Match ends, Chelsea 6, Everton 0.
ChelseaChelsea6EvertonEverton0
Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer scored four goals, which included 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 teammate 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.
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- How did you rate Chelsea's performance? Have your say here
- What did you make of Everton's display? Send us your views here
- Fight for Premier League survival - who will go down?
Fabulous Palmer hits 20 for the season
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.
He also won Chelsea's penalty in the second half after being fouled by Abdoulaye Doucoure and despatched the spot-kick despite arguments with team-mates Jackson and Noni Madueke over who would take the penalty.
Palmer was simply sensational and had two further chances to score either side of the break but overran a Madueke cross and was later denied by the legs of Pickford.
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.
Struggling Everton 'embarrassed' after humbling loss
Everton defender James Tarkowski said it was "the most embarrassed I have felt as an individual" after the game.
The Blues, who were really poor defensively, allowed Chelsea to take the lead with their first attack and never recovered thereafter.
"It shows where we are at today, we can only apologise to the fans who supported us," said Tarkowski. "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. We conceded six goals and you should feel embarrassed."
The Toffees had gone close themselves when it was still goalless but Beto, in for the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin, could not divert Seamus Coleman's low cross on target when just a few yards out.
Beto also had a headed goal disallowed for offside with his side 3-0 down in the first half.
Everton's loss will sting fans even more when coupled with their latest two-point deduction which was announced on Monday, 8 April.
Hours before kick-off the Premier League said the club's appeal will be heard "urgently".
Defeat leaves Sean Dyche's side in a precarious position especially with games against Liverpool and Arsenal to come before the end of the season.
They host Nottingham Forest in their next league match on Sunday.
Player of the match
PalmerCole Palmer
with an average of 9.39
Chelsea
Avg
- Squad number20Player namePalmerAverage rating
9.39
- Squad number42Player nameGilchristAverage rating
7.96
- Squad number23Player nameGallagherAverage rating
7.92
- Squad number6Player nameThiago SilvaAverage rating
7.69
- Squad number27Player nameGustoAverage rating
7.60
- Squad number10Player nameMudrykAverage rating
7.59
- Squad number25Player nameCaicedoAverage rating
7.49
- Squad number14Player nameChalobahAverage rating
7.41
- Squad number28Player namePetrovicAverage rating
7.35
- Squad number3Player nameCucurellaAverage rating
7.21
- Squad number15Player nameJacksonAverage rating
7.12
- Squad number21Player nameChilwellAverage rating
7.07
- Squad number11Player nameMaduekeAverage rating
7.02
- Squad number17Player nameChukwuemekaAverage rating
6.74
- Squad number31Player nameCasadeiAverage rating
6.65
- Squad number36Player nameDeivid WashingtonAverage rating
6.60
Everton
Avg
- Squad number21Player nameAndré GomesAverage rating
3.20
- Squad number2Player namePattersonAverage rating
3.02
- Squad number32Player nameBranthwaiteAverage rating
3.00
- Squad number19Player nameMykolenkoAverage rating
2.99
- Squad number23Player nameColemanAverage rating
2.95
- Squad number6Player nameTarkowskiAverage rating
2.94
- Squad number7Player nameMcNeilAverage rating
2.77
- Squad number14Player nameBetoAverage rating
2.73
- Squad number16Player nameDoucouréAverage rating
2.69
- Squad number22Player nameGodfreyAverage rating
2.67
- Squad number37Player nameGarnerAverage rating
2.63
- Squad number5Player nameKeaneAverage rating
2.59
- Squad number18Player nameYoungAverage rating
2.55
- Squad number11Player nameHarrisonAverage rating
2.51
- Squad number1Player namePickfordAverage rating
2.50
- Squad number8Player nameOnanaAverage rating
2.49
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 28Petrovic
- 27GustoSubstituted forGilchristat 88'minutes
- 14Chalobah
- 6Thiago Silva
- 3Cucurella
- 25Caicedo
- 23Gallagher
- 11MaduekeSubstituted forChukwuemekaat 72'minutes
- 20PalmerSubstituted forCasadeiat 80'minutes
- 10MudrykBooked at 40minsSubstituted forChilwellat 80'minutes
- 15JacksonSubstituted forde Souza EugĂȘnioat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Badiashile
- 13Bettinelli
- 17Chukwuemeka
- 21Chilwell
- 31Casadei
- 36de Souza EugĂȘnio
- 42Gilchrist
- 67George
- 78Dyer
Everton
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Pickford
- 23ColemanSubstituted forPattersonat 45'minutesSubstituted forGodfreyat 90+2'minutes
- 6TarkowskiBooked at 53mins
- 32BranthwaiteSubstituted forKeaneat 57'minutesBooked at 66mins
- 19Mykolenko
- 18YoungBooked at 36mins
- 8OnanaSubstituted forAndré Gomesat 45'minutes
- 37GarnerBooked at 28minsSubstituted forHarrisonat 45'minutes
- 7McNeil
- 16Doucouré
- 14Gomes Betuncal
Substitutes
- 2Patterson
- 5Keane
- 10Danjuma
- 11Harrison
- 12Neves VirgĂnia
- 21André Gomes
- 22Godfrey
- 28Ramalho Chermiti
- 51Warrington
- Referee:
- Paul Tierney
- Attendance:
- 39,392
Match Stats
Home TeamChelseaAway TeamEverton
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away2
- Corners
- Home4
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away21
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Chelsea 6, Everton 0.
Post update
Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by André Gomes (Everton).
Post update
Attempt saved. Beto (Everton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ashley Young.
Post update
Offside, Everton. Beto is caught offside.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Ben Godfrey replaces Nathan Patterson because of an injury.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Nathan Patterson (Everton).
Goal!
Goal! Chelsea 6, Everton 0. Alfie Gilchrist (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ben Chilwell (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Conor Gallagher.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Deivid Washington replaces Nicolas Jackson.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Alfie Gilchrist replaces Malo Gusto.
Post update
Foul by Conor Gallagher (Chelsea).
Post update
Jack Harrison (Everton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by André Gomes (Everton).
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Cesare Casadei replaces Cole Palmer.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Ben Chilwell replaces Mykhailo Mudryk.
Post update
Foul by Conor Gallagher (Chelsea).
Comments
Join the conversation
Right foot (composure) Only took him 16 minutes.
The perfect hat trick!! Ohh and a penalty!! He even had to fight his own team mates to get the ball for it đ€Šđ»ââïžđ€Ł
Have to hand it to Palmer that was something special đ
Neutral fan!!
What a mare for Everton. Heavy loss, so many injuries, no money, loosing points at a whim⊠yikes.
Without exaggeration though, if Cole Palmer wasnât playing for Chelsea this season, theyâd be fighting relegation.
What a player heâs been for them.
His form is perfect timing for the Euroâs too.
Wonder if heâs any good in goal?!?!