rollercoaster because of the wild and unpredictable twists and turns it has taken.

This week was a perfect example.

The neck-twisting G-force of conceding a last-minute equaliser to 10-man Burnley, then scoring twice in stoppage time to beat Manchester United, then drawing with a rotten Sheffield United would be banned in most countries if it was a fairground ride.

But another notable thing about rollercoasters is that, no matter how high the rise and fall, you always end up right where you started.

And that is where Chelsea are now.

Almost exactly a year after sacking Graham Potter and bringing in an interim coach, some fans are calling for the same action. Potter's path to this point was very different - it was a slow death, with few goals conceded, few scored and eventually all life strangled from the team and the fans.

The experience under Mauricio Pochettino has been very different: goals flying in at both ends, drama in the stands, tensions rising and strongly worded open letters furiously penned on all sides.

Yet for all the sound and fury, nothing has changed. The manager is different, but the problems are the same.

The big squad refresh which promised to solve the dressing-room disharmony has produced nothing but a hole on the balance sheet.

The cries to sack the coach are understandable - just as they were a year ago.

But whatever path the club take, it seems depressingly likely they are back here once again in a year's time.

Will Faulks can be found at Chelsea News, external